(Finally it's Rolf's turn. His song seemed to fit him perfectly as well. The song is "If I Were a Rich Man" from Fiddler on the Roof. The fact that the song seems to follow what Rolf might be thinking half the time. Alright then, now we shall get on with the story. I'm going to say that Rolf is Jewish, due to the fact that we don't know what he is. Also, this dream takes place before Rolf moved to America.)
The Seventh Dream: If Rolf Were a Wealthy Man
A younger Rolf wiped the sweat from his brow as he stuck the pitchfork he was using into a large pile of hay. He grumbled something incoherent as he sat down on a nearby overturned bucket. He was wearing a pair of green cotton pants as well as a white old world shirt. He was inside a large barn back in his home land. Pigs and chickens roamed the area around him.
"Oh, the Son of a Shepherd is tired from the day's work…" Rolf said as he slumped down. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Oh Lord…why is Rolf and his family poor? Why does Rolf have to do all the work, while Papa watches the sheep, Mama cooks all day, and Nana sleeps…" Rolf kicked the ground and sighed.
"I do not want work…I want to be like Levy, down in town…A rich man…" Rolf sighed again and knelt down on the ground, in front of the bucket.
"Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor. But it's no great honor either! So, would it have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?"
He stood as a slight tune began to play. The tune was light, and almost playful.
"If
I were a rich man, ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle
dum. All day long I'd biddy biddy bum, if I were a wealthy man. I
wouldn't have to work hard,
ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba
deedle deedle dum, If I were a biddy biddy rich,
yidle-diddle-didle-didle man"
Rolf smiled as he pictured his perfect life, mimicking it as he continued to sing about what he would do.
"I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen, right in the middle of the town. A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below, there would be one long staircase just going up, and one even longer coming down, and one more leading nowhere, just for show."
Rolf smiled as he began to dance around, mimicking each animal he was about to talk about.
"I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys and geese and ducks for the town to see and hear, squawking just as noisily as they can. And each loud "cheep" and "squawk" and "honk" and "quack" would land like a trumpet on the ear, as if to say 'Here lives a wealthy man' "
Rolf stopped and took in a large, sad breath.
"If
I were a rich man, ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle
dum. All day long I'd biddy biddy bum, if I were a wealthy man. I
wouldn't have to work hard,
ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba
deedle deedle dum, If I were a biddy biddy rich,
yidle-diddle-didle-didle man"
Rolf once again closed his eyes as the world around him changed into his imaginary mansion. He opened his eyes as he was dressed in a wealthy man's clothes. As he looked up to the staircase he saw a woman with golden hair walking elegantly moving down the stairs.
"I see my wife, my Gertrude, looking like a rich man's wife with a proper double-chin, supervising meals to her heart's delight. I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock. Oh! What a happy mood she's in, screaming at the servants, day and night." He yells something in his native tongue as the phantom woman does so. He smiles and continues to move through the house.
Three men come up to Rolf and fall to their knees in front of him. HE smiles at them, as they look up and begin to ask him questions. The song changes slightly, becoming more forceful.
"The most important men in town would come to fawn on me! They would ask me to advise them, like a Solomon the Wise. "If you please, Son of a Shepherd..." "Pardon me, Son of a Shepherd..." Posing problems that would cross a Rabbi's eyes!"
The men begin to ask many questions in quick succession. Rolf silences them with his hand, which causes the music to go back to normal, and begins to walk away as the men disappear.
"And it won't make one bit of difference if I answer right or wrong. When you're rich, they think you really know!" He grins and walks outside the house, looking out to the town that he lives in. Rolf takes in a deep breath.
"If,
I, were rich I'd have the time that I lack to sit in the synagogue
and pray.
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall" The
scene then changes to Rolf sitting around with four other men, with
books open in front of them.
"And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day. That would be the sweetest thing of all…" As the world around Rolf changes back to the barn, with the chickens and other animals. Rolf sighs and sits back down on the bucket.
"If I were a rich man, ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum, All day long I'd biddy biddy bum, If I were a wealthy man. I wouldn't have to work hard, ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum."
Rolf jumped up and looked up as he began to shout out.
"Lord who made us all, I am just a lamb. You decreed I should be what I am! …Would it spoil so vast eternal plan!" Rolf sighed as he looked up once more.
"If, I were a Wealthy Man!" As Rolf began dancing again, but this time it caused him to trip and fall over the bucket. He fell backwards as the song ended and conked his head on the floor.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Rolf woke up suddenly as he looked around. He had fallen asleep in his yard again, sleeping next to Wilfred. He smiled lightly as he stood up.
"Hey Rolf! We're going to play some Basketball, you wanna come!" Kevin yelled from the street. Rolf stood up and dusted himself off.
"Wait for Rolf too-slow-to-catch-my-jumping Kevin, Shall Rolf beat your baggy shorts again?"
"You wish!" Kevin said as he began to dribble the ball as Rolf jumped over his fence and stole of the ball from him.
Yes Rolf thought as he shot the ball, It might have spoiled some plan…If I had become rich…thank you…
