Bubbe's Place: Stories

Max Friedman

"Mama, Papa, look over here at this sorry grave. There's no grass and few words. Look it doesn't have perpetual care. Oh my, there isn't a single stone to mark a visit. And the stone monument just says 'Max Friedman'. There is no beloved husband or father or brother. Nothing is engraved on the stone beside the name and birth and death dates."

Mama who was usually very kind had, for her, a very unusual response. "We will leave no stones here. Name, date on a stone was more than he deserved. When he was buried only the gravediggers were in attendance. He brought it all on himself! Because he was only interested in himself and in his well being, he drove away his whole mishpochah (Family). I don't feel any pity for him. He was a poor excuse for a man."

I asked, "Can't you say anything kind about him?"

"Sure," said Papa. "Der ruach zol eem chapen" (The devil should take him.)

"Enough!" I exclaimed. "Tell me his story so that I can judge for myself."

This is Max Friedman's story as it was related to me. Max Friedman lived in Koshovoto. With his wife, Feige, and their five children. Max was not known as a shver arbeter (Hard worker). He spent too much of his time and energy plotting to make a killing, to be come rich. It never happened and finally Max realized that in Koshovoto, no Jew could or would make it to easy street.

Max was almost thirty when he decided that for a man like him, with plans, he must move to America. Only there could he succeed. He decided to move with his oldest son. His son, Abe, would work in a factory and support the two of them while he, Max, would spin and deal and make the family's fortune.

Feige didn't like the idea of the family separating. Max assured Feige that the separation would only be temporary, and would be for a short time. When she expressed all her fears, her worries, Max just ignored them. After all he had never listened to her or anyone else before, so why should he listen now. He was sure that she could manage alone with only four children during the short period of their separation. If they suffered a little now, well he would make up for it when he struck it rich in America.

In a short time Max and Abe left for America. Abe went right to work in a garment factory and each week he gave his father his total earnings. In the meantime Max only worked on his plans to make a fortune in America.

Max was a keen observer. It didn't take him long to decide that one has to look successful and to mix with the right people to make it, to become rich in America. If his plans were to succeed he needed to dress the part. He couldn't wear immigrant rags and look like a greenhorn. (New arrival) He needed sharp clothes, a bowler, and a good cigar in his mouth. He needed to look successful and to mix with men who had a pocket full of gelt. (Money) Feige and the children in Koshovoto could manage a few more months without his and Abe's help.

For a change his plans were paying off. He could smell and taste success. He had met two brothers who had a successful manufacturing plant. They had a sister, Dora. Dora was very smart and kind. Unfortunately she had a little hump and a perpetual disappointed scowl on her face. Now if they could only find a clever fellow who could change that scowl to a smile, who would marry Dora and produce some sons, why that man would always have gelt in his keshene (Money in his pocket) and a good job in the factory.

Max was a charmer. He had no problem with any of this proposition. Max believed it was as easy to love a rich girl with a little hump as to love a poor girl with five hungry brats.

Abe was appalled. "Tate (Father) I can't believe any of this. You can't! You wouldn't! You are already married!"

Max bellowed, "Who are you to criticize me! They don't know that I am married. No one knows except you. If you tell, if you ruin this for me, I'll kill you! You…you never had a dream in your life."

Abe began shrayen (Shouting) "Oh yes. I have dreams too! They are just not your dreams of easy money. And right now I am having a terrible nightmare." Max retorted," You'll never understand. It's useless to talk to you. You're just like your mother. But farshtay aein zach (Understand this one thing) even if you can't understand my hopes and my ambitions, don't try to mess up my golden opportunity. "You are no longer my little boy. I am no longer your Tate. If you see me coming…cross the street or the room. Never speak to me again!"

Abe replied, "That won't be hard. What shall I tell Mama, your real wife Feige?"

"Tell her nothing! What was… was. What is… is. She'll be all right. Koshovoto is good enough for her and the children. In fact Koshovoto is good enough for you too. Here's some money. You can go back where you belong, to Koshovoto."

With those words ringing in his ears, Abe parted from his father.

Max oozed charm. Dora knew immediately that he was not the man of her dreams, but she was a practical woman. She knew he was using her to get the easy life. She would use him to have children. Once she had children, she could ignore him and concentrate on raising clever, ethical children. Her children would be physically perfect and they would carry out and complete her dreams. She smiled as she dreamed of her children who would go to school and become professionals. Her brothers saw her smiles and bought Max for her chousen. (Bridegroom)

Dora's father had established the factory. When he died, he gave Dora and her two brothers equal shares in the enterprise. Dora was a silent partner, but she was an equal partner, and a wealthy woman.

Twice Max impregnated Dora. She had two healthy sons. One she named Albert and the other she named Robert. Max was proud of his two American sons. But he was not interested in their social and educational development. He saw that as woman's work. He dreamed that when they were grown up, they would have man talks. At that time they would need a father and they would be close. In the meantime Dora saw that he always had money in his pocket. She encouraged him to go out and spend time with his men friends in the cafeterias of New York. When he was home, he sat in the living room listening to that wonderful new invention, the radio. In this way the years passed for Max, Dora, Albert, and Robert.

When Max and Abe parted, Abe was beside himself. What should he tell Mama and his siblings? Should he tell them that Tate had left them? Should he tell them the truth that Mama was an ahgunah (abandoned wife) without a get (divorce)? No it was too cruel. Instead he told them a fancy story.

Abe said, "Tate was on his way to work early in the morning when he heard a fierce and frightful noise behind him. It was a spooked horse dragging a carriage with a frightened, screaming lady in the driver's seat. In front of this berserk animal were three little children, unaware of the danger that was fast approaching. They were crossing the street on their way to school. Brave, brave Tate ran out in the street to save the lady and the three children. He grabbed the horse's reins and wouldn't let go. He stopped the run away horse. He saved the Lady. He saved the children. But unfortunately in the process he was trampled to death. Tate died a hero! Even the best doctors in New York could not save Tate's life."

With the letter, Abe sent Mama and the children the money Tate had given him. He said that the parents of the children Tate saved gave it to them in gratitude for Tate's heroic actions.

Abe worked very hard and spent very little on himself. In time, one by one he brought his Mama and his siblings to New York. In America the Friedmans worked very hard and became good citizens. Gradually their lives improved and they were happy.

Twenty years later all the Friedmans were regular Americans. Like their fellow citizens they enjoyed going to Radio City Music Hall to see the holiday extravaganza. Feige went with her daughters and grandchildren. Max went with Dora and his two college sons. They all had great seats in the center section of the orchestra. Feige and her party were seated on row five. Dora, Max, and sons were on row six.

When the show ended both parties were talking and laughing. Feige and her daughters turned to the back of their seats to pick up and put on their coats.

Feige's oldest daughter saw Max first and screamed, "Is it you? It can't be you! Tate! Abe said that you were dead!"

Feige shrieked," Ich chalish! (I am fainting.) Max Friedman! It is you alive and well and still lying! Oh my God! Ich chalish!"

Dora tried to speak calmly, but the word flew out shrilly. "What do you mean? Are you alive? How do you know my Max?"

Feige shrieked, "He's my husband! He went to America and left me with the children in Koshovoto with nothing but empty promises! And how long has he been dancing with you Miss. New York?"

Dora screamed, "Dancing with me? He married me twenty years ago!"

Max was trapped. The path to the aisle wouldn't empty. Everyone was watching and listening to the drama in the fifth and sixth row center of the orchestra. This new show was every bit as exciting as the Radio City Music Hall show that they had just seen.

Someone bellowed, "Lady! Hit the bum with your umbrella!"

A second voice echoed, "You too sweetheart! Clobber the bum!"

Max's two college boys grabbed his arms and hustled him out of R.C.M.H. while they whispered in his ear, "Dad, you remember how you always wanted to have a serious man to man talk with us? Well, today's the day for that talk!"

The agitated ladies and the excited grandchildren followed in their wake.

In a hurried consultation on the sidewalk, all the parties agreed to meet at Dora's house in two hours to unravel the stories and to learn the truth.

In two hours they were able to gather Dora's two bothers and all five of Max and Feige's children. Max refused to talk. He claimed that no one would listen to him and try to understand his side of the story. Abe on the other hand was anxious to tell all and of course he knew it all.

Once the truth was out, no one wanted anything to do with Max. No one saw a single trustworthy feature in his character. Now in his old age both his families shunned Max. In his old age he lived in a physical poverty that matched his ethical poverty. When he died his seven children buried him in the Koshovoto cemetery.

In life he hadn't valued his wives and children, now they returned the favor, and didn't value him.