Bookbinder had been their name. And for a few months Chaim had been one of them. They weren’t his real family of course more of an imaginary one but deep down they’d belonged to him.
Dovi Gelber wants Chaim back
Bookbinder had been their name. And for a few months Chaim had been one of them. They weren’t his real family of course more of an imaginary one but deep down they’d belonged to him.
In real life the Bookbinders came to New Haven when Chaim was about 11 years old. The father was a dermatologist which meant that he got to dress in a white coat and everyone admired him but he rarely had emergencies and was home at five-thirty every day for supper. Moshe the Bookbinder son was in Chaim’s class and the two boys became close friends. Deep down Chaim knew that he liked Moshe’s family even more than he liked Moshe.
He would find reasons to visit after school and would happily accept the Bookbinders’ firm invitations to stay for supper. Chaim liked to stay — not for the food but for the feeling. Here was a jovial lighthearted father who would ask each child about his day always including Chaim as well. He would tease his wife but then go dry the dishes with her as they chatted softly. Mrs. Bookbinder laughed out loud and was free with compliments — but they never felt trite or empty.
She noticed Chaim’s new cap before anyone else did commenting on how it made him look like Mickey Mantle. Her husband had laughed and pulled on the bill causing the cap to cover Chaim’s eyes. Chaim wished he could stay that way in happy darkness forever.
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