The Boy from Beirut and Other Short Stories

It was another ordinary day in Lila's life--there were so many things that were needed..money for the children's school, new refrigerator and the stove had only one working burner left.

Lila made a vow that she would press Jake into getting a job when he came home from wherever he was hanging out now. She never knew where he was or where he would be--moreover, she wondered where he got the money to do whatever it was he was doing. He certainly never gave her any to run the house and her job, as a hygienist did not bring in enough for the house and schooling. She wondered why she did not leave Jake; he was lazy and no good. The only decent thing he ever did was sympathize with her after the loss of her husband and later when she fell in love with him and married, he adopted her two children. Now she wondered why she thought he would be a wonderful supportive husband. In her mind the scenario went the same as many times before, she would confront Jake and his answer would be to cool it, when his old man died there would be plenty of money. When he makes that statement--off he goes and it is impossible to stop him and have a normal conversation. Well, this time, he would have that conversation or she will tell him she is leaving him for good!

Lila entertained herself when Jake left her alone for hours and hours, by practicing her ventriloquism. Her father had taught her the art when she was just a little tyke. She never told anyone she knew how to do this because she thought people would poke fun at her. So, Lila used it to amuse herself ONLY. In order to vent her anger at Jake, Lila practiced saying what Jake’s Dad said to him so many times--NO WORK, NO MONEY! She felt that by doing this, she was able in a way to vent her anger at Jake and that perhaps somehow it would get into Jake's subconscious mind and he would straighten out and get a job like a normal husband should do. She tried in vain to get him to forget the morbid obsession that all he had to do was sit for his father to die. As she continued to practice, other things went through her mind that Jake's father had tried to instill in Jake. "Jake," he would say, "get a job, earn money, learn how to manage money because money is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly." "When you do this, you will be ready to handle the large sums of money that I will leave you when I am gone." He would always end by saying "no work, no money." She also remembered the time her son Joey was ready to enter college and she did not have enough for the first semester. She begged Jake to get a job and she would check with the college and try to get them to accept the tuition in installments. I'll do better than that said Jake, I will get if from my old man. When Jake called his Dad and asked him for the money, Dad said, "No work, no money Jake." Later Dad called Lila and said to go ahead and send Joey to college--he would pay the tuition. I will do this for you Lila because you are a hard worker and do the best you can with what you earn. You must not tell Jake though; I want him to learn responsibility. I don't know why you stay with him. You are indeed a good woman Lila.