Azrael

     I don’t know since when she had been sitting on that chair, in the corner of the kitchen and how much of that heart wrenching scene she had witnessed, when I turned to her voice,

“How come nobody stops this Azrael, daddy?”

“First of all, it’s Israel and not Azrael. And anyway, you’re not supposed to be watching this. This is not a children’s program.”

“But, I was watching the children, daddy. It was so sad. I don’t want to watch it any more. What a mean Azrael!”

I turned off the television and put her school bag in front of her.

“You shouldn’t be watching the craziness of adults, honey. Start doing your homework.”

I had to start the dinner. I had left out a chicken to thaw before leaving this morning. I chopped up some onions, poured some oil in the pan, added the onions and stirred it with a wooden spoon.

“Can anyone stop Azrael, daddy?”

“No! Do your homework! Finish your homework, missy!”

I started to wash some dirty dishes left over from the night before while waiting for the onions to cook.

“Even America can’t stop him, daddy?”

“America doesn’t stop its support and mobilization, let alone stopping it,” I said, laughing sarcastically.

“What did you say, daddy?”

“Nothing, missy! I said America can’t do anything. Now pay attention to your homework, darling.”

I stirred the onions and finished rinsing the plates and putting them to dry. I washed the thawed chicken, cut it into small pieces and after washing it, left it in the coriander to drain out the water. 

“Even God can’t stop Azrael, daddy?”

I turned down the heat under the pan, went and sat next to her and took her hand into mine.

“These shows are not for children, my darling. They are not even good for adults. Didn’t you notice that even I wasn’t watching it?” Then I turned on the television to Disney channel. Another world opened before our eyes. A world where there is no rancor or animosity, free from folly of adults. A world that is full of friendship and sweetness. A world, where dogs and cats; wolves and ewes; lions and rabbits live together in harmony and camaraderie. A world that is full of colors and children’s joy. 

I went back to the kitchen after she relaxed and while I was cooking, while I was eating, an even today at work, my daughter’s last words really worked my brain, “Even God can’t stop him, daddy?” 

And I thought to myself, how wonderful it would be, if God existed.