Heaven and Mel (Kindle Single) (16 page)

Mel's appearance on "The Tonight Show" revealed how Alan Nierob's strategy had changed after the globalization of "Nick's Tape." Mel could no longer argue that the events and statements that I had described in my letter were "utter fabrications."

So Mel did "The Tonight Show," caught some softball questions from his friend Jay, and claimed that his rights had been violated by my son's tape.

It was ridiculous.

The audience's reaction to him, as reported by the media, proved it. "Jittery, twitchy, uncomfortable, awkward," reporters called it. No one who saw it called his performance humorous. Most press accounts said that only a small percentage of the audience seemed to be amused.

* * * *

I REREAD MY SCRIPT.
I thought I'd written the perfect ending for it. It was an ending, I thought, that should be engraved in all of our hearts. The ending was… two words.

The two words came right after Judah Maccabee said: "The day will come when we will be free! We will be free to pray to our God! We will be free to educate our children! We will never have to bend our knee to anyone but our Lord! The day will come when we will be strong and mighty, strong enough to defeat anyone —
anyone
— who wants to wipe us off the face of the earth!"

The two words came from a crowd listening to him.

"
Never again! Never again! Never again!"
they chanted.

* * * *

THE MACCABEES WERE GONE FROM ME.
They were no longer in my house. They were no longer in my tunnel. My office upstairs was empty, lifeless, and cold. There was no way I would ever be able to thank them for their presence, their inspiration and their company.

I tried, my brothers. I really tried. I did my best.

Shalom!

* * * *

John Law Eszterhas, fourteen, was confirmed in the Catholic faith at a Mass celebrated by the bishop.

John Law picked his confirmation name himself: "Judah," the Jewish Braveheart.

THE END