Sr Pt AP

we

II

4

Ted A lbano

Relationships,
like cakes,
sometimes need
a dozen
eggs

Not Eggs...actly A Bargain

FRITA ROTH DRAPKIN

Special to The Jewish News

Mama loved a bargain. She
constantly reprimanded
Papa for paying the reg-
ular price for an item.
"Look around a little.
Maybe someplace it's cheaper."
Papa on the other hand, refused
to bargain for a price. If that's what
he asks, I'll pay it, or just walk
away."
With Mama it was not only an
economic necessity to save a few
cents here and there but it became a
game to see how strong her bargain-
ing power was.
Just before the holidays, Papa
came home and proudly placed a
brown paper bag on the kitchen
table saying: "Today I bought you a
bargain! A dozen, fresh farmers eggs
for 25 cents! Now you can make a
honeycake. He stood back while
Mama started to sort the eggs skep-
tically, looking for cracks and snif-
fing each egg before transferring it
into a bowl.
For once, you bought a bargain.
Eggs are 50 cents at Seigel's Market.
These are even bigger."
Papa beamed and heaved a sigh
of relief, happy that he had pleased
Mama at last. Quickly he hurried
out of the kitchen, happy that Mama

_

A SHORT STORY

had not asked him the details of his
purchase.
The next morning, the house
was filled with the sweet aroma of
Mama's cake baking in the oven and
the "chop-chop" pounding prepara-
tion of gefilte fish. By the time Papa
came home for dinner, the fish was
finished, heaped in little bun shapes
on a large platter. The golden, yel-
low chicken soup was bubbling on
the stove, with a little island of
"soupen" greens floating in the cen-
ter. The beautiful cake was covered
with a white napkin on the dining
room table.
"What a beautiful smell in here!
I followed it two blocks away." Papa
inhaled deeply and lifted the napkin
from the cake. No one makes a cake
like you, Faigehleh. With this you
could win a prize."
It was those beautiful eggs you
brought. The bargain. So I could use
lots to make it rise so high."
Papa's face glowed. At last he
had pleased Mama.
"What I wanted to ask you, if
you don't mind, maybe you could get
another dozen for our good neighbor,
Mrs. Levy? She could use some extra
eggs for the holidays. Twenty-five
cents a dozen is a real bargain."

I watched Papa's face change
from pleasure to a dark frown. "I
don't think so. No! I think he only
had the special sale for one day. I
can't get another for that price."
"What kind of sale does the
farmer have for just one day? You'll
try tomorrow. again? Tell him it's for
.a special holiday." Mama was anx-
ious to share her good fortune with
her friends.
"I'll try. But I can't promise." He
left the kitchen quickly to wash up
for dinner.
The holiday was only a day
away and Mama was so busy with
preparations that she did not ask
Papa for the eggs for Mrs. Levy
when he came home from his little
shop. Papa was so relieved, he tried
to stay out of Mama's way and
busied himself with the furnace
down in the basement. However, his
reprieve was short lived. Right after
dinner, Mama announced:
"Mrs. Levy saw my cake this
morning and I told her about the
eggs you would bring her for the
same bargain."
"But I didn't promise I could get
them. I only said I would try."
"So, did you try?"