Serpent’s Tooth

“But I’m also very adaptable. Had to be to get along with my parents. I can learn, Rina. Because I really want to do this. I’ll make it. I’d like his help and blessing. But if not, I’ll make it anyway. If he can’t deal with it, too bad.”

She sat back.

“I love my father, but there are times he is just impossible. So domineering! So bossy! How do you deal with him?”

“He’s a good man.”

“I didn’t say he wasn’t. I just said he was a control freak. You know, I’m not excusing Mom. But my dad is just … such an imposing man. I guess she felt just so … swallowed up. I don’t know how you put up with him.”

Rina shrugged. “I’m not much of a fighter.”

“I wish I were like that. I just refuse to be stepped on.”

“I didn’t say I get stepped on.”

Cindy blushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean … God, I’ve got a big mouth. I guess I’m more like Mom than I’d like to believe.”

“I do express myself, Cindy. I’ll stick up for what’s important. Which I’ve learned isn’t too much. This baby boomer generation on down … all of us … we’ve become so … confrontive. Stand up for yourself! Speak your mind! Tell it like it is! All this righteous anger … I find it very loud.”

“Better that than being walked on.”

“No one wants to be a shmatta … a dishrag. But sometimes it’s a good idea to keep your mouth shut. Think if it’s worth the effort. And yes, I freely admit to being occasionally two-faced. There have been times when I had agreed with your dad to do things his way, then turned around and did it the way I wanted. Most of the time, he forgot what he had been so insistent on. And the couple of times he was cogent enough to call me on it, I played dumb. I’m sure some psychologist would call me sneaky or tell me I have low self-esteem. Or tell me I was paralyzed by my domineering mother and an unapproachable father or something or other. I call it being practical. Because in the end, I get what I want and he saves face.”

“I don’t think Gloria Steinem would approve of your methods.”

“Oh, forget about Gloria Steinem! She never nursed a husband through cancer, only to watch him die. She never labored in childbirth. She was never a widow with two small children. She’s never been married to a police lieutenant. She never had a hysterectomy at thirty. And she’s not an Orthodox Jew. So she has no concept of shalom bais—peace in the house. Which, in my humble opinion, is to her detriment!”

Cindy looked at her. “You’re tough.”

“Tough enough to handle your dad.” Rina sat down next to Cindy. “And so are you.” She gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You’ll work this out. You’ll be okay.”

“If I ever learn to keep my mouth shut.”

“Cindy, youth is impulsive, thank God. Like you said, it was the reason you were conceived. It’s what made me run off and get married at seventeen, then go have a baby a year later, then have yet another before my first son was out of diapers. It’s what made me enter into a heartbreaking relationship after my husband died, knowing it was doomed from the start. And it’s what made me ignore raised eyebrows in my community when I started dating your father. Within days of meeting him, I was head over heels in love. Impulsive yes. But it worked out.”

Cindy said. “Yes, I am impulsive. But this wasn’t an impulsive decision. It’s really what I want.”

“How could you know?” Decker retorted. “You haven’t the slightest notion what it is to be a cop.”

Both women turned around as if he had intruded in their conversation. Fine with him! Let Rina handle it! Tempted to escape and go burn the Porsche out at 120. Instead, he sat back down on the couch, rubbed his temples.

“How about this? We talk this over calmly. I tell you what being a cop is all about. You ask me questions. If you’re still gung-ho … after I get done with you … then you can go ahead and join.”

“What happened to you in ten minutes?” Cindy asked.

Rina said, “He overheard me talking about how much I loved him and it made him feel guilty for his outbursts.”

Decker grumped, “Got it all figured out.”

“True or false.”

Decker ignored her, turned to Cindy. “Well?”

Cindy said, “Daddy, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to talk to you about my decision. I’d love to hear about your experiences and your insights. But I’m in the Academy regardless.”

“That’s being very pigheaded.”

Rina interjected, “Peter—”

“She’s acting like a mule.”

“There’s no reason to name-call—”

“Why is she afraid of hearing the truth?” Decker said.

Cindy said, “Listen, guys, I’m really tired. I want to go home.”

“You tell your mom about this?”

Cindy sighed.

“You haven’t told her?” Decker began to pace. “Great. I don’t have enough garbage in my life dealing with friggin’ mass murderers—”

“Dad, I’m really sorry about that. It must be terrible. And I certainly don’t mean to add to your stress—”

“But you’ll do it anyway.”

No one spoke. Cindy sighed. “I’m going. We’ll talk later. When everyone’s calmer.” She smiled at her father. “Good night.”

Abruptly, Decker stopped walking, plunked himself down in a chair, and stared out the window, his eyes a thousand miles away.

“She said good night, Peter.”

“Good night, good night,” he muttered.

“Give her a hug, for godsakes.”

Cindy waited a beat. When Decker didn’t move, Rina said, “Peter, did you hear—”

“Yes, I heard you.”

Cindy felt her eyes start to moisten, but quickly she held back the tears. “That’s okay, Rina. Everyone needs their space. Even parents.”

Again, she waited a moment. When Decker didn’t move, she bade Rina good night and left quietly. Soon the car’s engine faded to nothingness. Rina broke the silence.

“You should have given her a hug, Peter,” Rina rebuked him. “Your intransigence was nasty. God forbid, suppose she has an accident or something. How would you feel?”

“Horrible. I’d never forgive myself.”