Goldstein Johnson & Cole (2024 re-write) - 5. Meeting Joseph

The flight from Manchester to Munich departed and landed on time. The two-hour stopover in Munich had been extended to three hours due to delays in loading luggage. Then, the flight was queued over Tel Aviv for thirty minutes before landing. Both flights were comfortable, with attentive cabin crews giving good service and serving better quality food than they had experienced before. Security at Ben Gurion was strict but efficient. Kevin and Ian went swiftly through security and collected their luggage before meeting Isaac Lehrer, who had patiently waited for their arrival.

In the back seat of Isaac's Mercedes, Ian and Kevin were finally on the last leg of their journey. They would reach Isaac's home in about 40 minutes by taking Route 1, the fastest route. Ian was engaged in light conversation with their host as Kevin checked his watch and advanced it by two hours. It was almost 8:00 pm local time.

As they neared their destination - Beit Zayit - they left Route 1, taking Route 3965, then Route 395. Here, the landscape started to change as it became less arid, with more frequent clumps of trees and larger patches of grassland. Isaac liked taking this route, it took them through the lusher, greener areas of the National reserve in which Mount Heret and Beit Zayid sat. It allowed Ian and Kevin to see rich farmland and the wild greenery of the trees, grassland and a wide variety of wildflowers growing among them as they passed The Beit Zayit Reservoir. It was beautiful, a far cry from the arid desert they expected to see. Isaac suggested they ask Joseph to take them on some of the many walks through the area so they could enjoy its beauty.

When they entered Beit Zayit, Isaac explained that the original village no longer existed. It was now being developed into one of the newer suburbs of Jerusalem. Very few of the suburb's buildings were over twenty years old. Most had been built in the last ten years, which included Isaac's house. The large, spacious house built on the mountainside with three floors over the garage level and surrounded by a colourfully planted garden did not look out of place overlooking the valley. There were signs of more very similar developments on some plots. Others had been sectioned off for future developments.

Isaac announced their arrival at his home as he turned onto the driveway of a large house on Derekh Brekhot ha-Ya'ar and parked in the open garage, with the garage door automatically securing behind them. They entered the house through a connecting door.

As they entered the house through an ante-room, Isaac encouraged them to remove their shoes and wear the comfortable slippers provided for them. The welcoming aroma from the kitchen was nothing compared to the sight of the beautiful smiling woman descending the stairs.

“Shalom Aleichem.” Shamira greeted them.

“Aleichem Shalom.” Ian and Kevin returned the greeting.

“Erev tov, Shamira. I want to introduce you to our guests and hopefully Joseph's future guardians.” Pointing to Ian and Kevin in turn, “This is Mr Ian Johnson and Mr Kevin Cole.”

“Erev tov, Mr Johnson, Mr Cole, welcome to our home.”

“Ian and Kevin, may I introduce my wife, Mrs Shamira Lehrer.”

“Erev tov, Mrs Lehrer. Thank you for welcoming us into your home and allowing us to stay,” Ian and Kevin greeted her. There was no physical contact, as that was considered impolite.

Formalities now over, Shamira addressed her husband. “Isaac, you must be tired after a hard day at work. Would you like to get changed and freshen up? I will look after our guests until your return.”

“Thank you, my dear. I will do just that.” Turning to Ian and Kevin. “Gentlemen, please excuse me while I freshen up. Shamira will show you to your room, and I will see you shortly.” Isaac then left to freshen up.

“Ian, Kevin, due to the late hour, our sons, Aaron and Asher, are in bed. I promise I will introduce you to our sons and give you the full tour tomorrow. The room to your right is the lounge where we will meet you after you settle in. If you will, please follow me, and I will show you to your room.”

Shamira led them to a large room on the top level of the three-story house. “This is your room. You have seating in the room and on the balcony for your comfort. Here is the en-suite to ensure your privacy. The closet over there is for your clothes. Please join us in the lounge when you have made yourselves comfortable. We will be dressed casually. Then, we will introduce you to Joseph before we all eat. I have prepared a light meal for tonight that I hope you will enjoy.”

When Shamira left to finish preparing the meal, Ian started unpacking while Kevin showered. After switching places and dressed casually, the lads made their way to the lounge.

When they entered the lounge, Isaac rose from a sofa to greet them. A boy rose with him, almost as if he was attached. The expression on the boy's face and in his eyes told them that he was shy and very nervous, possibly afraid.

Directing his attention to the boy, Isaac spoke gently. “Joseph, I know you are nervous, but I also know that you are a very brave boy. Can you be brave for me now, please?” The boy nodded silently and took a half step sideways from Issac. “Joseph, these gentlemen are Ian Johnson and Kevin Cole. They have come a very long way to meet you. They are good men. They were very good friends of your Avi Emmanuel. In many ways, Emmanuel was like a father to them, too. Would you like to say hello to them and welcome them into our home?”

Joseph looked at them in awe, and tears formed in his eyes. “You...you...you knew him, my Avi Emmanuel? You are...brothers? My Avi Emmanuel was...was your Avi too? Welcome. Welcome to our home. Please eat and drink with us and make this your home, too.”

“Avi is Hebrew for Father, Dad or Papa,” Isaac explained proudly as he watched this first meeting.

Kevin became emotional and was pleasantly surprised by the sudden change in Joseph’s behaviour and excitement in his voice.

On one knee, Ian bent to Joseph's level. Through his own tear-filled eyes, he answered Joseph. “Yes, we knew your Papa Emmanuel. We knew him very well. To us, he was Manny. He was a very close and dear friend of ours. We cannot claim him to be our father, but he was to us the same as he was to you. He was like a father, a man to whom we owe much. He was family to us.” Ian paused and glanced at Isaac, who nodded. “Kevin and I are not brothers. We are life partners, a couple. Manny knew and gave us his blessing. He accepted us as family.”

“You...you are very lucky. When it was discovered I like boys, I was beaten and broken and then left at the roadside to die. That was when Avi Emmanuel found me and had me made well again. Now he is gone. I have no one. I have no family.” Joseph's voice wavered as his jaw shook while speaking. His whole body shook as he cried and turned his face to the floor.

Kevin knelt next to Ian. His voice was wavering also. “Joseph. Joseph, will you look at me, please.”

Joseph looked up. His jet-black hair was neatly combed, but his face was a mess. Tears flowed like a waterfall from dark brown - now puffy – eyes and covered his olive-coloured cheeks. Kevin could see the beautiful boy would break hearts as he grew into a man.

“We would be honoured to be your family if you have us. We would love it if you would come to live with us and be our little brother.” Ian had also bent down next to Kevin, and Kevin placed one arm around Ian's shoulders and held the other to Joseph. Ian mirrored the gesture as an excited, tearful boy ran to them, keeping them in a vice-like grip.

“Do you mean it? You...you will be my Ahkh? My brothers?”

“Yes,” was whispered into each of Joseph's ears as the grip tightened.