Word: nat
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Both of them were children of Russian Jewish parents. Lil's father was a successful merchant; he sold and repaired sewing machines. Nat's parents were poor. His father died when he was six, and his mother, who never learned English, had to work as a peddler to survive. She also had to send three of her seven children, including Nat, to an orphan asylum for six years...
...asylum, Nat learned how to play the cornet and was in the orphanage band. After he got out, he worked as hard as he could to help support his mother...
Endless drinking. Nat has to abstain-his stomach has been upset lately. My grandmother, almost jogging around in her long silver-white dress, helps herself. So do I. So do my mother, my three uncles (all of whom are named Sidney), my aunts (Bert and Dot and Frances), and my married cousin Andy. Drinks in hand, we admire a collage of black-and-white family pictures leaning against the wall. Someone says that one of the little babies is me. There is a snapshot of my grandparents; the thirties; they look like Bonnie and Clyde...
...away from "The Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," plays a fanfare, and the march into the next room for dinner has begun. The family staggers towards the long head table. The accordion player plays "Here Comes the Bride"; my grandparents enter. A boozy standing ovation. As Lil and Nat take their seats the music switches to "The Old Grey Mare." Some of the assembled join...
Finally they out the big "wedding" cake. Nat and Lil kiss. It is a long kiss, and she shuts her eyes. The accordion plays "Here Comes the Bride" again and many stand up to toast...