Hold on to the Sun

Part I

lA ProMenAde, triptych PArt i “for the time being we can rest here,” said Monyek Heller when they reached the bench at the edge of the beach.“it’s nice here, opposite the ocean.” And the soft sound of the Polish words in his mouth was accompanied by an interrogative lilt. “fine, fine.” lusiataft nodded, the same little smile on the face of her short body expressing part submission, part uncertainty, and part effort to convey thanks. “Wecanwaitherefortheotherstoarrive,”saidMonyek, hastily pulling a large handkerchief from the pocket of his light-colored suit and sweeping it over the bench before indicating to lusia, with a ceremonious flourish, that she should sit down. He smoothed his pants and sat, straightened his slender back, crossed his legs, and placed his hands one on top of the other on his right knee.then he raised his chin and sur41 veyed the broad beach, which was covered with mist and bedecked with a string of little flags at the water’s edge, dancing in the breeze in the distance. lusia carefully straightened the skirt of the suit she had had specially made for the voyage and sat down on the light green bench.A woman has to try to look her best, and she set her bulky purse down neatly, next to the knees peeping out of her skirt. “A beautiful day,” said Monyek, and he went on looking at the ocean lying motionless at the bottom of the slope, as if it had been put to sleep by the mist that had shrouded the oceanside resort all day long. “Yes, a beautiful day,” confirmed lusia. And they sat for a moment without talking, gazing in front of them at the ocean.the white sand came all the way up to the bench, penetrating the little holes in the weave of Monyek’s leather loafers and sticking to the heels of lusia’s broad shoes. Monyek straightened his hands neatly on top of his right knee and lusia held her full body a little more erect than necessary. “really, everything is beautiful here,” she suddenly announced shifting in her place. “i don’t know how to thank . . . ” “no need, really, no need.” Monyek Heller drummed with the fingers of his right hand, and the signet ring on his finger glittered. 42 La Promenade “the beach is so big,” continued lusia, a shade dramatically , turning her head from the glitter of the ring to the glint of the water at the edge of the beach. “After so many years a person forgets.” “Yes, yes,” replied Monyek, and after a while he added, “i’m a regular here every weekend from April to June, twelve years already. it’s good for my lungs. in the summer i go for the cure to Montecatini, and last winter i tried the baths at the dead Sea. it was good. no question about it.” He shook his head slightly from side to side and then added, “And we met there too.that was also good.” they both smiled, as was only fitting at such a moment. Monyek patted lusia’s right hand lightly with his left hand, after which he replaced it on his knee. “very nice what they’ve built there.every convenience.” Monyek recommenced. “Yes, yes, very grand,” replied lusia in an animated tone, taking care to keep her purse upright. “no question about it, they’ve done great things there in israel!” summed up Monyek. “no question about it,” replied lusia. And neither of them had anything to add, especially since the country in question appeared no more real at that moment than the tiny figures of the bathers moving like dots at the edge of the water. “ididn’taskyethowthingsareattheshop,”saidMonyek, and his fingers resumed their drumming. 43 La Promenade “June isn’t the best time of the year for wool,” replied lusia, “But as long as the shop stays open i’m not complaining.” “that’s right,” agreed Monyek. “A person needs a break every now and then. After a while you get tired—you know how that is. it isn’t easy with all that tension all the time,” said lusia, and her heavy voice hovered in the air for a moment around the light green bench at the edge of the shore. Behind them rose the cliffs with the grand summer houses, preserving a nostalgic fin-de-siècle royalty in their...