Etgar Keret

Except that this time, since happiness was at stake, Eddie decided to beat the condition. And instead of taking an afternoon nap, he stayed awake and watched television. Just to be on the safe side, he even lined up not one, but three alarm clocks and ordered a wake-up call to boot. But this sickness was incurable, and Eddie fell asleep like a baby, watching the kiddie channel.

Except that this time, since happiness was at stake, Eddie decided to beat the condition. And instead of taking an afternoon nap, he stayed awake and watched television. Just to be on the safe side, he even lined up not one, but three alarm clocks and ordered a wake-up call to boot. But this sickness was incurable, and Eddie fell asleep like a baby, watching the kiddie channel.

screeching of a trillion million alarm clocks. 10 minutes too late. Rushed out of the house without stopping to change and ran toward the bus stop. He barely remembered how to run anymore, and his feet fumbled a bit every time they left the sidewalk. The last time he ran was before he discovered he could cut gym class, which was about in the 6th grade.

screeching of a trillion million alarm clocks. 10 minutes too late. Rushed out of the house without stopping to change and ran toward the bus stop. He barely remembered how to run anymore, and his feet fumbled a bit every time they left the sidewalk. The last time he ran was before he discovered he could cut gym class, which was about in the 6th grade.

Except that unlike in those gym classes, this time he ran like crazy, because now he had something to lose. And all the pain in his chest and his lucky strike wheezing weren't going to get in the way of his pursuit of happiness. Nothing was going to get in his way. Except our bus driver. where it just closed the door and was beginning to pull away.

Except that unlike in those gym classes, this time he ran like crazy, because now he had something to lose. And all the pain in his chest and his lucky strike wheezing weren't going to get in the way of his pursuit of happiness. Nothing was going to get in his way. Except our bus driver. where it just closed the door and was beginning to pull away.

The driver saw Eddie in the rearview mirror, but as we've already explained, he had an ideology. That more than anything, relied on love of justice and on simple arithmetic. Except that Eddie didn't care about the driver's arithmetic. For the first time in his life, he really wanted to get somewhere on time. And that's why he went right on chasing the bus, even though he didn't have a chance.

The driver saw Eddie in the rearview mirror, but as we've already explained, he had an ideology. That more than anything, relied on love of justice and on simple arithmetic. Except that Eddie didn't care about the driver's arithmetic. For the first time in his life, he really wanted to get somewhere on time. And that's why he went right on chasing the bus, even though he didn't have a chance.

Then, Eddie's luck turned. But only halfway, 100 yards past the bus stop, there was a traffic light. And just a second before the bus reached it, the traffic light turned red. Eddie managed to catch up with the bus and to drag himself all the way to the driver's door. He didn't even bang on the glass he was so weak.

Then, Eddie's luck turned. But only halfway, 100 yards past the bus stop, there was a traffic light. And just a second before the bus reached it, the traffic light turned red. Eddie managed to catch up with the bus and to drag himself all the way to the driver's door. He didn't even bang on the glass he was so weak.

He just looked at the driver with moist eyes and fell to his knees, panting and wheezing. And this reminded the driver of something, something from out of the past, from a time before he wanted to become a bus driver, when he still wanted to become God. It was kind of a sad memory, because the driver didn't become God at the end.

He just looked at the driver with moist eyes and fell to his knees, panting and wheezing. And this reminded the driver of something, something from out of the past, from a time before he wanted to become a bus driver, when he still wanted to become God. It was kind of a sad memory, because the driver didn't become God at the end.

But it was a happy one too, because he became a bus driver, which was his second choice. And suddenly, the driver remembered how he'd once promised himself that if he became God in the end, he'd be merciful and kind and would listen to all these creatures. So when he saw Eddie from way up in his driver's seat, kneeling on the asphalt, he simply couldn't go through with it.

But it was a happy one too, because he became a bus driver, which was his second choice. And suddenly, the driver remembered how he'd once promised himself that if he became God in the end, he'd be merciful and kind and would listen to all these creatures. So when he saw Eddie from way up in his driver's seat, kneeling on the asphalt, he simply couldn't go through with it.

And in spite of all his ideology and his simple arithmetic, he opened the door and Eddie got on and didn't even say thank you. He was so out of breath. Okay, maybe the best thing would be to stop listening right now. Because even though Eddie did get to the Dolphinarium one time, happiness didn't come. Because happiness already had a boyfriend.

And in spite of all his ideology and his simple arithmetic, he opened the door and Eddie got on and didn't even say thank you. He was so out of breath. Okay, maybe the best thing would be to stop listening right now. Because even though Eddie did get to the Dolphinarium one time, happiness didn't come. Because happiness already had a boyfriend.

It's just she was so sweet that she couldn't bring herself to tell Eddie, so she preferred to stand him up. Eddie waited for her on the bench they had agreed on for almost two hours. While he sat there, he kept thinking all sorts of depressing thoughts about his life.

It's just she was so sweet that she couldn't bring herself to tell Eddie, so she preferred to stand him up. Eddie waited for her on the bench they had agreed on for almost two hours. While he sat there, he kept thinking all sorts of depressing thoughts about his life.

And while he was at it, he watched the sunset, which was a pretty good one, and thought about how cramped his legs were going to be later on. When he was really desperate to get home, he saw his bus in the distance, pulling in at the bus stop and letting off passengers. And he knew that even if he'd had the strength to run, he'd never catch up with it anyway.

And while he was at it, he watched the sunset, which was a pretty good one, and thought about how cramped his legs were going to be later on. When he was really desperate to get home, he saw his bus in the distance, pulling in at the bus stop and letting off passengers. And he knew that even if he'd had the strength to run, he'd never catch up with it anyway.