Goldstein, Johnson & Cole - 5. Chapter 5 Meeting Joseph

At 3:30am when Steve dropped them of at Terminal 1, saying their goodbyes they entered departures and went to the Lufthansa desk. After checking in their suitcases and being given boarding passes they were directed to the express security gate. First stop after passing through security was to get more coffee and find comfortable seats in the business class lounge while waiting to board their flight. After a brief stopover in Berlin they would reach Tel-Aviv late in the afternoon if there were no delays. Eventually they were called to the boarding gate and were among the first to board.

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

Sat on the back seat of Isaac Lehrer'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 which is 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 8:00pm 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. 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 buildings in the neighbourhood were more that twenty years old, most had been built in the last ten years which included his house. There were signs of more development on some plots, others had been sectioned off for future development.

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 comfortable slippers provided for them. The welcoming aroma emanating 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, may I introduce 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 returned. There was no physical contact as that would be considered impolite.

Formalities now over Shamira addressed her husband, “Isaac you must be tired after a hard day, why don't you go change and get refreshed. I'll look after our guests until your return.”

“Thank you, I'll 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'll see you shortly.” Isaac then left to freshen up.

“Ian, Kevin due to the late hour our boys, Aaron and Asher, are in bed so I'll 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 I'll 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 sit down to 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 now dressed casually, the lads made their way to the lounge.

As they entered the lounge Isaac rose from a sofa to greet them, a boy rose with him almost as if he was attached. One look at his face and the glimpse they had of 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 Papa Emmanuel, in many ways Emmanuel was like a father to them. Would you like to say hello to them and welcome them into our home?”

Joseph now looked at them in awe as tears formed in his eyes. “You...you...you knew him, Avi Emmanuel? You are brothers? My Avi Emmanuel was...was your Avi? Welcome, welcome to our home, please eat and drink with us, 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 surprised at the sudden change in Joseph and the emotion in his voice.

On one knee Ian was at Joseph's level, through his own tear filled eyes he answered him. “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 was to you, he was like a father, a man who we owe so much to and was like family to us.” Ian paused and glanced at Isaac who nodded. “We 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 then left at the roadside to die. That was when Papa 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 wavering, “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. He is a beautiful boy who will break hearts as he grows.

“We would be honoured to be your family, if you will have us, we would love it if you would be our little brother.” Kevin placed one arm around Ian's shoulders and held out the other, Ian mirrored the gesture as an excited tearful boy ran to them, holding them in a vice-like grip.

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

“Yes,” was whispered in to each of Joseph'e ears as the grip was tightened.