My Lucky Day

I broke wind. Loudly. Could hardly hold it back, sure there's no one else in the dark street. Otherwise maybe with some effort I could let it out quietly. Someone, hidden behind the bauhinia tree coughed lightly. When I passed by the tree I saw her.

"Sorry, I was sure I was alone in the street".

"It's OK, happens to everyone. Besides, you are not alone, you're with a dog. He's cute!"

I could hardly see her face in the dim yellow light of the flickering street lamp, but her voice… what a voice! The most beautiful sound I had ever heard!

"It's not a he, it's a she!", I replied.

"Cute, did I say? What's her name?"

"Gypsy", I replied.

"Gitana", she chuckled, her laughter the voice of angels.

"Speak Ladino?"

"Some. My folks emigrated from Bulgaria. I was born in Israel. Jaffa".

"Mine came from Turkey. As a child I heard more Ladino than Hebrew. So, you are from Jaffa. What brings you to the Negev?"

"I'm looking for my aunt's home. She invited me to stay with her. I have a job interview scheduled for tomorrow morning at Soroka (Beersheba medical center). Know what? Maybe you can help me".

"Me? Arrange a job for you? I have no connections in any hospital!"

"No", the wonderful sound of her laughter again rang in my ears. "I kind of lost my way. I'm looking for Hatzav Road. My aunt lives there".

"Great! I live there too. It's next corner to the right, or left, depending on the house number".

"Thirty two".

"I'm at thirty five, just about across your aunt's house. Mind if I walk there with you?"

"Not at all! Say, are they all so courteous down here in the South?"

Her laughter, so delightful, did I mention it? And so sweet she was, I'd already forgotten how mortified I was when I was surprised to see her behind the bauhinia.

When we reached the crossroads I could see her face clearly. Eyes, nose, lips, chin, hairdo, all perfectly carved. A bit plump, but I like it that way.

"May I ask how old you are?"

"It's a free country", she said. "Ask if you want to!"

"And what will you tell me?"

"Ask and you'll know", again that adorable laughter in her voice.

"Well then, I'm asking, what's your age?"

"Twenty two".

Perfect! She's twenty two and I'm nearly twenty six years old!

"Got a boyfriend?"

"I'm free, if that's what you want to know, but be aware that I'm very choosy".

"And what's your name, if I may ask?"

Turned out that her name is Daphne, which suited me fine as my name is Danny and my surname also starts with a D. She's a nurse. I work in the municipal accounting department, a junior clerk but I didn't tell her from fear of spoiling the impression. Maybe tomorrow I'll apply for an auditing course at the Open University, something that I've had in mind to do since my discharge from military service almost five years ago.

We walked slowly, chatting, putting in words in Ladino. She told me of her plans. If she will be accepted in Soroka, and there is no reason that she wouldn't, she'll stay with her aunt until she'll find a suitable place to live in. As for me, what can I say about me, except that I love domestic pets that have become sort of a hobby? It seemed to me that she liked the way I talked, though most of the time I listened to her and found her more and more attractive. I had a feeling that she was fond of me too. "Danny", I said to myself. "You're in for a new chapter in your life!". I was falling in love.

"Let me carry your suitcase", I suggested.

"Thanks, but you need your free hand for your sweet Gitana".

"I see that you like dogs", I said.

"Yes, my aunt has two dogs, and cats too".

We exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet evenings, when she's not on a night shift.

We reached the entry to her aunt's home. I felt an urge to part with a kiss, but shyness held me back. She apparently read my mind, maybe due to a slight move of my face towards hers.

"Sorry, Danny, not tonight. On my way here I ate a salad at the snack bar in the railway station and something in the sauce disagreed with my stomach. I can still feel it. Let's part this time with a handshake".

I was a bit disappointed, but her geniality assured me that she fell for me too.

Who knows, if it weren't for the fluffer-doodle I had released near the bauhinia we would probably not have fallen into a conversation. No doubt, today is my lucky day.

I offered my hand. Our hands almost met when suddenly she drew back her hand and covered her mouth.

Then it happened. An enormous burp almost tore my eardrums.

"Awfully sorry, please forgive me. It's because of the sauce in the salad I ate on my way".

Forgive her? No way! A girl who belches in my face? How repugnant! Fortunately it happened now, before I got involved in a romantic affair with such a disgusting person.

As I said, today is my lucky day!