Friday the Rabbi Slept Late by Harry Kemelman Read Free Book Online Page A

a minute?”
    Stanley promptly came down from the ladder, causing the crepe paper decoration to sag. The tack pulled out of the wall and there was a collective groan from the three women. The rabbi, aware of them for the first time, nodded half-apologetically for intruding and then turned to Stanley. “I’m expecting some books to be delivered by express,” he said. “They should be here in a day or two. They’re rare and quite valuable, so when they arrive please put them right in my study. Don’t leave them lying around.”
    “Sure, rabbi. How will I know it’s the books?”
    “They’re being sent from Dropsie College, and you will see that on the label.” He nodded at the women and withdrew.
    Myra Schwarz waited in martyred patience for Stanley to rejoin them. “It must have been pretty important for the rabbi to call you away,” she remarked acidly.
    “Oh, I was just coming down to shift the ladder anyway. He wanted me to keep an eye out for some books he’s expecting.”
    “Very important,” she said sarcastically. “His Holiness might be in for a little surprise one of these days.”
    “Oh, I don’t think he saw us here when he first came in,” said Emmy Adler.
    “I don’t see how he could help seeing us,” said Mrs. Drettman. Addressing herself to Myra, she went on, “You know, about what you were saying. My Morrie is a board of director, and only yesterday he got a call from Mr. Becker to make sure and turn up for this special meeting –”
    Mrs. Schwarz gestured in the direction of Mrs. Adler. “That’s supposed to be kept quiet,” she whispered.

Chapter Five
    Although she was off at noon, Elspeth rarely managed to leave the Serafino household much before one. Mrs. Serafino made such a fuss about feeding the children their lunch – calling from the kitchen: “Oh El, where did you put Angelina’s dish, the one with the three bears?” or “El, could you spare a minute before the bus leaves to put Johnnie on the toidy?” – that she usually preferred to do it herself and take the one o’clock bus or even the one-thirty.
    Today in particular she didn’t care, since her appointment was not until four. The day was hot and humid and she wanted to feel fresh and cool against the intimacy of the doctor’s examination. She would have preferred to wait until three before leaving, but then her mistress might ask questions.
    She was giving the children their lunch when Mrs. Serafino came downstairs. “Oh, you’ve started already,” she said. “There was no need to. I’ll finish and you can get dressed.”
    “They’re almost through, Mrs. Serafino. Why don’t you have your breakfast.”
    “Well, if you don’t mind. I’m dying for a cup of coffee.”
    Mrs. Serafino was not one to turn down a favor, not was she effusive in her thanks to the girl. It might give her ideas. When Elspeth had finished feeding the children, Mrs. Serafino was still at her coffee and made no move when she took them upstairs.
    Preparing the children for their nap was as much of a chore as giving them lunch. When Elspeth finally came downstairs, Mrs. Serafino was in the hallway, talking on the telephone. She paused long enough to cup her hand over the mouthpiece. “Oh El, are the children already in bed? I was just coming up to do it.” Just that, and back to her conversation.
    Elspeth went to her room off the kitchen, closed the door, and firmly pushed the sliding bolt. She flung herself face down on the bed and automatically turned on the radio on the night table. She listened, only half-hearing, to the cheery voice of the announcer, “– and that was Bert Burns, the latest hillbilly sensation singing, ‘Cornliquor Blues.’ And now some news about the weather. That low-pressure area we mentioned earlier is moving closer and that means that we’ll probably get some clouds and fog in the evening and maybe some showers. Well, I guess into every life some rain must fall, ha-ha. And now, for Mrs. Eisenstadt of