Thursday, July 1, 2010

Six months in: Laszlo’s on Lex

Having issued one hundred and thirty-six posts since beginning January 1, 2010, I would like to celebrate the first half year anniversary by reissuing my first posting. Its name, not coincidentally, also carries the name of this overall endeavor. Thank you.


Laszlo's on Lex

Ilsa Lund Laszlo cleaned the celery stalks, took off the ends, and started chopping the stalks on the wooden board behind the counter at the rear of the store. Little Ricky slept in the carriage at the front, which was placed to catch the morning sun, slanting through the buildings opposite.

She had to do more tasks lately since Victor was less involved in the day to day work. She knew Victor did not like making sandwiches, did not like some of the German-Americans who came in, and was more interested in organizing the tenants in their building. But Sam helped, it was good to have him here now that the Parrot gig fell through and he was back in the States.

Organizing the tenants had become Victor's somewhat unreasonable passion. He resented the landlords, likening them to Nazis. She told him often that landlords were not like Nazis: "… most of them are Jews, Victor" -- but he was obstinate. She knew, too, he had been meeting the young Hungarian girl at Sascha's candy store on 81st Street. He came back always with the smell of halvah about him.

New York was not Paris, yet all things considered, she had few complaints. The delicatessen was doing well, sales had been up this year, and there had not been a postcard from Brazzaville in two years.

She heard the baby stir, so she moved to the carriage, wiping her hands on her long apron. She gently sang to him a few bars of the song Sam had sung in the old days “… the fundamental things apply …." Which reminded her of the fish cakes. It was Friday, so they would need at least sixty.


6 comments:

  1. Congratulations, and so encouraging to see that the word is getting around.
    When I first read this piece I thought it was so clever and yet so simple I knew I'd found a new regular haunt.
    Six months later this remains my favourite movie blog.
    Best wishes,
    Matthew

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  2. wonderful, gerald! hope you continue posting such insightful prose for many years to come.

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  3. Dear Matthew:

    As I have said countless times before, thank you for this and past kindnesses. It was the end of last year, I recall, that I came across your Christmas posting. That led me down one of your byways, to your “De Mille / Madam Satan" writeup of years earlier. I became a regular follower. And I thought I would try my hand -- and here we are six months later. Appreciate your help, particularly your early guidance. Best.

    Gerald

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  4. Dear Meredith:

    Thank you kindly. I suspect that it will take you a while to recover from roaming about the Continent. I am still going through England withdrawal. Appreciate your comment. Best.

    Gerald

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