The Magnificent Kornblatt

by Todd Schindler

read parts  1,  2,  3,  4,  5

6.

The guests began arriving around eight. Friends of Daniel from work, friends of Hannah, everyone knew each other. There were several couples, a few single people. The mood was light and jovial and became more so after a few cocktails. When Hannah made up a story about how the car had broken down that afternoon - preventing her from cooking and forcing her to order in Chinese food - everyone laughed. What could be better, they said. In her giddiness, she took the tale even further, describing how she had dropped the hydraulic jack on her foot and locked her keys inside the car, until she had everyone in stitches. At that moment, Kornblatt came through the door.

She caught site of him and stopped abruptly. The guests quieted. Kornblatt stood surveying the room, clean-shaven and coiffed in a double-breasted suit with a colorful cravat, the perfect picture of a European gentleman. Hannah was astonished, nearly speechless. "Everyone," she said, stumbling over the syllables, "this is my brother, Benjamin." He bowed gracefully at the waist, then walked over to Hannah and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. As he made the rounds, introducing himself to each individual, shaking the men's hands and kissing the women's, flattering everyone in general, Hannah watched him. "I didn't know you had a brother," one of her friends from work whispered to her. She nodded her head distractedly. She could barely believe her eyes. Daniel looked at her from across the room and grinned. She wrinkled her brow.

It was as if the Kornblatt that had existed was gone, like he had stepped inside a phone booth and emerged as a civilized man, a member of the world, she thought, and she was unable to take her eyes off of him. Leonard Davids, one of Daniel's co-workers and a photography buff, engaged Kornblatt in a lengthy conversation about etchings. He spoke with Flora Latner about Buddhism and Zen meditation. Hannah received compliments on her brother's refinement and intelligence. She waited for the moment he would crack, but it didn't come.

After the main course, Kornblatt retired to the couch, with Flora and one of Daniel's poker buddies, a bald man with glasses, on either side of him. Hannah watched from the kitchen as she made coffee. The three seemed involved in an intense discussion and she saw the bald man raise his eyes several times in disbelief. They all laughed. He was telling them, Hannah was sure, Jesus Christ, he was doing it.

She quickly brought the coffee, cake, and nuts to the table, informing the guests that dessert was served. Flora and the bald man walked to the table, surrounding Kornblatt like bookends, hinging on his every word.

"I'd like to hear about it," Flora chuckled drunkenly. "Truly. I think it's amazing. I may have seen them once too."

Kornblatt, sensing the eyes of his sister, refrained.

"Come on," the bald man pleaded. "Take us on a tour."

Kornblatt could no longer contain himself. He recited a few facts about the citizenry for the benefit of those interested. Mrs. Tannenbaum runs a haberdashery, formerly owned by her late husband. Irving Leibowitz is a commissioner in the Water Department. The child with one leg belongs to the Brauns, who recently moved into Number 5 on 12th Street.

"So, are there ever scandals or transgressions?" Flora asked, toying with him a little.

"Yes," added the bald man with glasses, "are there ever rules broken, crimes, bad things?"

Kornblatt thought for a moment. "As I say, let no one break faith with the wife of his youth, but this morning, Mrs. Shapiro woke up with Mr. Needleman's dick in her mouth, if that's what you mean by transgression."

"My!" Flora said, taken aback.

"Oh boy!" shouted the bald man. "This is too funny!"

Hannah's fist came down on the table with a quickness and force that startled the guests. "That…Is…Enough…Benjamin! I won't have you haranguing our visitors with this utter nonsense! I will not have it!"

"I assure you, it's really okay, Hannah," Flora said. "He's only kidding."

"He is not kidding and it is not okay," Hannah grunted as she retrieved scattered pecans. She fixed burning eyes on her brother. "Leave. I want you out. I want you gone."

The guests, silent and tense, stared at Kornblatt, who lowered his head and focused on his cake plate.

"I will not tolerate this. Leave. Now!" Hannah pointed toward the back door and Kornblatt, like a chastised dog, his chin buried in his chest, rose and left.

The spirit of the party broken, the guests began quickly drifting out. Daniel slipped through the back door and walked swiftly to the guest house. It was a crisp fall night and a large orange moon glowed in the sky. Kornblatt's door was open and he was down on his knees, with his back to the door, rocking gently back and forth. "Benjamin," Daniel called softly. "Benjamin, may I come in?"

"You may," he responded without turning around.

Daniel seated himself in the inflatable chair and remained there for several minutes. "Show me," he finally said.

"Come," Kornblatt instructed, and the two of them knelt side by side in front of the miniature city. "Throw the world you know away and look. You must not think of this world."

Daniel tried to put everything out of his mind, but all he could think of was his wife and the way she had seemed so helpless and lost that afternoon, like a little girl. He imagined her as a child. He knew he would not be able to witness Kornblatt's world, not now, not ever.

"Now, open the eyes inside you."

"I see nothing," Daniel said, staring at the magnificent model. "I'm looking, but I see nothing."

"Not there," Kornblatt corrected him gently. And slowly closing his eyes, he pointed to his head. "Here." He waited a moment. "Can you see them now?"

"Benjamin, I can't."

Kornblatt put his hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder. "Shut your eyes, and look."

"I can't do this." He said it suddenly, sadly. "This makes no sense to me and it shouldn't make sense to you. Understand, I want so much to believe, but this is not real, Benjamin. This is something…something wrong."

Smiling, Kornblatt nodded.

Daniel rose and left.

part  1,  2,  3,  4,  5

part  7

Todd Schindler, a former child star in Mexico, is a filmmaker and writer. He currently lives in New York City.