The State of Israel is in its infancy. Destroyers of the English and French navies begin to make courtesy calls at Haifa port. The rules of conduct for the guests are particularly strict regarding the performance and especially alcohol. Many of the sailors tried a small sip that loosened the rein and then it was hard to stop them.
Sheetrit's oriental restaurant on Herzl Street, corner of the Prophets, sometimes hosted them with cash. One day I came to visit a restaurant with David, or 'Pasolya' if you will, the son of the owner of the house. We are treated to a free haircut and sit idle, like the adults. In front of us is a table and two English sailors sitting facing each other emptying bottles of beer. The white uniform is brighter than normal white. Clean, polished and ironed by the hand of an artist. The badges and symbols of all kinds arouse interest and every passer-by observes with wide eyes.
In order to avoid arguments during payment, all empty bottles remain on the table. In about two hours, empty bottles are piled up on the table next to each other. Every few minutes one of them gets up and walks towards the bathroom. Simulates walking on deck in a storm. The goal is to make room in the bladder for the next beers. His friend remained to guard the empty bottles. One returns, the other sets off and God forbid returns. Little by little all the black turns to black and the ironing lines straighten out.
The table is full of bottles standing up to its edge. Going to the bathroom already looks as if the entire restaurant was found on a ship in a stormy and emotional sea. The sailors barely stand on their feet, praying that the storm at sea will calm down a little. Every bottle swallowed is sent to sorting. The kidneys work hard to filter the fluids and transfer them to the bladder, but what happens to the alcohol? After respect, it passes through the liver and begins to seep into the brain. In the brain there are millions of cells that it wants to conquer. The one who supports the action is the salt that drinks more and more and thus there is not a single brain cell left without alcohol to whisper to him:
"Run away while you're on your feet."
Along with the sailors going ashore, the ship's military police jeep also leaves. His job is to keep order and locate the drinkers. Looking in restaurants, bars and all kinds of places where sailors might tarnish the good name of the ship and its flag. A jeep stopped near Shetrit's restaurant. A leg wrapped in a white leggings was sent up and two military police officers of the English Navy disembarked from it. The lowest among them can be an outstanding basketball player. wearing white ironed uniforms. In their hands are black batons with a leather strap hugging the palm to prevent the baton from slipping when in use.
The entrance to the restaurant is very impressive and they will pick up lawbreakers. When they saw the couple sitting in front of us, they went inside. The warning to the two from the police of the place, arrived in time, but they were no longer able to move from their place and run away. Nor did they try to resist the police and that did not prevent the beatings that landed on them. Whoever shames the navy has no forgiveness. They are dragged into the car parked behind the jeep and thrown in like a sack of potatoes. The difference between them is that such a bag does not vomit. The convoy set off, with the two sailors, who until a little while ago were as white and white as snow, lying on the floor of the mobile, wrinkled and dirty with their own vomit.
The mobile goes out to look for more lawbreakers and treat them accordingly. We do not know what punishment they received on the ship. Guaranteed, who swore it was their last drink. The oath was valid, of course, until going on the next beach vacation. I sip one beer a...but, what the sailors drank in one 'Five o'clock' I won't be able to empty in a year. I'm lucky I'm not English.
- Ilan Segal -
All the best to Ilan