לפני 14 שנים. 11 ביוני 2010 בשעה 18:18
After a session, it is often the case that the Big Bad Cat and I have worked up quite a thirst, if not an appetite.
Accordingly, we often repair to our local watering hole, a lovely Mizrachi restaurant, run and owned by a family from a local kfar for many years.
This time, we weren't hungry, unusually, so we decided to just sit and chill over a Coke Zero (me) and limonada (him) and chill for a bit.
To our surprise, this was all we were permitted to do. The tables were laid and the restaurant looked unusually festive, and it was clear to us both that there was some kind of celebration in the offing. This was confirmed by the owner, who happily agreed to let us sit and drink, outside, since we were such valuable and regular clients, but nothing further since there was a private party going on.
The guests were already arriving, all in their best clothes, some in Djellaba, some in Western clothing. We smiled as they arrived, trying to appear as unconspicuous as possible, and speculating quietly between ourselves as to the nature of the celebration -- was it a barmitzvah-equivalent, or brit-equivalent... or just a knees-up for somebody's birthday?
Either way, the time came to leave, which happened to coincide with the party officially starting. As we walked out of the door, the background music began to play... and the two of us looked at each other and began giggling.
I mean seriously -- an Arab-owned and run restaurant, a party of Israeli-Arab residents or Palestinians -- the village is within the green line, so I am not sure how to best describe them. Perhaps it's better that I don't ascribe any identity to them, rather that they self-identify. Who am I, after all, to define their identity?
My point is that the people running the place, as well as those attending the shindig were none of them Jewish.
And this is what was playing. The muzak version, but still.
Laugh? I nearly coughed up a kidney.
