Zvika seemed to be on a special cloud after the shower incident. He made a really big breakfast—larger than I was used to, but it was nice: toast with marmalade and peanut butter, scrambled eggs, and several types of cheeses. With coffee, of course.
“I’m impressed,” I said when we had finished. “You eat well.”
He gave a grunt of laughter and said, “My friend Rachel says I’m a dreck-fresser.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s Yiddish. Fresser is feeder, and dreck-fresser is garbage eater.”
“That’s not very nice,” I said.
He shrugged and spread cream cheese on a toasted bagel. “Kinda true, though.”
I considered, and nodded. It was almost a metaphor for Zvika’s approach to life: try everything, and with gusto. I found the idea very heartwarming.
After breakfast we took our coffees into his living
