Today in “Beyond Big-G City”! The Return to David’s Quest. . .
Week Nineteen, Day Seven:
November 13th, 2025
Seattle, WA. David and Cleo attend an evening performance of “Fiddler on the Roof” at one of the city’s grand old theaters Thursday, November 13. David is in a foul mood, resentful that his foster mom, Thelma Bernstein, saddled them with this touring company show that he’s seen about a million times. Cleo’s enthusiastic embrace of an opportunity to see a play performed by actual mortals irritates him further. David finds fault with everything, starting with the actor listings in the program- -hardly a Jewish-sounding name among them!
However, the actor cast as Lazar Wolf merits David’s grudging praise. No wonder, he says, as the actor, Saul Crispin, really is Jewish. By intermission David is relaxed and happy. During the curtain call Saul Crispin doffs Lazar Wolf’s hat when he bows. Hatless, he looks familiar to David. Cleo’s shocked observation: “David, he looks just like you!”
David tries to pass this off as coincidence but Cleo, after months of searching for clues about David’s mortal father, insists on barging into the dressing rooms after the show. Maybe Saul Crispin and David are descended from the same man?
They find Crispin in his cubby hole of a dressing room. The actor looks into a mirror, removing his makeup. Without turning around he greets Cleo as he would any fan, but when David’s reflection appears in the mirror he tells them to come in and shut the door. He asks David his name. When Saul hears “Bernstein” he acknowledges he met David’s parents a long time ago, before David was born. . .It takes David three tries to say Dad?
The three of them adjourn to a nearby bar. Over a few rounds of Corpse Reviver martinis Crispin explains that Hera, in a fit of fear and vengeance, changed him from mortal to immortal but banned him from immortal society. He pleaded with her to let him see David but she wouldn’t permit it, allowing only that, per Saul’s request, David be raised Jewish.
As a mortal, Saul Crispin was the singer in Herod Antipas’s Tiberias household. Like all immortals, he has aged one year per century, and is now in the equivalent of his 40s. For two millennia he’s been cursed with outliving the mortals he’s met, worked with and loved. Mostly he’s worked in the performing arts, including a couple of decades as the Sinatra-styled singer Ari Cantor.
David is emotionally overwhelmed. Saul must continue with the touring company. He gives David a business card and invites him to spend some time together in New York City when Saul returns there the second week of December.
Cleo and David return to Jim and Candy Smith’s penthouse apartment. The Smiths have retired for the night. After at last solving the mystery of his parentage, David is in shock. Their romantic relationship has yet to rekindle, but in the love of friendship Cleo insists he sleep with her in her bed so she can watch over him.
Ah, but what happens in the morning? Tune in Friday, November 14th. If the need to know is driving you stark raving bonkers, go here:
https://www.susandmatley.com/beyond-big-g-city/
