“Avinu Malkenu”
By Mort Laitner
At sunset, they sat on the 58th floor, admiring the skyline, the Hudson and the tip of the island. For years this view took their breath away. They both felt blessed. A father and a daughter sharing a quiet moment together—contemplating where they were in their lives and knowing that they had been through a lot together.
At the large table meant for 15, he sat center stage and she next to him— within whispering distance.
On leather chairs that felt like money, she looked him in the eyes and said, “Dad I’m so proud of you. Today, you took the first step, when you said you had regrets for some of your hurtful words. That was a great start. That was progress. You need to do more of that.”
“Thanks hon. It felt good saying that.”
She handed her father a sheet of paper. “Pop, I made you a copy of a forgiveness prayer. I say it once a year and it gives me a sense of serenity.”
He put on his reading glasses and with both hands held the prayer. He scanned down the page, stopping to focus on certain sins: arrogance, lying, evil thoughts and passing judgment. Then he read out loud.
“For all of these, O G-d of forgiveness, forgive me, pardon me, grant me atonement.”
Silently, she watched as a tear formed in his eye. Silently, she watched as he gently laid the prayer on the desk.
“Dad the next step is not only asking G-d for forgiveness but specifically asking all those people you hurt. The disabled, the prisoners-of-war, the Gold Star families, the Mexicans, the Muslims and women. Generic regrets are not good enough.”
He sat silently starring at the sunset. The tear had now reached his cheek and he wiped it away.
He rose and picked up the prayer as if he was lifting a Torah scroll.
“Truly, truly I have sinned. May it be Your will, O Lord our G-d, to forgive all my sins, and pardon all my iniquities.”
Now tears formed in her eyes, blurring her view of the skyline, the Hudson and the tip of the island. She stood and gave him a hug as night befell the landscape.
What the readers are saying:
Mort; If it were only so! We live with dreams. Any way it is very funny in a bitter sort of way. Keep it up, —Ulrich
Sounds like you might have 12 Step familiarization! Like the story a lot. —Steve
LOL. Mort this person will never sincerely admit that he was wrong!—Toby
Sweet, you might have the making of an interesting novel…—Terry
Nice story, I did not know you did fiction!!—Cary
Hmmm, wonder who you had in mind when writing this little story. Thanks for the sweet story and chuckle.—Sue
I love this Good story I like how you started and ended the story with the same focal point.story Mort,…—Lois
Not as funny as your last two. Very Nice.—Barb
Good story. I like how you started and ended the story with the same focal point.—Travis
View a 39-second film trailer of “The Stairs” at https://mortlaitner.com/the-stairs/.
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