“I even feel like returning this dress to the store. It cost seven hundred shekels. That’s how much less I’ll have for an apartment"

The first apartment is on the fourth floor.

While they climb up, they talk about how tired Ima felt after this morning’s shopping spree (“Don’t let her overdo it!” Nechami says) and what shade of white Chaya’s gown should be (“Pure snow-white, and I don’t care what everybody else does”).

A young English-speaking woman opens the door, and they’re surprised to find themselves in a miniature apartment.

“Maybe this is just the rental unit they added on,” Chaya murmurs. But no — it seems that this tiny space is what was advertised as a two-and-a-half-room apartment in Mekor Baruch.

“Umm…” Nechami feels awkward. The owner is enthusiastically showing them the kitchenette, with its modern features like no-slam cupboards. “Where are the rooms?”

“Here.” The young lady points to the foyer they’re standing in. “This is one room.”

“And the other?”

A door is opened, revealing a cramped chamber that could conceivably hold two beds and a wardrobe. Maybe.

“This is the other room.”

They’re afraid to ask about the half-room. But they don’t need to — the owner is already moving briskly on to show them a miniscule enclosed porch-laundry room.

“And this is the half-room.”

“Oh.” Nechami can’t think of anything more intelligent to say.

•••

Chaya lets out an exasperated sigh as they descend the stairs. “For this we had to climb four flights?”

Nechami tries to play the role of the calm, steady adult. “Well, you know, some people exaggerate when they advertise. Let’s go see the next one.”

The next one is in Geula, and it turns out to be a dank little nook. Scratch that.

“I wonder what sort of lousy place we’re going to see next,” Chaya says as they hurry through the narrow side streets of Geula.

But Chaya’s prediction is off the mark. When they get to the next apartment on their list, there isn’t a louse to be found there. There are, however, several plastic tubs, buckets, and pots strategically placed to catch the water steadily dripping from the ceiling.

“There’s a problem with the roof,” the current tenant tells them apologetically. She’s holding a baby, and two more are crawling around between the buckets. “The landlord keeps trying to fix it, but every winter it starts leaking again.”