Free One Fine Day the Rabbi Bought a Cross by Harry Kemelman Page B

right,” said Skinner. “You got it fixed, though? No harm done. I got a ride from the airport with some people I met on the plane. Now, tell me what in hell is the matter with the water and what you have done about it.”

10
    The rabbi and Miriam awoke late the next morning and found that Gittel had already gone. There were two keys on the kitchen table, and a note: “A key for each of you. Remember, it is a double throw lock and you have to turn the key twice … dairy dishes, blue pattern; meat dishes, red. Plain silver is dairy, the other meat. I shall probably be home around three.… If you should need to get in touch with me, this is the phone number … if no immediate answer, don’t lose patience. Enjoy!”
    While the rabbi recited his morning prayers, Miriam busied herself in the kitchen, and when he was through, there were orange juice, toast and eggs, and coffee spread out on the table awaiting him. From long experience, she was able to calculate to the minute how long he would be.
    â€œSo much?” he murmured.
    â€œYou need a good meal to start the day right, David. All the doctors say so.”
    â€œThey could be wrong, you know.”
    â€œLook, eat what you can. Here’s the morning paper,” she said, knowing that with print before his eyes, he would go on eating absentmindedly until there was no more left on his plate.
    â€œAren’t you eating? Don’t you need a good meal to start the day right?”
    â€œI ate before you got up. And before you start on your paper, let’s decide what we’ll do today,” she suggested.
    â€œDid you have something in mind?” he asked suspiciously.
    â€œIt’s a fine day, so I thought we’d take a walk, maybe to the Old City.”
    They took the bus to the Jaffa Gate, and entering, they began to wander down the narrow, tourist-filled passageways, stopping to look at the merchandise displayed or to watch as tourists bargained with the shopkeepers standing or seated on small stools outside their shops.
    â€œIt’s the same old tourist stuff,” said the rabbi. “Let’s go to the Western Wall and see what’s doing there. I understand they’ve made a number of changes since we were last there.”
    â€œDo you want to pray there?” she asked.
    â€œNo, I already recited the shachris . I just want to see it.”
    â€œAll right. And then we can circle by way of the Armenian Quarter and get home for lunch.”
    They made their way slowly, resisting the blandishments of the shopkeepers who, when Miriam stopped momentarily to look at something on display, offered it at a vastly reduced price because it would be the “first sale of the day” and they were anxious to make a beginning.
    â€œYou’ve got to be careful not to show an interest,” the rabbi warned, “or you immediately become involved.”
    â€œOh, it’s sort of a game with them,” said Miriam. “They don’t really expect you to buy just because you stop to look.”
    â€œI wonder. They’re all selling the same merchandise, so I imagine they interpret any sign of interest as a chance to make a sale. Besides, our own law forbids it on the grounds that it raises the merchant’s hopes only to dash them when you turn away.”
    â€œBut that’s if you do it with no intention of buying, isn’t it, David? And I might buy something, if only for the fun of haggling. I understand you’re supposed to, that they feel disappointed if you don’t. Oh, there’s something in the window there.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThat cross. Isn’t that a Jerusalem cross? Isn’t that what Amy Lanigan wanted me to get her? I’m going in to ask about it.”
    He peered in through the window at a display of both crosses and Stars of David.
    â€œThe one in the corner,” she said.
    â€œYes, that’s a Jerusalem cross. I’ll