Lies My Father Told Me

David cherishes Sundays with Zaida, riding the rag-and-bone wagon and his old horse Ferdeleh. Zaida's life in the ghetto blends work, humor, and religious study as he reads the Talmud. The humor about covering Mrs. Tannenbaum's steps with horse excrement shows Zaida's stubborn optimism and David's admiration.

Zaida's friend Mr. Baumgarten embraces Karl Marx to end social injustice, while Zaida counters with a messianic hope for justice. The exchange reveals the era's political and religious tensions inside the community. David watches and absorbs the conflicting ideas.

Harry pitches his pressless trousers to Zaida, claiming there are many orders and that a $500 investment will pay off in a month. The business partner counters that the trousers have bulges at the knees, undermining the plan. Harry's temper flares as he insults Zaida and jokes about his family, foreshadowing trouble.

David overhears Harry's harsh words about Zaida, Ferdeleh, and the family, which disturbs and shames him. He feels the weight of his father's anger and the fractures within his family. He tells Zaida that his father tells terrible lies to comfort him.

Harry takes David fishing as a pretext to leave the ghetto, but instead leads him to a gambling club. He speaks vaguely about a different life and a new direction for the family. The venture collapses when orders are canceled and Harry declares bankruptcy, scrapping their plans to move.

Annie gives birth to David's baby brother, altering the family dynamics. David feels jealous of the newborn's close attention and the ease of breastfeeding. The household mood shifts as new responsibilities emerge.

Feeling disillusioned with adults, David covers Mrs. Tannenbaum's steps with horse excrement, echoing Zaida's earlier joke. The act marks a childish attempt to retaliate against the neighbors and the adult world. It foreshadows the consequences that will follow.

Police arrive to enforce bylaws about stables near residences, citing the stable's location as a violation. They give Zaida 30 days to move, threatening his livelihood and daily life. Zaida's refusal to relocate deepens the crisis for the family.

Zaida becomes gravely ill as the bylaw disruption unsettles the family. David is sent to his uncle to avoid spreading the illness and to keep him safe. The care crisis compounds the sense that the adult world promises have failed.

When David returns, Harry tells him that Zaida and Ferdeleh have died, ending the grandfather's presence in his life. The news shatters David's sense of security and trust in the adults around him. He struggles to process the loss while the household prepares for change.

Distressed, David runs from the home and imagines his grandfather returning to him. The imagined return offers a fragile comfort against the real absence of Zaida. The moment underscores David's vulnerable longing amid a collapsing family world.