Page 30 of Status Undefined
“You said you’ve got a tattoo!”
Daniel burst out laughing.
“That’s what’s on your mind right now?”
“Were you messing with me?”
“I didn’t think you’d remember. Nope. No tattoo. I was just giving you a hard time.”
“Jerk.”
“I couldn’t have gotten a tattoo in the U.S. I was religious, remember?”
“I thought it might have been an expression of your rebelliousness.”
“I’ll get one if you insist…”
“Yes, sure. Get a tattoo – I’m such an asshole.”
We stared at one another and then I realized what he was about to do.
“Daniel!” I tried to jump out of bed, but he was faster and dragged me back. He held me tight and didn’t let go. It was the best morning of my life.
December 28
(visa expires in 17 days)
There was a knock at the Arielis’ door. Naama had insisted on baking me a birthday cake – lotus cookies with vegan cheese. It was almost all gone.
“Can you get it, Amit?” Keren was so busy inhaling cake she didn’t even look up.
“You’re nearer!” By two steps maybe, but still…
“Just open it, you pain in the butt.”
All I could see when I opened the door was a sea of color. I took a step back and then saw that it was a giant bunch of balloons. Didn’t take long to figure out who was behind this – literally.
“Happy birthday, babe!”
“OMG!” Keren looked up from her cake.
“That’s so sweet!” Naama was more excited than I was.
A face poked out from the mass of balloons, and he came over to give me a birthday hug.
“Thanks. You’re crazy. You shouldn’t have.”
“You think that’s it? Come. We’re going.”
“What, where?”
“It’s a surprise of course.”
And he pulled me outside, leaving the bouquet of balloons to rise to the ceiling.
Daniel had a planned a full day of celebrations. First stop was the Trick Eye museum of illusions near the old city. We posed for pictures: as firefighters, people about to fall off a bridge, and on the cover of the Times. It was actually fun despite my lack of enthusiasm for being photographed.
“Did you bring me here because our relationship is an illusion?” I couldn’t help asking, as we left.
