text:
1. Early Zionist Films
2. Zionism, Pre-State Palestine and Birth of Israel
3. The Arab-Israeli Conflict
4. Terrorism
5. Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries
6. Modern Israel
7. Israel and the Media
8. Islamic Radicalism
Each documentary is listed alphabetically under the appropriate category. Some of the documentaries may be listed under more than one category.Several films include links to reviews by CAMERA staff (indicated when available).
Avodah (1935)
50 minutesIsrael, B&WDirector: Helmar Lerski
This documentary celebrates the pioneering labors of early Jewish settlers in Palestine. With a soundtrack by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, the film records the technological and agricultural accomplishments of the pioneers and glorifies the idea of a socialist Jewish state. It is interesting for the historical footage, which includes shots taken at the Jaffa port, in Tel Aviv, and on various kibbutzim of the time; Strasbourg-born director Lerskis expressive style creates an almost mythic image of the Jew in Palestine, toiling and triumphing amidst the sweeping desert landscape. Preserved by the Israel Film Archive.National Center for Jewish Film
Purchasing & Rental Instructions: http://www.brandeis.edu/jewishfilm/Catalogue/ordering.htm Contact Info (phone, fax): Telephone: (781) 899-7044 Fax: (781) 736-2070
Dream of My People (1934)
66 minutesUSA, B&W, English and Yiddish versionsProducer: Palestine-American Film Company Director: A.J. Bloome
An early travelogue on Palestine, focusing on Jews living and working in the Holy Land featuring the last appearance of Cantor Joseph (Yosselle) Rosenblatt. Locations featured here include Jerusalem sites (the market, Hebrew University, the King David Hotel, the Jewish Agency); the Judean Hills, Mikve Israel Agricultural School, pioneers working in fields; Rishon le Zion, Rehovot, Nes Ziona, citrus picking and packing; Jezreel valley and settlements; Tiberias and Lak Kinneret; Bedouin dwellings; Tel Aviv and Jaffa beach and street scenes and the Maccabiah Stadium.
Purchasing & Rental Instructions: http://www.brandeis.edu/jewishfilm/Catalogue/ordering.htm Contact Info (phone, fax): Telephone: (781) 899-7044 Fax: (781) 736-2070
Dreamers and Builders (1996)
50 minutesIsrael, B&WDirector: Yaakov Gross
This historic documentary incorporates rare footage of pre-state Israel from four early films preserved in a joint project by the National Center for Jewish Film and the Israel Film Archive. Director Gross captures wonderful scenes of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion, and Old Jaffa as well as rural settlements and activities throughout the land.
Hatikvah: The Hope (1936)
48 minutes Germany, B&W, silent with German and English subtitles Produced by the German Zionist Union
Created in 1936 in an effort to inspire German Jews under Nazi rule to make Aliyah, Hatikvah: The Hope is both a documentary on the earliest period of Zionist history and an artifact from it. The film was made three years after the Nazi rise to power, at the narrow juncture in history when flight from Germany was both imperative and still possible. The unique footage focuses on some major personalities in the Zionist movement, the constructive work carried out in Palestine by the first waves of immigration, and the religious life of Jews from a Perse spectrum of backgrounds.
Land of Promise (1935)
57 minutes Palestine, B&W, English and Hebrew Director: Juda Leman
This is one of Palestine's earliest sound films and part of a larger campaign to encourage settlement and investment in "the Jewish homeland." This documentary emphasizes secular accomplishments with cinematographic and editorial skill. Punctuated by evocative close-ups, this part documentary, part-travelogue, part-message film shows Palestine as a land of opportunity, the place for fulfilling an ancient dream. Preserved by the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House.
Altalena (1994)
53 minutes Israel, Color/B&W, English and Hebrew with English subtitles Director: Ilana Tsur
This documentary examines the 1948 episode of the Altalena, a ship whose fate nearly incited a civil war in the newly-established State of Israel. Immediately after Israel attained statehood, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion established a national army into which several independent Jewish defense forces were supposed to unite. However, on June 20, 1948, the Altalena arrived in Israel carrying 930 World War II refugees and a stockpile of ammunition amassed by the Irgun (one of the independent defense forces) in violation of Ben Gurion's new military chain-of-command. Ben Gurion gave an order to shell the ship, forcing Jews to fire on Jews, killing 16 Irgun members. The controversy surrounding the Altalena affair continues to reverberate in current Israeli politics. Original black and white newsreel footage, news clippings, photos and interviews with participants on both sides recreate this tragic event in Israel's history.
"The film contains vivid interviews from participants on both sides, interspersed with shots done by panning the camera across still photographs taken at the time. The riveting footage, emotion-wracked recollections by participants on both sides, the mind-boggling fact of Jew firing on Jew and the power play between Begin and Ben-Gurion make this extraordinary documentary a must-see!" - Jewish Forward
"Evocative... well-researched... The viewer is haunted by the faces of those Tsur interviewed from both sides, themselves still struggling to find a place to store the piercing memory." - The Jewish Week
Exodus 1947: The Ship That Launched a Nation (1996)
56 minutes USA, Color, English Directors: Elizabeth Rodgers and Robby Henson
Narrated by Morley Safer, this is a documentary about the Aliya Bet ship "Exodus 1947", secretly financed and crewed by American Jews. In the summer of 1947, this dilapidated Baltimore steamer run by former Jewish-American GI's took aboard 4,500 Holocaust survivors in Southern France and sailed for Palestine. Unable to run the British blockade, the immigrants battled the British and were sent back to Displaced Persons Camps in Germanya horrible destination for survivors of the Holocaust. Newsreels of this event and concern over the plight of the passengers galvanized international support for the creation of the State of Israel. The film includes interviews with former crew members and passengers as well as newsreel footage
"This splendid, carefully researched and assembled documentary is chock-full of fascinating details as it recalls a courageous, complex and dangerous mission with immense consequences." - Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Flames of Revolt: The Story of the Irgun (1994)
100 minutes Color/B&W
Documentary from the perspective of former Irgun (or Etzel, acronym for Irgun Tzva Leumi) members about the history and actions of the Irgunone of three Jewish underground military organizations that fought to bring about the establishment of the State of Israel. Highlighted are the bombing of the British headquarters in the King David Hotel, the breakout from the Acre prison, and the sinking of the Altalena. Includes historic film footage as well as interviews with Irgun commanders and fighters (including Menachem Begin), British intelligence officers and historians.
Purchasing & Rental Instructions: Ergo Media Inc. Contact Info (phone, email): Telephone: (201) 692-0404 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
In Our Own Hands: The Hidden Story of the Jewish Brigade in World War II (1998)
85 minutes USA, Color/B&WDirector: Chuck Olin
This film traces the history and the activities of the Jewish Brigade of the British armythe only all-Jewish fighting unit in World War II, which was composed of young Jewish men living in Palestine. The film begins with the men in 1995, at a 50th reunion at the scene of their major battle fought in Italy, and includes interviews with them throughout. The film's focus, however, is on the operations of the Brigade after the war. In post-war Europe, these young soldiers formed secret vengeance squads to assassinate Nazi officers in hiding, and engineered the rescue and illegal movement of Holocaust survivors to Palestine. Brigade veterans were also instrumental in helping to organize and lead the new Israel Defense Forces in 1948, in Israel's War of Independence. The film sheds light on an important and little known chapter in Jewish history.
Israel's Forgotten Heroes (1999)
60 minutes USA Director: Jerry Levine
Winner of 1999 Emmy for Best Documentary
A riveting documentary tribute to the American men and women who actively helped in the creation of the State of Israel from 1945-1949. Hal Linden presents this story of the men and womenJews and non-Jewswho, despite the perils involved, played a crucial role in the founding of Israel. The program features firsthand accounts from Americans who went to Israel and helped fight for Israel's independenceor who aided Israel by providing weapons and aircraft. Many of these inPiduals were veterans of World War II or Americans who were affected by the plight of Holocaust survivors and wanted to help ensure that a Jewish homeland was established. The film features archival footage, vintage photographs and first person accounts from Americans who participated in Israel's War of Independence.
Purchasing & Rental Instructions: Higher Authority Productions, Inc. (HAP) 10800 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 800, FL 33161
Contact Info (phone, fax, email): Telephone:(305) 899-3002 Fax: (305) 899-3003 Email: email@example.com
Pillar of Fire: A Television Series (Hebrew version, 1979) (abridged English version DVD release, 2005)
7 hoursIsrael, English Produced, Written by Yigal Lossin, Israel Broadcasting Authority Director: Ya'akov EisenmanNarrator (English version): Ian McKellen
The DVD release in English is an abridged version of the highly acclaimed Israeli TV mini-series, "Amud Ha'esh," documenting the history of modern Zionism, from its inception in the 1890s to the establishment of the modern day state of Israel in 1948, against the background of events that led to its development and shaped its character. The seven part series includes:
Part 1: The Jews ReturnsThe Arab Awakens (1896-10) Part 2: The Dream (1914-19) Part 3: The Rise & Fall of German Jewry (1919-1936) Part 4: Who\'s Afraid of a Jewish State? (1937-1939) Part 5: Holocaust (1939-1945) Part 6: Exodus (1945-1947) Part 7: A Nation Reborn (1947-1948)
Available from Israel-Media.com; Israel-Catalog.com; Amazon.com
The Long Way Home (1997) *Click here for CAMERA review of film
116 minutes USA, Color, B&WDirector: Mark Jonathan Harris
Winner of the 1997 Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary
This powerful film documents the plight of Holocaust survivors between 1945 and 1948from liberation to the creation of the State of Israel. Using archival footage, interviews, and personal accounts from diaries and letters, it examines what happened to displaced Jewish refugees determined to reach Palestine after the war. The film shows a post-war political climate that was surprisingly hostile to the Jewish refugees, who had suffered so much during the war. It also focuses on how Zionism and the hope of a Jewish homeland gave many survivors the incentive to continue living. Includes interviews with survivor Rabbi Israel Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel, as well as interviews with other survivors; two U.S. Army chaplains stationed in Europe after liberation; a member of the Bricha.
Moriah Films, Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance Online Store
What I Saw in Hebron (1999)
73 minutesIsrael, Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitlesProducer: Michal ArramDirector: Noit Geva & Dan Geva
Seventy years after the 1929 Hebron massacre, directors Noit and Dan Geva bring us the personal testimony of 12 people who survived the atrocity. Noit Geva's grandmother, who was only 16 years old at the time of the massacre, was so traumatized by the event that she never spoke of her experience, but recorded what she witnessed in a journal entry entitled "What I Saw in Hebron." This gripping documentary allows a rare glimpse into a little-known moment in Israel's history.
Israel: A Nation is Born (1997)
360 minutes An Israel Heritage/WNET ProductionProducer and Director: Neville MeyerNarrator: Abba Eban
This television mini-series, originally 5 episodes, was released in 1992. In 1997, it was re-released with an additional episode and in again in 2002, as a boxed DVD set. Abba Eban, an Israeli diplomat and politician who served as foreign minister during Israel's Six Day War, presents the story of modern Israel through both historical events and personal, firsthand recollections of many of those who lived them, using international newsreels, archival film footage, and photographs as well as both modern and vintage interviews that, while heavily weighted toward the Zionists and eventual Israelis, also include those of world Arab leaders and local Arab citizens. About the series, Eban said, "the series is designed to provide an essential context to an inspiring human story." The episodes include:From the Rise of Zionism to 1948 (51m:01s)The Creation of the State 1948-56 (51m:11s)Coming of Age 1956-67 (50m:40s)Six Days That Changed the Middle East 1967-73 (48m:40s)New Conflicts, New Dreams 1973-90 (55m:25s)On the Brink of Peace (56m:33s)added in 1997
Purchasing & Rental Instructions: Home Vision Entertainment Also available for Purchase from: Amazon.com; WGBH
Relentless: The Struggle for Peace in the Middle East (2003)
60 minutesIsrael, Color, English/Spanish/HebrewProducers: Raphael Shore, Pael Seidman, Honest Reporting:Directors: Wayne Kopping, Brian K. Spector
"Relentless" uses primary source video clips to examine the history of the Mideast conflict and how the Oslo peace process unraveled in a surge of violence. Interviews with relatives of Palestinian terrorism victims, clips from Palestinian TV encouraging terrorism and footage of viciously anti-Semitic sermons broadcast from Palestinian mosques allow Americans to understand and contextualize the struggle for safety and peace in the Middle East.
Contact Info: HonestReporting.com/relentlessTo purchase online: Relentless: The Struggle for Peace in the Middle East
Shooting Conflicts (2003)
48 minutesIsrael, English Producers: Noam Shalev and Yosi LeonDirector: Noam Shalev
For seven years, Alon Bernstein, an Israeli TV news journalist working for AP and Jimmy Michael, a Palestinian TV journalist working for BBC, have gathered the news, witnessing events from opposite sides of the conflict, filming terrorist attacks, military occupation, aftermaths of suicide bombings, peace initiatives and human suffering. Their views and opinions are shaped and formed by personal, direct encounters with the events, undiluted by the editorial bias that dictates the daily TV news seen all over the world. In "Shooting Conflicts," the pair reveal their first hand experiences in forthright interviews with the filmmaker.
Contact and Purchasing Information: Highlight FilmsEmail: firstname.lastname@example.com information about screenings: email@example.com
The Fifty Years War: Israel and the Arabs (1998) *Click here for CAMERA review of film
300 minutes PBS/WGBH/BBC Film Executive Producers: PBS, Zvi Dor-Ner, Brian Lapping, Norma PercyProducer/Directors: David Ash, Dai Richards, Michael Simkin and Charlie Smith
This documentary--created by PBS for the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel--attempts an even-handed study of the relationship and conflicts between Israelis and Arabs. The film opens with the 1947 decision of the U.N. to partition Palestine and includes numerous film clips as well as interviews with political and military leaders on both sides, as well as from the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. The first episode includes Israel''s struggle for statehood, the wars of 1948 and 1967, and the history of the Palestine Liberation Organization. The second episode covers the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1978 Camp David Accord, the 1987 Palestinian Intifada Uprising, and the Oslo Agreement in 1993--and reconciliation attempts which followed. Officials interviewed include Benjamin Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Shamir, King Hussein, Yasir Arafat, Hafez al-Assad (Syria), Jafaar Numeiry (Sudan), Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush and Jimmy Carter.
Purchasing Information: PBS Films; Amazon.com VHS; Amazon.com DVD
The Trojan Horse (2002)
40 minutesEnglish and Arabic, with English and French subtitles Director: Pierre Rehov
"The Trojan Horse" demonstrates, through rare footage of Palestinian leaders themselves that their goal remains the eradication of the Jewish state. The film opens with the words of deceased Palestinian leader Faysal Husseini talking about how Palestine will cover from "the river to the sea," an official states the peace process is merely a first step toward the destruction of Israel, children's television programs indoctrinate them to hate and become "martyrs," speakers on talk shows deny Israels right to exist, Arafat calls for jihad and the total destruction of Israel. This shocking and rare footage gives important context to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Contact Information: Pierre Rehov.comTo purchase online: Katrina Productions
Impact of Terror (2004) *Click here for CAMERA review of film
52 minutes Canada, Color, English An Associated Producers filmProducers: Simcha Jacobovici, Tim WolochatiukDirector: Tim Wolochatiuk
Impact of Terror is a moving documentary about Israeli victims of terror struggling to cope in the aftermath of the Aug. 9, 2001 Sbarro pizzeria bombing in Jerusalem. It effectively maps out the victims scars both physical and emotional and humanizes the personal struggles of individuals who are often unnamed in news reports and relegated to casualty counts. .
Contact Information: Nicole Austin Associated Producers110 Spadina Ave #1001Toronto, Ontario M5V 2K4
Fax: (416) 504-6667Email: email@example.com
Maytal (1996)
51 minutes Israel, Color, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducer and Director: Yael Kipper Zarezhky
A 1996 terrorist bombing in Tel Aviv left 27-year-old Maytal Lederman critically injured and took the life of her brother Asaf. This documentary follows Maytal over a period of eight months in an Israeli rehabilitation hospital, as she struggles to cope with her loss and rebuild her life with her husband Steve. Emotionally affecting yet unsentimental, this portrait of one woman's trauma provides an unforgettable human perspective on the tragic consequences of Middle Eastern conflict.
Munich: Operation Bayonet (2006)
52 minutes Israel, EnglishProducer: Noam Shalev Director: Ron Maiberg
Many accounts exist of the Mossads operations throughout the Middle East and West Europe. The Israeli Mossads operations against the Palestinian Black September terrorist organization following the 1972 massacre of eleven Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics was brought to the screen in a much hyped, fictionalized version by Steven Spielberg. (See CAMERAs Film Review: "Munich") In Munich: Operation Bayonet, the real story of the Israeli Mossad's "Bayonet" unit responsible for that operation is exposed, told first-hand by the people involved. The documentary revisits the scenes of the operations with the Mossad agents responsible, and presents the personal accounts of CIA operatives and the surviving Black September members. The film gives an unrivaled and compelling account of Israels unprecedented actions.
Contact and Purchasing Information: Highlight FilmsEmail: firstname.lastname@example.com information about screenings: firstname.lastname@example.com special screenings and US broadcast: firstname.lastname@example.com
No. 17 is Anonymous (2003)
76 minutes Israel, Color, English, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducers: Edna and Elinor KowarskyDirector: David Ofek
A suicide attack at the Megiddo junction near Tel Aviv in June 2003 killed 17 people. Sixteen were identified and accounted for. The film documents the 6-month effort by the film crew to search for the identity of the 17th victim who was buried anonymously after no one claimed his mutilated body and police gave up searching. The film also records the stories of several people who were affected directly or indirectly by the bombing, creating a portrait of a society living under the shadow of death.When it seems that the investigation has reached a dead end a vague lead suddenly appears.
One Day in September (1999) *Click here for CAMERA review of film
94 minutes Switzerland, Germany, UK, B&W,Color, English, GermanProducers: Arthur Cohn and John Battsek.Director: Kevin MacdonaldNarrated by Michael Douglas
1999 Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary
This Oscar-winning documentary is about the Black September terrorist attack on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Interspersing interviews and archival news footage of the actual events, the film tells the story of the doomed Israeli athletes and the Palestinian terrorists who held them captive while theWest German police displayed their ineptitude and indifference and the International Olympic Committee showed a shocking lack of sensitivity toward the Israeli victims.
Available for purchase from : Amazon.com
Shalom, My Dream (1999)
60 minutes Israel, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducer and Director: Noam Ben Shoham
This moving, documentary is about the last 24 hours in the life of Bat-Chen Shahak, one of three girls killed by a terrorist bomber on Purim Day, March 3, 1996. It was Bat-Chen's 15th birthday. Through conversations with her younger brother, her Israeli teenage friends, and her family, and photos taken the day of the bombing, the film explores life and death, the price of peace and the loss of innocence. .
Contact Information: Noam Ben Shoham137 W 67th Street #1WNew York, NY 10023
Telephone: (212) 877-2322Email: email@example.com
Suicide Killers (2006)*Click here for CAMERA review of film
80 minutes Israel, English, Hebrew, Arabic with English subtitlesProducer and Director: Pierre Rehov
In his seventh documentary, French filmmaker Pierre Rehov, investigates the motives and driving forces behind suicide attackers through interviews with psychologists, terrorism experts, family members, victims, and most compellingly, with failed and would-be suicide killers themselves. .
The Making of a Martyr (2006)
58 minutesIsrael, EnglishProducers and Directors: Brooke Goldstein and Alistair Leyland
On March 24th, 2004, 15 year old Hussam Abdu was apprehended at an Israeli border checkpoint with live explosives strapped around his waist. Instead of detonating the bomb, out of fear of death and love for his family, Hussam voluntarily surrendered and is now serving time in an Israeli prison for attempted murder. Since the start of the second Palestinian Intifada, an alarming number of suicide bombers have been children aged eighteen or younger. To explore this troubling phenomenon, filmmakers Brooke Goldstein and Alistair Leyland risked their lives and traveled to the Palestinian towns of Jenin, Ramallah, Tulkarem and Nablus, seeking out and meeting with leaders of terrorist organizations responsible for recruiting children for suicide attacks. Through a series of first hand and thought provoking interviews, "The Making of a Martyr" brings its audience into a part of Palestinian culture previously ignored by uncovering those who are facilitating, teaching and paying children to take their own lives as human bombs.
For information about Public Showings of this program, or to purchase the program for educational use: email@example.com Purchase Video: Filmoption International
Zaka: Living With Death (2004)
47 minutesIsrael, EnglishProducer and Director: Noam Shalev
Two suicide bombers detonate their bombs in a busy shopping area in the center of Tel Aviv. The aftermath is horrific. Enter the ZAKA team. Black plastic bags in hand, they scour the area, intent on finding everything down to the last fingernail. Their mission: To collect every piece of flesh, every scrap of hair, left after a suicide bombing. Always on call, their beepers vibrate seconds after the disaster. They believe in providing the "Chessed Shel Emet" or "true act of kindness"i.e. a burial for all human remains. They are the ZAKA volunteers. The film follows the ZAKA volunteers in more than two years of suicide bombings in Israel, in their training and when they get the call - to come and take care of the bodies. In February 2004 a group of Zaka volunteers traveled to The Hague with the bombed bus from one of the suicide bombings in Jerusalem.
I Miss the Sun (1984)
20 minutes USA, ColorProducer and Director: Mary Halawani
Filmmaker Mary Halawani profiles her grandmother, Rosette Hakim, in this illuminating documentary short. A prominent Egyptian-Jewish family, the Halawanis fled their homeland in 1959 when anti-Zionist sentiments were on the rise and hundreds of Jews were interned in detention camps for alleged pro-Communist activities. Rosette, the family matriarch, chose to remain in Egypt until every member of the large family was free to leave. She discusses the contrast between life in her native land and her new home in America. Using the Passover seder as a backdrop, Rosette (who now lives in Brooklyn) discusses life in Egypt and the contrasts between the values and textures of life there and in America.
The Dhimmis:To Be a Jew in Arab Lands (1987)
29 minutes B&WProducer: David GoldsteinDirector: Baruch Gitlis
Purchasing & Rental Instructions: Ergo Media Inc. Contact Info (phone, email):Telephone: (201) 692-0404 Email: email@example.com
The Forgotten Refugees (2005)*Click here for CAMERA review of film
Winner of the 2007 Award at Marbella Film Festival
49 minutes English, ColorProducer: The David Project and IsraTVDirector Michael Grynzspan
The Forgotten Refugees explores the history and destruction of Middle Eastern Jewish communities, some of which had existed for over 2,500 years. Featuring testimony from Jews who fled Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco and Iran, the film explores the rich heritage and destruction of the Middle Easts age-old Jewish communities. Personal stories of refugees are interspersed with dramatic archival footage, including the mission to rescue Yemenite Jews.
Purchasing & Rental Instructions: The Forgotten Refugees Available for Purchase online by clicking here.Contact Info (phone, email):Telephone: (617) 428-0012 ext. 1153 Email: email@example.com
The Last Jews of Libya (2007)
50 minutes English, Italian, Arabic with SubtitlesProducer: Aryeh B. Bourkoff Director: Vivienne Roumani DennNarrator: Isabella Rossellini
The film documents the final decades of a centuries-old Sephardic Jewish community through the lives of the Roumani family. The film traces the story of the Roumanis of Benghazi, Libya from Turkish Ottoman rule through the age of Mussolini and Hitler to the final destruction and dispersal of Libya's Jews in the face of Arab nationalism. Based on the recently discovered memoirs of the family's matriarch, Elise Roumani, as well as interviews in English, Hebrew, Italian, and Arabic with several generations of the Roumani family and a trove of archival film and photographs, "The Last Jews of Libya" tells the story of an ancient community buffeted by Fascism and Arab nationalism and ultimately saved through the strength of its Jewish tradition and faith. .
The Silent Exodus (2004)*Click here for CAMERA review of film
59 minutes Israel/France, French w/ English SubtitlesProducer and Director: Pierre Rehov
Rehov interviews several prominent scholars and survivors of the Arab pogroms including Bat Ye'or, the scholar who introduced the concept of "dhimmitude" (the legal and social conditions of Jews and Christians subjected to Islamic rule) into the lexicon. They vividly elucidate the circumstances precipitating the departure of these Jews from their longtime homes.
Applefeld's Table (2004)
47 minutesIsrael, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducer and Director: Adi Japhet-Fuchs
The film revolves around the renowned Israeli author, Aharon Applefeld's daily pilgrimages to the Anna Ticho House in Jerusalem, whose café he uses as a study and a meeting place with friends and colleagues. Appelfeld's dramatic personal story is enriched by excerpts from his writings with an attempt to understand the creative process.
At the End of the Day (2000)
50 minutesIsrael, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducer and Director: Ayelet Bargur
Four young men, all commanders in the same Israeli Defense Force Golan Heights paratrooper unit, were killed over a twenty-two month period from 1995 to 1997. Their families, realizing they all suffer a common fate, agree to meet and share their stories. With great sensitivity and skill, director Ayelet Bargur, whose brother Zvi was among those who died, documents the ongoing attempts by these families to come to terms with the deaths of their loved ones. This painful subject is one that touches many Israeli families today.
David Rubinger: Eyewitness (1998)
50 minutesIsrael, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducer and Director: Micha Shagrir
David Rubinger, recipient of the Israel Prize for Photography and the Time-Life photographer whose images of Israel over the past 50 years has shaped the world's perception of the state, began to photograph in 1947. He has covered nearly every important event in Israels history. Through his camera lens, he has been an eyewitness to the dramatic events that took place in Israel throughout the years. Among his most famous photographs are of the crew of the "Bat Galim" ship that tried to break the blockade of the Suez Canal in 1955; a mother and two daughters in kibbutz Gadot after their home was hit by a Syrian rocket in 1967; Ella Yosefi of Bet Shean after the news of a terrorist attack at the town school in 1970; a female soldier during the 1973 war treating the wounded; and perhaps best known, the three soldiers at the Western Wall in June 1967. In this film, Rubinger journeys back to the places and people he has photographed during the years, and leads the viewers to a better understanding of the contemporary Israeli reality. Rubingers pictures represent his own life story, professional views and experiences, but mainly his great love for the country and its people.
Contact Info: Tapuz and Shiba CommunicationsAddress: 34 Allenby St. Tel-Aviv 63552IsraelTelephone: 972-3-516-6030 Fax: 972-3-516-6040Email: email@example.com
This television mini-series, originally 5 episodes, was released in 1992. In 1997, it was re-released with an additional episode and in again in 2002, as a boxed DVD set. Abba Eban, an Israeli diplomat and politician who served as foreign minister during Israel's Six Day War, presents the story of modern Israel through both historical events and personal, firsthand recollections of many of those who lived them, using international newsreels, archival film footage, and photographs as well as both modern and vintage interviews that, while heavily weighted toward the Zionists and eventual Israelis, also include those of world Arab leaders and local Arab citizens. About the series, Eban said, "the series is designed to provide an essential context to an inspiring human story." The episodes include:From the Rise of Zionism to 1948 The Creation of the State 1948-56 Coming of Age 1956-67 Six Days That Changed the Middle East 1967-73 New Conflicts, New Dreams 1973-90 On the Brink of Peaceadded in 1997
The Old Stores (2006)
53 minutesIsrael, Hebrew, Arabic with English subtitles Producer and Director: Yoav Gurfinkel
The documentary tells the story of aging "Mom and Pop" stores that have survived in the ever-changing, dynamic city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa . This non-political film looks nostalgically at the passage of timethe clinging to traditions and old world values in an age of modernization and provides a rare glimpse of the everyday concerns of real Israelis without the filter of the Arab-Israeli conflict that often colors the images we see from there.
Contact Info: JMT Films, Distribution and SalesGeneral Manager, Michael Treves Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Too Close to Home (1995)
50 minutesIsrael, Color, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducer: Talia Goshen Director: Ori Inbar
The future of the Golan remains a crucial issue for Israel's future. This documentary about the people who live in and protect the Golan provides important insight into the political and social issues surrounding the territory. In 1994, Israeli army officer and filmmaker Ori Inbar recorded his annual reserve service in the Israeli-Syrian border patrol on the Golan Heights. The documentary follows five of the men of Inbar's unit during the 32 days of their yearly tour of duty, an experience they have been sharing for nearly 20 years. All five live in the Golan, and were among the first to settle in the area after it changed from Syrian to Israeli hands.
Underdogs: A War Movie (1996)
86 minutesIsrael, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducer: Avi Armoza Directors: Doron Tsabori and Rino Zror
Underdogs is a documentary about the soccer mania that hits Beit She'an, a small working-class Israeli town near the Jordanian border, when the local team prepares for their last crucial game of the season. Beit Shean's team must defeat the rich, national champions from Haifa in order to remain in the league. More than battles on the soccer field, the film is about the conflicts between rich and poor, small town and big city, and minorities and the ruling class.
Unsettled (2007)
80 minutesUSA, English, Hebrew with English subtitlesProducer and Director: Adam Hootnick
This documentary about Israels 2005 withdrawal from Gaza focuses on three young Israelis who are expelled from their homes, two of the Israeli soldiers who are sent to evict them, and an activist who tries to raise public support for the withdrawal, despite her sisters murder by Palestinian terrorists. It tells the story about young Israelis on the front lines of a battle where there is no winner.
To organize a public screening of the film, contact: email@example.com
To be notified when DVD's become available to public, contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Décryptage (2002) *Click herefor CAMERA review of film
100 minutesFrance, French with English subtitlesProducer: Sophie DULAC ProductionsDirectors: Jacques Tarnero and Philippe Bensoussan
Décryptage, or "Decoding" in English, caused a sensation when it debuted in France in 2002, filling theaters with (often mostly Jewish) patrons dismayed at media treatment of Israel, "the epicenter of a world passion," as one of the films interviewees put it. American audiences too will find a riveting, thoughtful and relevant portrayal of how the Arab-Israeli conflict is presented.
The DVD is available for purchase online in PAL (European) format, but not in NTSC (American) format. It can be viewed on a multi-region (PAL/NTSC) DVD player:
To purchase online: Amazon.com
Jenin: Massacring the Truth (2004)
60 minutesCanada, EnglishProducer and Director: Martin Himel
This documentary explores the damaging myth and underlying media bias against Israel. Jenin was the suicide bomb making capital in the West Bank. When the Israeli military took over Jenin, much of European and world media claimed Israel committed war crimes and massacres in the cityfar from the carnage and massacre broadcast by the media. "Massacring the Truth" examines what actually happened in Jenin, how it was transformed into a massacre myth, and how that myth is perpetuating a new brand of anti-Semitism.
Contact Information: Elsash Productions Ltd.45 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 1400Toronto, Ontario M4V 1L3
Telephone: (416) 880-3371Fax: (416) 967-4372Emails: firstname.lastname@example.com@firstname.lastname@example.com@firstname.lastname@example.com
The Road to Jenin (2002) *Click herefor CAMERA review of film
53 minutesEnglish, Arabic, Hebrew and French with English subtitlesProducer and Director: Pierre Rehov
In "The Road to Jenin," filmmaker Pierre Rehov's clear purpose is to expose the inflammatoryand defamatoryfalsehoods spread by works like "Jenin, Jenin." As such his film does not attempt to be an overview of the Israeli and Palestinian experience in Jenin or an exhaustive account of IDF conduct. Nevertheless, the information that Rehov does provide is based on interviewees who use bona fide images and documents to substantiate their claims.
Islam versus Islamists: Voices from the Muslim Center (2007)
52 minutes USA, EnglishProducer and Director: Martyn Burke
"Islam vs. Islamists: Voices from the Muslim Center" and its companion documentary, "Muslims Against Jihad," tell the story of courageous anti-Islamist Muslims in Western Europe, Canada and the United States and the extraordinary challenges they face in taking on adherents to the theo-totalitarian ideology known as Islamism. What is happening to these moderates who are being ostracized, bankrupted, intimidated and, in some cases, threatened with death offers critical insights into the dangers that both they and non-Muslims are facing. These films also suggest steps that can and must be taken to help empower the anti-Islamist Muslims in the struggle for their faith.
Contact Information: Islam vs. Islamists Documentary
To purchase DVD, click here.
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West (2005)
60 minutes (DVD: 77 minutes)USA, English, Arabic, FarsiProducer: Raphael ShoreDirector: Wayne Kopping
Using images from Arab TV, rarely seen in the West, "Obsession" reveals the hatred radical Islamists are teaching, their incitement of global jihad, and their goal of world domination. The film observes the parallels between radical Islamists and the Nazi Party during the War, specifically Adolf Hitler's relationship with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem as an inspiration for radical Islamic movements in the Middle East today. Featuring first-hand accounts from a former PLO terrorist, a Nazi youth commander, and the daughter of a martyred guerilla leader, as well as analysis from prominent counter-terrorism experts, the film demonstrates the real threat that radical Islamists pose to the West.
Contact Information: Obsession: The Movie
To arrange for campus screenings, email firstname.lastname@example.com arrange for a general screening, email email@example.com purchase a DVD, or pay per view, click here.


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Beauty in every hand carved linoleum block. The 120 year old cast iron Chandler and Price printing press demands nothing less and artist Patricia Curtan delivers perfection.
Patricia began working with Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in the early 1970s, while apprenticing during the day for acclaimed poster and graphic artist David Lance Goines.
Alice always had an appreciation for fine printing and would trade tasty Chez Panisse vittles for daily menus, a key detail in the iconic restaurant aesthetic.
Patricia began to dabble in special menus working with polymer type and linoleum wood blocks. She learned on the Chandler and Price press while apprenticing with Mr. Goines and it was love at first sight for her.
Over the past 40 years, Patricia has built quiet the portfolio. Menus dedicated to celebrated foodies like James Beard, MFK Fisher, Julia Child and Richard Olney; to government officials including First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Prince Charles; or a private birthday dinner for technology king Steve Jobs.
Patricia's new book is an interesting window into the history of Chez Panisse and the people it touched.
I love the honorable birthday meal for their potato infatuated friend. It was not a meal without a potato.
Or the dinner menu for food lover extraordinaire James Beard. Featured star of the night: young spring green garlic and the rare visit from James Beard of course.
A private birthday dinner menu for late technology innovator Steve Jobs.
An non-celestial New Year's themed menu, a rare one in the bunch.
Local school fundraiser. Starting the kids off early for the appreciation of eating with the eyes first.
Dinner with famous ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. Borage ravioli–so different!
And for those who like a bit of video, check out Patricia for the Authors at Google Series:
A few of my favorite googler questions included:
How far down the rabbit hole do you let yourself go for getting the perfect piece? I go far down the rabbit hole…
Have you ever had a typo? Yes, plenty. I am good at making typos. Your proof readers are a special group of people.
What is the life span of a menu in the restaurant? Just one rotation. It is yours to take with you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez Billboard Music Awards: Sitting Together?
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez back together for the 2013 Billboard Music Awards? Justin and Selena are sitting next to each other for the awards show--Jelena date night? We'll be watching.
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez may keep us guessing about whether they are back together or not--but this weekend at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, they will totally be together.
Well, they're sitting next to each other, anyway.
Yes, the seating chart for the Billboard Music Awards shows Sel and Justin sitting together. And that's either going to be hella awkward or, if they really are sneakily a couple again, pretty darn awesome.
Omg! Insider shared the BBMAs seating chart on Twitter, showing Jelena very much seated together.
All eyes are going to be on Justin and Selena, for sure!
Earlier this week, Justin and Selena were seen clubbing in L.A., with a source telling E! News that Jelena came in the back entrance of Supperclub at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Selena reportedly was wearing "a sexy club dress" while Justin had on "a T-shirt, chain and high-tops."
The couple danced and held hands, hung out for awhile, then left at 12:15 a.m.
Hardly a long date night, but it looks like they could be reconciling. Maybe?


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"A top-tier trial firm with great tacticians."
Chambers USA – 2015
mental health law | pro bono
Reilly Pozner is a full-service trial firm, with trial experience across a broad range of matters, from complex civil and commercial cases, to class actions, personal injury and mass tort litigation, to criminal defense. Our lawyers also include accomplished appellate practitioners with track records of success in federal and state courts.
Across the country, RP lawyers represent both plaintiffs and defendants, focusing primarily on matters that involve significant liability exposure, public visibility, and a high likelihood of going to trial. The firm's success on behalf of its clients stems from its fundamental orientation toward achieving victory at trial. RP's lawyers are regularly in court presenting cases and arguments to judges and jurors, and the firm approaches each case as if it will go to trial. That litigation posture pays dividends to clients, whether the ultimate resolution of their case is by settlement or verdict.


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Legislators, staffers, local officials and advocates from across New York gathered in Albany last Wednesday for "Making the Most of Our Transportation Dollars," an event focused on exploring what New York can and cannot do to assure that the new federal transportation law (MAP-21) doesn't negatively impact state priorities.
Two speakers grappled with issues relating to this new world of transportation finance. Ron Epstein, Chief Financial Officer of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), laid out the policy shifts in MAP-21 and the "rough road ahead" caused by increased uncertainty for future federal dollars, most recently highlighted by the sequestration battle, while Nick Donohue, Policy Director for Transportation for America, highlighted two steps New York State could take to compensate for MAP-21's squeeze on funding for local priorities like bike lanes, buses and bridges.
See chart below for detailed changes resulting from MAP-21
1. Transfer more funds into the Surface Transportation Program. MAP-21 substantially increased funds (by $177,477,066) for the National Highway System—interstates and other major roads—while eliminating dedicated funds for the repair of local bridges. This means that there will be more competition for limited Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds, forcing communities in New York State to make difficult choices between fixing bridges, building trails and complete streets, improving transit service and other local priorities. However, federal law allows NYSDOT to transfer up to 50 percent of its National Highway Performance Program (NHPP) funding to other programs, such as STP. By transferring more funds into STP, New York will have more flexibility over the projects it can fund, and it can undo MAP-21's shift away from local priorities.
2. Spend more federal safety money on walking and biking. Because MAP-21 cut dedicated funding for pedestrian and bicycle programs by a third, New York should compensate for that decrease by using federal safety money. Today, 27 percent of New Yorkers killed in traffic crashes are pedestrians or bicyclists, but the state spends less than 1 percent of its Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding on these improvements. These funds were doubled in MAP-21, opening up the door for a potential "Fair Share for Safety" policy that could apportion dollars according to fatalities and injuries.
As Epstein cogently pointed out "Each period of great economic expansion followed federal investment in transportation infrastructure." The trick will be convincing our representatives, whether at the state or federal level, to tackle this funding challenge head on.
Change in Funding Pots resulting from MAP-21:
|STP* (multimodal)
|CMAQ (air quality)
|HSIP (safety)
|TA** (bike/ped)


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My lathe's tailstock has a lot of backlash (.006), a short throw (1.500), and sixty graduations (a number that has never made any sense to me). I've always found it difficult to drill to accurate depths.
For example, 0.875 divided by .060 equals how many rotations of the tailstock handle? It's ridiculous to me that I need to do math (even simple math) just to drill a hole to a depth of 0.875. If my tailstock had 100 graduations things would be a lot easier … but it doesn't. It has 60.
60? Really?
Now, about the backlash. I know what you're thinking. Who cares about backlash in a tailstock? Apparently I do. My psychiatrist and I are working on that …
And yes I realize that 99.9% of the time the depth of a hole isn't a critical dimension – but I'd still wanted more control and accuracy out of my tailstock.
At least, that was the case. But no longer! With the exception of the short throw all the other issues with my tailstock were resolved with one simple stop that you can easily make in an evening.
This project is very simple. The only thing that I can see tripping someone up is remembering to create thread relief for the cap screw. When you drill and tap for the 1/4-20 cap screw, you'll want to also drill a .250 thread relief to the halfway point (where the slitting saw will eventually cut) so that the dial stop is only threaded on one of the two sides. If you thread both sides the two sides won't draw together when you tighten the cap screw.
I didn't draw up plans because of the simplicity of the project and because each person will need to scale the project up or down to fit the size of their lathe. I did, however, make a build video. Let me know what you think!
If you make your own please post pictures on the forum.


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Twitter @ScottRouch
When the Harlem High School girls softball team held tryouts before the season, you had to look quick to see junior outfielder Ashley Lunz.
Not because of her stature – she stands at just 5-feet-3 inches – but rather because she was a blur during baserunning drills, quickly establishing herself as the fastest player out there.
That did not diminish during the year. She is among the team leaders in on-base percentage (.464) and is second on the team in stolen bases – 11 in 12 attempts.
"She's so fast when she puts the ball in play," said coach Mike Leverett. "She could bunt every time, and I could promise you four out of the five times they're going to make a mistake. Her on-base percentage is higher because of that."
Calling the bunt one of her main weapons, she put that on display against Thomasville in the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class AA State Softball playoffs. She laid the ball down about three feet in front of the plate, and while the catcher got to it fast, she still had no shot at throwing Lunz out.
"I just try to get on and help the team out as much as I can," said Lunz, who was third on the team in walks with 16.
The 2012 Lady Bulldogs were able to get past the second round of the state playoffs, advancing to the round of eight in Columbus, Ga. Though the current squad is two wins away from duplicating that, Lunz thinks Leverett might have more talent to work with this year.
"We had a lot of seniors last year and the team was really good, but I think we have a better team this year," Lunz said. "I think we became closer as a team and we try to work really hard ... I hope we make it to Columbus."
Lunz started playing softball about eight years ago, influenced by her brothers playing in a slow-pitch league, and no other sport has drawn her attention since then.
"Softball was the only one I wanted to concentrate the most on," Lunz said.
But she almost didn't become a Lady Bulldog.
"When she was an eighth-grader she decided she didn't want to play softball at all," Leverett said. "I had to go to the middle school and tell her, 'Look, we need you.'"
Whenever the offseason comes around, she'll start getting ready for the next year, but not taking the route that a lot of players take these days.
"My parents work a lot and stuff and we really don't have time to do travel ball," she said.
She is quiet on the diamond, but Leverett likes her demeanor.
"She can go 4-4 and she'll keep the same expression," Leverett said. "She goes 0-4, she keeps the same expression. There's no big head at all. She's just all focus which is a good thng for us."
She also got high praise from outside the athletic arena.
"She's just an outstanding, wonderful young lady," said Harlem principal Dietmar Perez.


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Here we are. Here I am. A beautiful fall weekend is coming to a close, Tom Brady is back and my Patriots won, and all is right with the world. What more could I ask for? The truth is, there is a lot more that I find myself wanting lately, and I am on a mission to find it.
What is it that I want? Probably nothing more than any other 26 year old woman: Great relationships, fit body, general happiness…I could go on (flawless skin,tons of money,perfect husband,world peace?).
Lately I've been thinking, why can't I have all of this? Who do I not have all of this this? True, some of it will just require time and happenstance. But, some of it takes work (read:relationships,body, happiness). I've decided that I am ready to work and that there is no reason that I can't have it all. Ammiright?!
So, here are some specific goals that I'll be working towards:
- Form healthier eating habits and develop a fitness routine for overall weight loss and healthier living.
- Do more of what makes me happy. This usually comes in the form of random craft projects. I'll document as well as I can so that I can share.
- Share the things that i find most inspiring and motivating in an effort to maintain my own internal positivity and hopefully spread the love with anyone reading.
I've never done this whole blogging thing, so we'll see how this goes. I aim to be as real and honest as possible, while also connecting with some like minded people, and maybe even making a positive difference in someone's life along the way.
Join me?


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May is National Exercise Month. Throughout the month the Joslin Blog will be highlighting stories about exercising with diabetes. Be sure to check in each week for updates! This article was originally published on July 26, 2015.
Good nutrition without physical activity is like eating one-half of a really tasty sandwich. Although the half maybe nourishing and appealing, it isn't fully satisfying. To achieve good health and excellent glycemic control you need both halves of the sandwich. Just as you may need a dietitian partner to help you maneuver the serpentine world of healthy eating, a guide in your exercise journey can be a lifesaver, also.
National Exercise Month is a good time to talk about the dietitian's partner, the exercise physiologist (EP). Now most people are familiar with dietitians and have some idea of what they do and why seeing one would be a good idea if you have diabetes. However, determining why their doctor wrote out a referral for an appointment with an exercise physiologist may leave a lot of people scratching their heads.
Some people confuse exercise physiologists with physical therapists. Physical therapists help restore muscle and limb function after people have had an injury, but you don't have to be injured to benefit from the services of an EP (such as Joslin's own Manager of Exercise Physiology, Jackie Shahar M.Ed., R.C.E.P., C.D.E.,). Planning for and starting an exercise program can be challenging for many people with diabetes. EPs can help you learn how to exercise safely no matter what your starting condition is.
Excess weight, joint problems, diabetes complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy all require specialized techniques to make exercising safe. EPs have the anatomical training to be able to recommend exercises that will improve your cardiovascular and muscle strength without worsening your other medical condition(s).
The EP is trained to identify lifestyle-related issues that promote poor health and to design and implement a behavior-based treatment plan aimed at modifying those lifestyle behaviors. Lack of time and distaste are two of the reasons people give for not wanting to exercise. One of the EPs strength's is the ability to match exercises to your lifestyle.
The EP will first analyze your current fitness level, and come up with a complete, individual exercise plan to improve your cardiovascular function and blood glucose control that takes into account your medical condition(s). Says Jackie– "For people with diabetes, an exercise physiologist is an excellent choice as a coach because he/she understands how exercise can affect blood glucose levels."
According to Health Careers.org, the Board Certified Exercise Physiologist (EPC) is trained to:
- Administer exercise stress tests in healthy and unhealthy populations
- Evaluate a person's overall health, with special attention to cardiovascular function and metabolism
- Develop individualized exercise prescriptions to increase physical fitness, strength, endurance, and flexibility
- Design customized exercise programs to meet health care needs and athletic performance goals
EPs must have a degree in exercise physiology and/or has been certified by the American Society of Exercise Physiologists (ASEP).The coursework includes hard science courses such as Kinesiology (functional anatomy), biomechanics, exercise physiology, psychophysiology, cardiac rehabilitation, exercise testing and prescription, ECG interpretation, and statistics.
You might consider seeing an EP in the following circumstances
- newly diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes
- trying to prevent diabetes
- trying to lose weight or gain weight
- seeking help in getting your blood glucose under control with exercise
- trying to improve your aerobic capacity or increase muscle mass
- diagnosed with other health conditions besides diabetes that will benefit from an exercise plan (e.g. high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high body fat)
- finding an exercise regimen that best fits your goals, health conditions, culture and lifestyle
Not every recognized diabetes education program has an exercise physiologist on staff. If your program doesn't, ask your health care provider for a referral to an independent practitioner or check out the American College of Sports Medicine ProFinder website: http://certification.acsm.org/pro-finder
This article was originally published on May 3, 2013


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Maisy could not remember ever being more angry in her life. She tried not to let the kids see just how riled she was as she made sure they were buckled safely into the car, but from the unusual quiet coming from the back seat, she knew the older ones knew. Fortunately, the little ones in the middle seat seemed to be oblivious to her mood, and they cheerfully started to beg for a trip to the ice cream shop on the way home.
Maisy gave in immediately, knowing that ice cream would also distract the older kids from trying to figure out why Mommy was mad at Daddy. Usually when they went to have lunch with their Dads at the office, they would stay a little while and play in the yard outside, or watch the men at work. Today, "Ma-ma-maisy" hurried them out as soon as they were done eating, and didn't kiss either Daddy goodbye.
At home, she shooed them all into the play yard and went to see if her wife Brooklyn was awake. Breastfeeding their newest little girl, Brooklyn was on maternity leave from her job at the magazine. One look was all it took. "Oh no… what did Nash do now?"
"He hired Schuyler Agassi to do one of their commercials."
"You're kidding! Schuyler Agassi? Tsai boo shr!" She exclaimed, then she paused a moment, and exclaimed again "Oh… my… god…. he didn't…. and I'll bet Quinn was completely clueless, wasn't he?"
Maisy nodded. She had fallen in love with Schuyler Agassi at the tender age of ten when he starred in a popular show as the sensitive, smart, sweet adolescent boy who never seemed to get the girl. Along with thousands of other girls her age, Maisy had dreamed that if only he'd have a chance to meet her, they would fall instantly in love and live happily ever after. She held onto the fantasy through her own adolescence, even though the popular show eventually ended and Schuyler Agassi moved on to other acting projects, some less popular, some more, enjoying moderate success as an actor and celebrity. For Maisy, she had quickly abandoned the idea that they should meet in real life. That was a little girl's fantasy. But she did keep his image in her mind and in her heart, and when she needed a little fantasy, he was the one her mind turned to. She had several different versions of him neatly put away in the drawers of her mind. One who was strong and muscular for when she needed the hero type, another who was quiet and sensitive when she felt like she just wanted someone to understand her, even if he wasn't real. Dreaming of him had got her through many lonely nights and countless breakups and heartaches. Even years later, as a married woman, she kept him tucked away as a convenient fantasy lover, someone who could fulfill every wish and would never do any of the annoying things her real lovers did.
"Quinn was clueless," Maisy confirmed. "But in his defense, he was handling some minor crisis at the time." Quinn also stubbornly believed that since Maisy liked chocolate, she must enjoy chocolate ice cream with chocolate chunks and chocolate sauce, hot fudge, chocolate whipped cream and a chocolate covered cherry on the top. Really, that was just completely overwhelming, and not really enjoyable at all. Maisy would much rather have some strawberry ice cream with just the right amount of hot fudge. Her wives, Brooklyn and Evonne, understood this. Her husbands, Nash and Quinn, continued to think that if she liked chocolate a little, then she would really like to have it in mass quantities and concentrations. "Quinn probably didn't even remember my obsession with Schuyler Agassi when Nash suggested hiring him. But Nash definitely knew. He had that little smile on his face when he introduced us, and he was watching to see my reaction."
Maisy stooped to pick up the next littlest, who was calling "Ma ma ma Maisy!" from hes crib. She snuggled her to her own breast and settled in a rocking chair across from Brooklyn.
"You don't think Nash told Schuyler Agassi that his wife fantasizes about him, do you?"
Maisy was glad for the calming hormones starting to course through her from the stimulation of her suckling baby, because the thought of what her husband had done and what his motive might be just made her increasingly angry. "He better not have. And I don't think he did, because Mr. Agassi was perfectly nice and didn't seem at all "weird" when we were introduced. But he is a very good actor, and he might have just been polite…"
They were interrupted by their young next door neighbor coming over as she did every afternoon to help out with the kids. She checked in with both Moms about which kids had bandages because they actually had a scrape or cut, and which had bandages only because they demanded to have one just like their sibling. The girl sat with the moms for a few minutes, watching the kids playing in the yard, then went out to play with them and get them all worn out before naptime.
Maisy and Brooklyn switched babies and continued nursing. "I don't know what's got into Nash lately." Brooklyn wondered. "Things are going well at the office. Maybe he didn't take enough paternity leave when our little girl was born… I know he'd like to spend more time with her and the other kids." By the luck of the draw, both of Brooklyn's children were Nash's, and both of Maisy's were Quinn's. Evonne had one child with each husband. Six children was on the small side for a group marriage on Kingdom Come, but not unusual. The three wives had hinted that they were happy with the current brood, and if they ever did decide to have another baby, it wouldn't be for quite a while.
Their wife Evonne came home at the usual time, and announced "I brought something special home for dinner tonight! Nash and Quinn hired Schuyler Agassi for a commercial, and they're bringing him home for a meal and to meet the family!" Seeing Maisy go completely white at the pronouncement, she added "Yes. Nash is an ass. He feels threatened by your fantasy, and he wants to punish you by seeing you squirm." She started to arrange a variety of dishes into the warming and cooling drawers, according to what each one needed. "Of course, it doesn't matter that not only are we happily married with six wonderful children, but Mr. Agassi himself just married his longtime girlfriends and boyfriend. They have three wives and two husbands, just like we do, so we have something in common!" Evonne took the plates out of Maisy's hands and together they set the large table for six adults and six children. Even the babies sat at the table during meals, just to be social and participate in the family's nightly ritual of sharing supper. "I know that tonight is going to be very difficult for you, and maybe more than a little awkward, but we can get through it with grace and maturity, then later on we can all have a talk with Nash and discuss his motives for choosing that particular celebrity."
Husbands and guest arrived while all the children were washing up, being lectured by all three moms that they had company for dinner and should all show off their very best table manners. Mr. Agassi was very patient and shook hands with all but the two babies. Those he admired, and cooed over, sharing that they'd just got the news that one of his wives was pregnant with the family's first baby. He seemed comfortable enough to be seated between the two oldest children, who kept trying to offer him more food than he could possibly eat. Although the children were taught to always call non-family men "Mister", the celebrity encouraged Nash, Quinn, and their wives to call him Schuyler. The kids settled for "Mister Schuyler."
Fortunately, having been warned that she would be eating dinner with the object of her adolescent affections, Maisy had rehearsed with Evonne just what she would say to the man. Soon after they were all seated, Maisy herself brought up the fact that she had a huge crush on the actor when she was ten, and all three wives made flattering comments about the various acting projects they'd seen him in over the years since. Nash spent much of dinner with the baby girl in his arms, a gesture that all three wives recognized as his favorite defense mechanism. It was hard to get mad or yell at their husband when he was holding a baby, even if he really deserved it. But to his credit, he followed his wives' lead and did not go on to hint about how Maisy still fantasized about the actor as a grown, married woman. Quinn, blissfully unaware of the subtext around him, inadvertently helped by going on and on about business, asking their guest about how he preferred to work and what he would need to complete the various recordings for various media and markets.
Maisy was sure she was blushing through dinner, but Evonne had conveniently seated her so that Maisy was on the same side of the table as their guest, and had two children and one other adult between them. She could participate in the conversation, but didn't have to make undue eye contact. Nash was at the end of the table with the baby's high chair, nearest their guest, so Maisy wasn't close enough to even be tempted to kick him under the table. She did have a few uncomfortable moments when the actor and object of her girlhood affections would say something that reminded her of some romantic scene either in a movie or in her own fantasies, and she would blush and suppress the memory.
After an appropriate amount of after dinner socialization, their guest began to hint that he really should get back to his hotel for some sleep before the busy day ahead. When Nash started to move to be the one to drive the actor back, Brooklyn interrupted. "Quinn, could you please drive Schuyler to his hotel? We noticed a dimple in the baby's cheek today when she smiles a certain way, and we wanted to see if it's in just the same place as Nash's dimple."
It was the strangest excuse they'd ever heard. Maisy and Evonne choked back laughter, and Mr. Agassi seemed to realize there was something a bit strange about the request, but politely didn't say a word. Quinn, oblivious as ever, simply smooched the nearest wife and said he'd be back in a flash, promising to pick up milk on the way home.
"Now where's that dimple?" Nash quipped, trying to hide behind his baby girl as the other men left and all three wives turned to confront him. "Oh, and I think you need a new diaper, too. I'll just take care of that…."
"I'll change her diaper, sweetheart." Brooklyn took the baby, leaving her husband still facing two angry wives. Any man who ever fantasized about having a marriage with more women than men was simply thinking about the gender imbalance that probably meant he would never have to worry about having at least one woman in his bed each night. He certainly wasn't thinking about a scene like this, being confronted by not just one, but two wives, with a third wife waiting in the wings taking their side.
And his only husband, his wing man, was out of sight for at least an hour. On top of that, they'd taken away the baby he'd been using as a defensive shield. "Daddinash!" came the rescuing cry of their baby girl, almost one year old and toddling around happily.
"Do you want to play blocks? I can play blocks with you!" he said, scooping up the toddler. But he wasn't safe, as both wives followed him to the family room where the other children were already playing.
"Nash, out of all the celebrities on this planet, why did you go out of your way to hire Schuyler Agassi? He doesn't live anywhere close, and he's successful enough to be a lot more expensive than you need for your average car commercial," Evonne asked. Maisy was glad to have her wife there standing up for her, because all she really wanted to do was slap him across the face, shout "How could you do this to me?" and run off crying to the bedroom.
"Well, this isn't just any car commercial. It's a very expensive car, and we actually have quite a generous budget for it." He helped reposition a block the toddler had just placed on top of the tower they were creating. "Besides, I thought Maisy would enjoy getting to meet him, she likes him so much." He added, carefully not meeting their eyes.
"You don't remember me saying, on several occasions, that although I'd obsessed about him since I was just ten years old, I never actually wanted to meet the man? That although I was absolutely crazy about him and went out of my way to see every flick and show he's in, that seeing him in person would just pop the bubble of fantasy I have? Don't you know what that fantasy means to me?"
"Oh look! Your tower's about to fall over! Evonne interrupted, motioning for the two of them to take the argument away from the kids. The older ones looked up, realizing there was some kind of conflict in their usually safe and secure world, but Evonne soothed and reassured them that Daddinash and Mamamaisy just needed to have an adult discussion.
Nash followed Maisy down the hall. "It means you think of him more than you think of me, that's what it means." He muttered. Maisy could hear the hurt in his voice, and for the first time wondered if there was more to the situation than she'd realized.
Out of both sight and earshot of the children, she turned to confront him. "Nash, I'm married to you! I'm with you all the time, and I think about you every day. Schuyler Agassi is a fantasy for me. Escapism. Early in the morning when everyone's getting ready for their day and I just want one last little dream, I reach into my mind and he is there. In the middle of the day, when I'm driving a carful of kids around, and for a moment or two my thoughts take a romantic turn, he's convenient. He has been since I was a pimply adolescent who thought she would never be loved, and never get married!" She took a deep breath, and let it out as a heavy sigh. "Do you really feel threatened by the fantasy lover I've had since I was just a girl?"
"But you're married now. Why do you still need him? Why can't you dream about me? Or Quinn? Or Brooklyn or Evonne? We're right here! How much more convenient can we possibly be? Isn't that enough for you? Don't you get enough attention?"
That last comment stung. She had often been accused of needing too much attention, and she'd lost more than one boyfriend or girlfriend because of it. But as an adult, she'd learned she had to take care of herself, and not depend solely on the constant attention of others to make her happy. "Actually, no. It's not convenient. I don't carry you around in my pocket. Even if you didn't have a demanding job, and we didn't have to worry about the house or the kids or any of the myriad of other worries we deal with every day, it's not realistic to think we might spend all our days stuck side by side, ready to make love on a whim."
"I'll make love to you on a whim. I'll make love to you in the mornings… if you'd just say something, I'd gladly be late on any given day if you want a quick tumble. Or at the office even! Ai ya, Maisy, there's plenty of people who would be more than happy to watch the kids for a while so we can have some privacy…."
"You want me to come by the office and drop the kids off with the receptionist and say "Can you watch these guys for a minute while Nash and I have a quickie on his desk?" Just how do we explain that one to the kids?"
"You know what I mean… you don't have to be so blunt. It wouldn't be that difficult for them to spend an hour having lunch with Daddikins while we have some "Quality Adult Time" together…."
Maisy didn't know whether she was still angry, or flattered, or touched… Probably a combination of them all, and more. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she grabbed a tissue to blow her nose. She didn't mean to cry. She didn't want the discussion to deteriorate just because he hated to see her cry. She sat down and took a moment to compose herself. "You popped the bubble on purpose, didn't you? You knew that if I actually met him in person, then the bubble would pop and I wouldn't dream about him anymore."
"If I admit that, will you be more mad at me, or less mad?"
Maisy was stunned. An admission of guilt was the last thing she expected. "You popped the bubble on purpose…"
"That looks like more mad, not less mad…"
"Yes! OK, yes! More mad! Do you know what that harmless little fantasy was to me? You crack your knuckles all the time. It's not exactly a good habit, but you get some comfort from it. Evonne has her "happy place" where she imagines her whole body turns into a flock of butterflies, and carries off all the negative emotions she's feeling. Should we start exterminating every winged insect in the garden because we're jealous that our wife thinks of them when she needs something, instead of us? Or maybe we should get you some sort of therapeutic gloves so you can't crack your knuckles!"
"Cracking knuckles or thinking about butterflies isn't a replacement for a spouse! It isn't a replacement for sex."
"A replacement for…. A replacement for sex?"
"Yes, a replacement for sex. You hardly ever reach for me anymore Maisy, and when I reach for you, it seems more like you're just doing me a favor, not really making love to me."
Maisy was at a loss for words. She was satisfied with their sex life, and she thought he was too. With the long days and long nights on Kingdom Come, making love before going to sleep was almost a habit. It was rare that a day that went by without at least watching and petting. Maybe it was too rote, or too much of a habit… "Well, it may seem like a tired old song, but… you don't bring me flowers anymore. You don't rub my feet anymore, and I've stopped even asking because after we'd been married a few years, you admitted you only did it because you wanted me to like you and you hoped it would lead to sex."
"That's why you make love with Evonne more than you make love with me? Because she rubs your feet?"
"It's not just that… when Evonne rubs my feet, she's enjoying touching me and making me feel good. With you, foot rubs are something you find distasteful, and only do as a favor if you're going to get something in return. Well, I don't think of sex as a "favor" I'm doing… sex with my husbands and my wives is making love! It is a celebration of what we mean to each other, and truly desiring the others' pleasure even more than desiring my own. So when Evonne rubs my feet, it's not a favor she's doing for me hoping that it will lead to sex. It is something she does because she knows it makes me feel good and she wants me to feel good. And yes, that naturally leads to sex a lot of the time."
"You don't want to have sex with me? Because you think I won't do the things that make you feel good?" He avoided her eyes at first, but then caught her gaze directly, showing her the hurt he was feeling inside.
"I do want sex with you, Nash. We made love last night, and the night before that! What more do you want?"
He grabbed his head with both hands, frustrated and hurt. "I want you to want me, Maisy! Lately, when we make love, it's like you're trying to get me to come before you even come close to climaxing. I feel like you're just doing what you have to so you can move on to being with someone else."
Maisy had to admit that it was true. She didn't even try to reach orgasm with him anymore, because he just wasn't patient enough and when she did get close, he'd either say something like "Are you there yet?" or he'd reach his own release, and then it was over either way. She would much rather help him reach his release as quickly as possible, so she could turn to another spouse who could and would do what it took to satisfy her.
"I'm sorry. Yes, I do hurry through sex with you, but it's not that I don't love you… I do care about you, and I want you to get your own fulfillment before I worry about my own pleasure. I thought you would appreciate me making sure you get what you need first."
"It would help me if you'd make some more noise when we make love. I can't even tell when you climax half the time. When's the last time I gave you an orgasm?"
She had to think, but then gave up calculating how much time had passed. "It's been a long time, I suppose. But it's OK, I have other ways to get there. We have three more spouses, and then if I really need to do it myself, I can certainly do that."
"And think of him, I suppose."
"And what's wrong with that? Until today, he was someone so far out of reach that I knew I could safely turn him into anything I needed, without ever worrying about what the real person felt or wanted. But now, when I need that little fantasy, instead of being able to pull out some version of him that I've created in my mind, the first thing I'll think of is that nice man my husbands brought home to dinner. A man who has a husband and three wives waiting for him back home. I don't want a reality with him, I want my fantasy!"
"Why can't you think of me when you fantasize? Is it the kilos I've put on over the years? Women aren't the only ones who gain weight when a baby's born. I've eaten through six pregnancies and six births, just like we all have."
Maisy got up and slid her arms around him, laying her head against his chest. "I love you Nash. And I want you, and I find you just as handsome and desirable as I ever did. It's not the lack of desire that pulls me away from you, it's the fact that you just don't enjoy doing the things that make me feel good. It just makes more sense for me to turn to another spouse who does want to do those things for me. I'll still make sure you get what you need too."
"What if what I need is to be the man who gives you an orgasm? Or multiple orgasms…" he started rubbing her back. That was one thing she did like, and he liked the way it made her breasts press against him. "I promise to be patient, and to do whatever it takes to get you there."
She put her chin on his chest and looked straight up at him without pulling away from the back rub. "Is it OK if I still feel a little bit skeptical?" she asked, only half teasing.
"Tell me what you want. I'll do anything."
She laughed, knowing that he didn't quite mean that. "Well, this back rub feels pretty good…"
"And this?" he said, reaching down to squeeze her buttocks, then running his hands back up over her hips to her waist, resuming the massage.
"Mmmm… I like that…" Her anger had dissipated, for the most part. Her husband could make her furious sometimes, but that was because he was her husband. Her spouses knew her better than anyone, and they could cut her more deeply than any friend or peer. But they could make up just as well…
"And what about this…" he kept one arm around her waist, holding her close while the other hand reached up to fondle one heavy breast.
"That's good…" she said, closing her eyes. Then he squeezed her nipple. "Ow! No… that's too hard…"
They were interrupted by the pitter patter of little feet running their way. "Nigh night Mamamaisy! Nigh night Daddinash!" The older four rushed in for hugs and smooches before Evonne hurried them past, off to baths and bed.
"I'll take care of these guys, and Brooklyn has the babies, so you two can take your time resolving this little argument, OK?"
"Thank you Evonne!" Maisy gave her wife a quick hug and kiss, then took her husband by the hand and led him to the grown ups' bathing room.
"Sex in the shower?" he asked hopefully as his wife stripped down and turned on the warm water.
"Foreplay in the shower. I feel sticky after chasing the kids all day, and you stink."
He smelled one armpit, and had to agree with her. She opened the jar of little soaps and picked one that she liked, then started slowly rubbing it over his wet chest, working up a thick lather. She knelt to lather up his legs, but only gave minimal attention to his erect member, promising him more attention there later. He curtailed his disappointment, but returned the favor by soaping her from head to toe. When he reached her breasts, he asked "If I promise to be gentle, can I play with these for a little bit?"
She smiled and turned her back to him, saying yes by nestling against him and reaching her arms up around his neck to give him better access to her chest. As promised, he was very gentle, lifting and caressing the heavy orbs, slippery with water and lather. She sighed, relaxing a little under his gentle ministrations, till he squeezed one nipple just a bit too hard. She squeaked and pulled out of his embrace. "Careful with the nipples, please."
"Sorry… can I taste them? Do you like it when I do that?"
It was a loaded question, and she hesitated to answer. She liked it when Quinn or her wives did it, but whatever Nash did with his mouth on her nipples just wasn't pleasurable. In fact, it was slightly uncomfortable, but she knew he liked it so she didn't complain. "Just be gentle…" she replied, but he noticed her hesitation.
"Maisy, do you like it when I suck on your nipples? Does it bring you pleasure when I lick them?"
"Well, Brooklyn has a certain thing she does that I like…" she half lied, skirting around the fact that of her four spouses, his mouth was the only one that did not bring pleasure to her nipples. "No teeth… and once she's latched on she stays on. She doesn't "shlurp" and let them go."
"OK, I'll try that…" he leaned over and gently took one nipple into his mouth. He hardly sucked at all, just concentrated on keeping his motions nice and gentle. "Was that better?"
"That was nice… but I want to move to the bed now. It's not comfortable trying to stay upright while you do that."
He nodded and they toweled off over the air drier, and they walked together back to the master suite. They saw Brooklyn in the nursery with their littlest and stopped to check on her. The baby was happily nursing, and Brooklyn was reading. She reassured them that Quinn had promised to stay up with the baby as long as necessary so Brooklyn could get some much needed sleep. She also explained that she had filled their husband in on what was going on, as he had seemed to be completely oblivious to the conflict.
Evonne had finished bathing and tucking in the little ones, including the toddler. She hugged them both, reassuring herself that they were both OK, then told them she planned to head for bed herself after a nice long bath.
They had both beds in the master suite to themselves, and together they turned down the sheets and blankets on one. They saw Brooklyn pass in front of the door to the anteroom where each of them went when they really wanted to sleep undisturbed by either spouses or children. It was far enough away from the nursery that she wouldn't be automatically woken by a crying baby, as other spouses had promised to stay up with her that night. There was even a "slumber pump" she could attach to her breasts if she wanted. It worked on a timer and would automatically begin to pump milk at preset intervals. It was a choice… either sleep till your breasts got so full of milk that you woke up and had to pump or nurse, or hook up the slumber pump and have to sleep in a not so comfortable position, but at least be able to sleep or drowse through an entire night without having to fully wake up.
"I'll be right back…." said Maisy, and slipped off to kiss Brooklyn goodnight and help her with the pump. When she returned to the Master bedroom, Nash was stretched out in bed, half reclined on the pillows waiting for her. He looked a little worried, so she smiled warmly and climbed in with him. She nestled into his arms and lifted her mouth to his for some warm, slow kisses.
"Nipples?" he asked hopefully.
She smiled and lay back, running her fingers through his hair as he gently suckled first one, then the other. Tense at first, she finally began to relax when it seemed that he would be true to his word and be gentle, with no teeth and no "shlurping". He lifted himself over her and buried his face between her breasts. She arched and threw her head back, which he took as an invitation to nuzzle her neck. She opened her legs to embrace him and reached down to guide him into her. He penetrated her with a few slow thrusts, then settled himself over her so they were both comfortable. He kissed her once as he began to move in her with a familiar rhythm. But then he drew himself up on his elbows so he could see her face. She gazed back at him, touched by the eagerness and concern she saw in his eyes. Usually when they made love they both closed their eyes, moving through the familiar routine with well rehearsed precision. But this time he concentrated on what she liked, asking her "Like this?" and "Do you want me to slow down?" as he adjusted his movements in a way he hoped would make their lovemaking more pleasurable for her. She ran her hands over his chest and arms, enjoying the masculine feel of him, and told him so. Together they adjusted and readjusted their position over and again, experimenting a little and finding what made her feel good. Once or twice she began to climb towards her climax, but each time she got close he would unknowingly break the rhythm and she'd come crashing back down to her starting point again. She resisted telling him… he wanted so much to give her an orgasm, and she was fairly certain she could get there if they both showed some patience. Eventually they noticed that Quinn and Evonne were in the other bed, with the baby monitor glowing green on the side table.
He tried to roll over with her so she was on top, but as usual it didn't quite work and she had to find a comfortable way to straddle him before impaling herself on him again. Maisy didn't really like being on top, but it did make her more "in charge" so she could set the pace and take control of her own pleasure. She found a position that let him penetrate her fully, without her legs being bent into an uncomfortable way that might make them fall asleep. She started moving slowly, and at first he just watched her. His eyes went from her breasts back up to her eyes, then down again. He was trying to read her, but was constantly distracted by the bobbing, jiggly orbs. She increased her pace, having found just the right position, and he started thrusting up into her. She smiled encouragement, as this make it easier for her, but frowned when he suddenly stopped, bringing her crashing down to her starting point again. "Sorry, sorry, I had a cramp…" he explained, seeing her disappointment and frustration.
She leaned over to kiss him, reassuring him and telling him how much she loved him, then smiled and found her position again. She set the pace and he followed, and soon she was climbing again to that perfect place, that apex of sensation that would give her the release she craved. It had slipped out of her grasp so many times already this night, and she was almost desperate to finally capture it. She felt her body take the final steps towards release, when Nash's voice interrupted her. "Are you thinking of him?"
Instantly she crashed down again, past her starting point, past the point of pleasure where there was nothing but an aching frustration. She nearly fell off the bed in her scramble to run away. "Maisy, I'm sorry…." He called after her, trying to detangle his feet from the sheets.
"Maisy?" Evonne called after her, squirming out of Quinn's embrace at a most inconvenient moment.
"What the hell did you do now?" accused Quinn from the other bed.
Nash muttered something unintelligible as he finally freed his foot and chased the wives down the hall. Maisy had locked herself in the water closet, and he barely caught sight as the door was unlocked just long enough to let Evonne inside. "Maisy, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry! Please let me in."
"Just give us a minute, please Nash." Came Evonne's voice. Obediantly, he stepped back and waited patiently. Behind him, he saw Quinn head into the nursery.
After a few minutes, Evonne and Maisy came out of the bathroom. "I have to pump now." Maisy said, heading for the sitting room off the Master suite. "Why don't you just go back to bed?"
Hurt and ashamed, he followed her back and stood there helplessly as she fumbled with the breast pump. Quinn walked in carrying their fussy baby girl, who was making insistent little hungry noises. "Would this work better than a pump? She's hungry."
Maisy eagerly reached for the baby and Evonne put the pump away. She made shushing noises as the baby latched on, then sighed as the happy hormones started to work their magic on her. She held a pad to the other nipple, which was leaking in sympathy for the other breast.
Nash sat quietly nearby, watching his wife nurse their baby, too scared to speak lest he insert his rather large foot into his rather large mouth again. He wanted to say something about him not being the only one to hide behind a baby, but fortunately he restrained himself. Maisy leaned back and closed her eyes, concentrating on the flow of milk to the baby. She didn't want to think about whether or not she should be mad or should be hurt. Maybe she should have reassured him that he was the only lover on her mind at that moment. It was true… while she was with him, she didn't need any fantasy to help.
Nash carefully moved over closer to her. She opened her eyes for just a moment, but didn't kick him away. He picked up one of her feet, and gently began to rub it, hoping she would understand it was his way of apologizing. She did seem tense at first, but as he continued to massage her toes and ankles she gradually began to relax. Evonne handed him a bottle of lotion to use on their wife's feet, then helped as Maisy switched the baby to the other breast. The tiny girl seemed more interested in playing with Mommy's nipple than continuing eating. "She's just as bad as you are…" Maisy quipped, looking at Nash, and the tension was finally broken.
None of them tried to resume their lovemaking that night. Maisy laid her head on Nash's shoulder, as she did many nights. Evonne, feeling protective, snuggled up to spoon with Maisy. Quinn spent some time getting the baby back to sleep, then collapsed back on the other bed with the baby monitor.
The next day Maisy showed up in Nash's office unannounced. Not only unannounced, but no knock, she just slipped in and locked the door behind her. "No kids?" Nash asked, surprised at the interruption and not exactly sure that she wasn't still mad at him.
"They're home with Brooklyn. A couple aunts dropped by, so they have some cousins to play with for a while."
He watched, fascinated yet torn as his wife slowly unbuttoned her blouse, revealing a rather sexy bra he was quite certain he had never seen before. Not only did it push her breasts up and together, but it had peek-a-boo openings for her nipples that were obviously meant to show off, not breast feed. "I…. I was supposed to…" he started to explain, but she interrupted.
"Quinn has taken your special guest to lunch. And to answer last night's question…" she discarded the blouse and proceeded to remove her skirt. "Although I still intend to keep him conveniently on a shelf in the back of my mind, when I'm with you, you are the one I'm thinking of." She went to his arms and stretched up to kiss him. He hesitated only a moment, catching up to what was happening, then claimed her mouth voraciously and lifted her off the floor. She tried to wrap her legs around him, but she wasn't high enough and he had to set her down again. They fumbled their way to the couch, tongues tangling and hands groping.
They spent a long lunch trying to find a comfortable way to make love on the couch. She could straddle him while he sat in the middle, and that felt pretty good, but Maisy wasn't getting anywhere close to climaxing even though he took great pains to keep their rhythm perfectly steady for her. They finally ended up with her on her back with one leg up over the back and the other stretched up in the air. The couch wasn't quite big enough, and Nash's knee kept slipping off but together they managed to have a thoroughly pleasurable time, even though Maisy never did quite reach her orgasm.
That night, with the help of Evonne and Quinn, Maisy did reach her climax with Nash inside her. Although she never really felt the desire to scream or moan, even at climax, she did utter a breathy "yes!" as she came, letting her lover know she had indeed reached that pinnacle. And after a lot of practice, they found what it took for the two of them to find fulfillment with each other, and Nash finally knew that when Maisy reached for him it was not that she was doing her wifely duty, but it was because she knew her husband could give her everything she desired.
I wrote this in 2010, and it's one of the first stories I put on the blog. Looking back now, in 2013, I still like the story but I definitely see some basic things that should be fixed. I was attempting an omniscient point of view, but it feels more like head-hopping. Still, it's nice to see an early story and compare it to what my writing is now.


text:
By deed dated 14th December, 1808, registered 7th June, 1810 in Book "C" at Page 163, Office of the Register of Deeds, Washington County, North Carolina:
|"This Indenture made between James Ambrose and Andrew Oliver, Commissioners, appointed by the Baptist Society to carry on the business of Building of a Meeting House in the up River Neighborhood so called; and their Successors of the one part, and Jacob Hassell of Washington County of the other part, Witnesseth: That in order to promote piety, Morality, and vital Religion in said Neighborhood the said Jacob Hassell hath given granted and conveyed until the Commissioners above mentioned and their successors, for the purpose of placing a meeting House thereon…"
property was deeded from Jacob Hassell of Washington County.
The first entry in the first book of minutes for Concord Church is a certification that Micajah Ambrose "is in full fellowship with us the Baptist church in Tyrrell County at Ansleys meeting house" and a Letter of Dismission for Ambrose and "all the members in Washington County which formerly belonged to us" was granted, signed by order of the Conference by Levi Hassell, clerk.
The next entry for 12 May 1810 shows a meeting by adjournment from Ansleys meeting house in Tyrrell to the Concord meeting house in Washington County at said Concord meeting house. Micajah Ambrose became the first pastor of the newly-constituted church.
In "History of the Church of God, From The Creation To A.D. 1885; Including Especially The History of the Kehukee Primitive Baptist Association" (Elder Cushing Biggs Hassell, Revised and Completed by Elder Sylvester Hassell, Gilbert Beebe's Sons, Publishers, Middletown, Orange County, New York 1886) Pg. 853, is found the following:
"Concord, Washington County -This Church was constituted by Elders Micajah Ambrose and Amariah Biggs in the year of our Lord 1810, with fifty-eight members dismissed from the church at Scuppernong. Elder Ambrose accepted the pastoral charge of the church first, and after him Elder James Ambrose, George W. Carrowan, David L. Mot, William Gray, William Reynolds and Steven Biggs, three of whom held their membership with the church. Elder Biggs is pastor at present. Her Deacons have been Daniel Clifton, John Biggs, William Furlaugh, Jesse Sawyer, Darius Phelps, Steven Biggs, Henry Bateman, Jordan Phelps, W. P. Jethro, James J. Ambrose and Isaac Furlaugh. Her Clerks have been Jacob Hassell, Maxey Tatum, Jesse Sawyer, Samuel Lewis, Jordan Phelps, James W. Clifton and Woodson S. Ambrose. The church is situated in the lower part of Washington County and is some distance from any other church. The members, however, are sound in the faith, enjoy their meetings, and those who visit them enjoy them also. Their monthly meetings occur on the Fourth Sunday and Saturday before. Her number of members is forty-seven."
Hassell records that the church at Scuppernong, Tyrrell County, N.C., became a member of the Kehukee Association at its meeting at Shoulder's Hill, Nansemond County, Va., on the 14th of May, 1785 (Pg. 703). At an Association meeting held at Great Swamp, Pitt County in 1868, "The name of the church at Scuppernong was dropped from the Minutes, and her few remaining members were advised to unite with some other church of the same faith and order."
Bethlehem, Tyrrell County (about three miles southeast of Columbia) was constituted in 1824 by Elders Micajah and James Ambrose, its members "originally composing this church came mostly from the church at Scuppernong." (Pg. 848)
At Falls of Tar River, Nash County, an ordained minister, Elder Nathan Gilbert, joined by a letter of dismission from the church at Scuppernong in August, 1795.
At Morrattock, Washington County (but in Tyrrell at the time it was constituted a church), Elder Amariah Biggs was called as pastor in 1801-2 and took a letter of dismission from the church at Scuppernong.
More Recent Concord History
For the last several decades, membership dwindled so that at the death of Noah L. Ambrose in 1991, there were no members left. The last service had been held in the fall of 1989, with Brother Ambrose in attendance.
In early 1993, the Kehukee Primitive Baptist Association deeded the church property to the newly-formed Society chartered to preserve the property.
Efforts got underway by members of the Concord Primitive Baptist Church Preservation Society, Inc., to make repairs and to keep up the old meeting house and grounds.
The first homecoming, sponsored by the Society, was held 21 May 1994 with a full house. Despite bad weather, the tradition of carrying on the meeting continued as friends, relatives, and descendants gathered to remember the earlier days and memories of Concord.
The history of Concord appears in Volume I of the Church Minutes which is available from the Concord Primitive Baptist Church Preservation Society.