Post by huronna on Nov 7, 2008 10:41:26 GMT -5
by Paul Jamison
July, 2007
PART 1
It was a beautiful day to be outdoors, and the reception was large and lavish, as they usually are for traditional Jewish weddings. The adult ferrets were raising a toast to the newly married couple - a lovely Cinnamon jill dressed in an elaborate gown and her handsome Blaze groom. A group of young ferrets were playing nearby, wrestling, dancing around or simply racing around in circles, laughing and squealing. An old Sable ferret, wearing a yarmulke, sat nearby, watching the youngsters play. He looked over at the bride - his daughter Katherine - and began to sing.
“Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older.
When did they?
“When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday,
When they were small?
“Sunrise, sunset...
Sunrise, sunset...
Swiftly flow the days.
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.
“Sunrise, sunset...
Sunrise, sunset...
Swiftly fly the years.
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.
“What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another,
Day by day.
“They look so natural together,
Just like two newlyweds should be.
Is there a canopy in store for me?”
The old ferret turned his attention to the kits.
“Sunrise, sunset...
Sunrise, sunset...
Swiftly flow the days.
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.
“Sunrise, sunset...
Sunrise, sunset...
Swiftly fly the years.
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.”
One of the ferret kits - a little Dark-Eyed White - stopped running around and looked over at the old ferret. He toddled over and looked gravely at his Grandpapa.
The little kit asked, “You okay, G'ampa?”
His Grandpapa replied, “Oh, I'm fine, Sammy. I'm a little tired. Now that the wedding is over, I will have time to rest.”
The old ferret looked at the little kit and smiled. “Such a wee one you are.” He tapped the kit's chest with his paw. “And such a big heart in that tiny body! So much wisdom, so much caring, in a young child. You know something, Sammy? I believe you are destined to become a Rabbi when you grow up. And I believe that you will make a fine one.”
Little Sammy placed his paws on the old ferret's knee and said softly, “I love you, G'ampa.”
Grandfather pulled the kit close. “And I love you, too, my little Sammy. Come up here on your Grandpapa’s lap.”
It was a couple of hours later that Miryam and Jakob left the wedding celebration to look for their son. They found their Sammy curled up in his Grandpapa’s lap, fast asleep. Grandpapa Levi was gently snoozing himself, with his arm around his grandson. Miryam and Jakob smiled and quietly returned to the wedding party. Another hour or so wouldn’t hurt.
PART 2
Miryam finished reading her sister’s letter. Other honeymooning couples would have been satisfied with sending out postcards, but not Katherine. She loved writing letters, and they could run to several pages. In the two weeks since she’d gotten married, this was her third letter. Her new husband, Alvin, had added a note to the second, joking that he’d been warned that a wife could be expensive, but no one had mentioned having to keep her supplied with postage stamps.
Miryam put down the letter and listened. It was awfully quiet outside. Her brother Ira’s four children were playing outside with her little son Sammy, and it was almost too quiet. She got up and looked out the window.
Ah. The five children were sitting in a circle in the front yard. Ira’s oldest Aaron had found a dreidel and was spinning it on the ground in the middle of the circle, even though it wouldn’t be Hanukkah for several months yet. Miryam watched for a few moments and realized that Aaron was teaching her Sammy the dreidel song and game. The little kit was watching the top as it spun around, his eyes wide with wonder. As she watched, Aaron picked up the dreidel and explained the four Hebrew letters on the side. Sammy was too young to comprehend, but he listened closely all the same. Miryam smiled. Ira’s children, like all the children in her extended family, were fond and very protective of Sammy.
She looked again at the photos that had come with Katherine’s letter. Alvin was good with a camera and they had included some excellent shots of Seattle’s Space Needle and the famous Red Barn at Boeing’s Museum of Flight. What with having to take a long detour around California, it had taken them a long time to reach Washington State. Now they were enjoying Seattle and were planning to move on to Vancouver in a few days.
There was a commotion outside. A car had pulled up in the driveway, and Miryam was surprised to see Ira’s wife Angelica get out. She wasn’t due to pick up her children for another hour yet. Aaron and the others were squealing to see their mother, but Angelica looked distracted.
Miryam rushed outside. Something was wrong.
Angelica didn’t waste any time. “Miryam! It’s Grandpapa Levi!”
“Oh, no! What happened?”
“He was at the store when he suddenly collapsed. He was taken to the hospital. They’re not sure, but Jakob thinks it was a heart attack.”
Miryam felt cold. His heart. It had bothered him before. Papa…
Miryam looked down at her son. Sammy was sitting on the ground, holding the dreidel in his paws; he had heard his Grandpapa mentioned and was listening intently.
“Angelica, I must go to the hospital. Will you give me a ride? Will you watch Sammy?”
“Of course, I’ll give you a ride, but I don’t think that it will be necessary for me to watch Sammy. Jakob says that Grandpapa is awake and asking to see him.”
Yes. Grandpapa and Sammy loved one another so much. She bent down and picked up her son.
“We go see G’ampa?”
“Yes, Sammy, we’re going to see Grandpapa.”
PART 3
The hospital waiting room was crowded when Miryam came in carrying Sammy. She was supposed to meet Jakob there, but where was he? She looked around, but couldn’t see him.
“Miryam!” There he was, waving at her from over by the Reception desk. She waved back at him and headed that way.
When she reached him, he gave her a peck on the cheek and kissed Sammy on his head. “I’m glad that you both got here okay. Miryam, I’ve been filling out your Papa’s admission papers, but there are one or two questions about things that I don’t know. Could you help me answer them?”
“I’m sure I can.” She set her son down. “Sammy, Mama and Papa have some things to do here. We’ll go see Grandpapa in a few minutes. Don’t wander too far away.”
“Yes, Mama.” Sammy looked around at all the ferrets in the big room. He’d never been here before, but Mama had said that this “hospital” was a place where very sick people came. Some of the people looked unhappy; others looked scared or worried. Were they sick? Sammy noticed a Cinnamon lady ferret nearby, sitting in a funny chair with wheels and holding something wrapped in a blanket. She didn’t seem sick to Sammy. When she looked down at her bundle, she looked happy. Sammy wondered why.
The lady looked up and saw Sammy watching her, and she smiled at him.
The little kit said, “Hi. My name Sammy.”
“Hello, Sammy. My name is Annabelle.” She held up the bundle in her lap. “Come here. I want to show you something.”
Sammy had been warned by Mama to be careful of strangers, but this lady seemed nice. He toddled over to her funny chair with wheels. The lady gently folded the blanket back and Sammy was filled with wonder at what he saw.
“Sammy, this is Clarissa. She’s only three days old. We’re going home today.”
Curled up in the blanket was the tiniest ferret kit Sammy had ever seen. Clarissa’s head seemed so big for such a little body. She was covered in grey fur, and her eyes were still tightly shut.
Sammy stared at this little creature for several seconds. Finally he looked up at Annabelle and said the only word he could think of to describe what he felt.
“Pretty.”
“Yes, I think that she’s very pretty.”
Clarissa couldn’t see or hear the world around her, but she seemed to sense that something was happening. In any case, she could feel that the blanket wasn’t covering her anymore. She stirred and with a little squeak extended one of her paws.
Sammy reached forward and gently touched the paw. As small as his own paws still were, they were huge compared to the baby’s. She wrapped her paw around one of Sammy’s fingers, and it seemed to calm her down.
Jakob came over and touched his son’s shoulder. “We’re ready to go see Grandpapa. Come along now.”
“Okay.” Sammy gently pulled his paw away from the baby’s grasp, but this didn’t seem to disturb her. She snuggled down in her blanket. He held his paw above her little head for a few seconds. Annabelle watched this thoughtfully – it wasn’t the sort of gesture a toddler would make – but somehow it seemed right.
Jakob picked Sammy up, and before they left, the little kit said, “Bye-bye.”
Annabelle replied, “Goodbye, Sammy – and thank you.”
Part 4
Grandpapa Levi looked so fragile, curled up in the hospital bed as he was. One end of a transparent tube was taped to one paw, the other end leading to a plastic bag hanging from a metal rack by the bed. A constantly beeping electronic machine was on the other side of the bed, and a wire from this disappeared beneath the blanket covering the old ferret. To Miryam, it looked like her Papa had shrunken since she’d last seen him.
He may have been asleep, but he opened his eyes as Miryam and her family stood by the bed. The smile he gave was weak.
“Ah, my daughter, it’s good to see you here. I’m sorry if I can’t give you the usual hug and kiss on the cheek.”
“There will be other times, Papa. When you’re better.”
“When I’m better. Yes, of course.” The old ferret gestured at the machine by the bed. “Meet my friend. He’s a secretary of sorts. My body tells him many things, and he takes it all down.” He listened to the beeping for a few seconds. “A very good worker, but he says the same thing over and over again and it gets boring.”
Grandpapa held up the paw with the feeding tube attached. “As you can see, you caught me at mealtime. I’d offer you something, but there’s only enough for one, I’m afraid. Besides that, I’m not sure this is kosher. I asked the nurse about it and she just looked at me funny. No sense of humor, these shiksas.”
Jakob said, “Well, I suppose that would depend on how they killed it.”
The old ferret gave out some short, wheezy gasps, as his shoulders shook. It was weak laughter, but it was laughter, none the less. “Oh, that is a good one. I’ll have to remember it. Jakob, it’s good to see you as well. Have I ever told you how fortunate my daughter is to have a husband as good as you?”
“Many times, Grandpapa Levi. Ever since Miryam and I became engaged.”
Grandpapa nodded. “To tell you the truth, I thought so when I first met you. I just didn’t say anything then. When you got engaged, it seemed safe to bring the subject up.”
“Ira and Angelica will be here soon, Grandpapa Levi. They’re going to call Katherine and Alvin in Vancouver. They’ll probably get here as soon as they can.”
“It would be a shame if they have to cut their honeymoon short, but life is like that sometimes. Now then – where is my grandson?”
“G’ampa!” Sammy clutched at the railing, but he couldn’t climb over it. Jakob picked him up and set him down on the bed next to the old ferret. Sammy carefully crawled over the wire and feeding tube and gave his Grandpapa a hug. Grandpapa Levi managed to bring his arm up and wrap it around the little kit.
Sammy sat up. “G’ampa sick?”
“Yes, my little one, Grandpapa is sick. It is a hurt in my heart.”
“G’ampa get better?”
“I hope so, little one. Maybe I will.” Grandpapa paused, then said softly, “Maybe this time I will. But I’m an old ferret. One of these days, though, something will happen to Grandpapa and he will not get better.”
“Papa, hush!” said Miryam. “It will do you no good to say such gloomy things!”
“But such gloomy things are true, daughter mine. None of us lives forever. I cannot deny such gloomy things. I have had a good life, and I have a family that I love.”
Sammy gave the old ferret another hug. “G’ampa get better!”
“There are good doctors and nurses working on me, little one. They are trying their best to make me better. Hopefully they will succeed. But it’s in God’s hands. We shall see what He wants for me.”
Sammy lay down beside his Grandpapa, as his Mama and Papa sat down in a couple of chairs.
“I love you, my little Sammy.”
“I love you, G’ampa.”
PART 5
About every week or so, Jakob took his family out to eat at their favorite kosher restaurant. Mama liked it because she didn’t have to cook a meal. Sammy always loved it. Sitting in a booster seat made him feel special, and the waitress lady was nice to him. Best of all, Mama and Papa always praised him for being a good boy. So, after eating out a few days later, the family was in a happy mood when they returned home.
Just as they walked in the front door, the telephone rang.
Jakob answered, “Hello? – Oh, yes, doctor! Yes, is something wrong – oh.” He bit his lip and said nothing as he listened. A sad look came to his face, as he finally said, “Yes, thank you. We’ll be up there as soon as we can. Thank you for everything.”
Jakob slowly placed the telephone back in the cradle and looked at Miryam. She felt numb; she didn’t need to ask what the phone call was about.
Sammy looked up at his Mama and Papa, and said, “G’ampa?”
Jakob drew his wife close to him and hugged her as he said, “They say it was peaceful. He settled down for an afternoon nap and … well …”
Miryam said, “It is good. He’s no longer in pain,” and she began to cry.
Sammy tugged at his Mama’s dress and repeated, more plaintively, “G’ampa?”
Miryam sighed and looked up. “Yes. We’ll have to go to the hospital. First we’ll call Alvin and Ira’s families. I’ll take Sammy to the next-door neighbors. They can look after him –“
Sammy said, “I wanna see G’ampa!”
Miryam knelt down and spoke softly to her son, “Sammy, we can’t take you with us this time. You’ll have to stay behind.”
Sammy became more insistent. “I wanna see G’ampa!”
“Sammy, no. You’re too young to understand –“
“NO!” The little kit waved his fists and stamped his feet. “I – WANNA – SEE – G’AMPA!” Sammy abruptly sat down on the floor and wailed, “G’ampaaaa…” He fell to one side and curled up on the floor.
“Oh, Sammy…” Miryam gazed sadly at her son. “You’ve never acted like this before.”
Jakob said, “This is something that he’s never faced before.” He bent over and picked up his son. Sammy buried his face in his Papa’s shoulder and wept.
Jakob continued, “He knows. He doesn’t understand, but, all the same, he knows.” Jakob stroked Sammy’s soft, white fur. “Our little boy and Grandpapa Levi were very close. Their bond must be strong indeed.”
A muffled little voice sobbed, “G’ampa...”
Miryam stepped closer and placed her hand on Sammy’s back. She said, “Yes. It is a very special bond. I guess we won’t need the neighbors to babysit after all.”
Jakob replied, “No. I don’t think so. Little one?”
Sammy sniffled as he looked up at his Papa.
Jakob wiped away his son’s tears. “Mama and I will have to make a few phone calls. Then we will take you to see Grandpapa.”
Part 6
The feeding tube and wire had been removed, and the machine and rack were gone; they weren’t needed anymore. The old ferret lay curled up on his side. Someone had placed upon his head a yarmulke made of fine white silk, trimmed in gold.
Six ferrets stood quietly around the bed as they gazed down at Grandpapa Levi. Katherine and Alvin, Ira and Angelica, Miryam and Jakob. There was only one child in the room, in his Papa’s arms. A nurse was nearby, holding a paper bag, but she kept to herself.
Sammy’s voice trembled as his eyes glistened with tears. “G’ampa?” But there was no response. Sammy turned his head away and whimpered.
Alvin said softly, “He looks so peaceful. It’s almost like he’s asleep.”
Sammy turned back around and said, “G’ampa not s’eep. G’ampa go ‘way.”
Alvin replied, “Yes, Sammy, you’re right. Grandpapa has gone away.”
Katherine said, “That’s quite a fancy yarmulke Papa is wearing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before.”
Miryam replied, “I’ve never seen it before at all. I don’t know where it came from. His favorite yarmulke was the old black one, with the simple red trim. He wore that one all the time.”
Ira spoke up. “Yes, that’s true. He wore his black one for as long as I can remember. Papa must have had it for years before we came along; he never said where he first got it. He even wore it when he officiated at our wedding – at all of our weddings. You’d think he’d want to have it on when he – when the time came.”
Alvin said, “That makes sense. I wonder what happened to that old yarmulke?”
“I can tell you about that.” The nurse stepped forward and joined the family by the bedside. She smiled at the little kit and said, “Hello. Are you Sammy?”
Sammy looked at her and nodded his head. “Uh-huh. Hi.”
“Hi. Your Grandpapa wanted you to have this.” She took something out of the paper bag and held it out for Sammy.
It wasn’t much to look at - a black skullcap with red trim, a bit frayed around the edge.
Sammy’s eyes grew big when he saw the yarmulke. He reached out and took it from the nurse and hugged it tight. “T’ank you.”
The nurse nodded. “You’re very welcome.” She said to the others, “He left specific instructions on what he wanted done with his old yarmulke. He said that it had done him good service for all his years as a rabbi and he figured that it ought to be passed on to someone who would appreciate it. He told me to give it to his grandson Sammy. He picked out that white silk yarmulke, but I don’t think that it mattered to him what he’d be wearing now.”
Ira nodded. “Yes. That’s Papa. He would be more concerned with legacy than with himself.”
Angelica said, “That old yarmulke is a bit big for such a tiny kit, isn’t it?”
Jakob looked at his son and smiled. “He’ll grow into it.”
Sammy leaned forward in his Papa’s arms, reaching for Grandpapa Levi. Jakob frowned and said, “Do you want to touch Grandpapa, little one? I’m not so sure –“
“Nuh-uh. No touch.” Sammy leaned forward as far as he could. Jakob moved to let him reach further.
Sammy stopped and held his little paw over his Grandpapa’s head. He held this pose for several seconds before leaning back and clutching the old yarmulke even closer.
Sammy said, “Bye-bye, G’ampa.”
Part 7
Grandpapa Levi was a well-known and highly respected member of the Jewish ferret community, so the synagogue was packed with mourners for his funeral, and so many were at the graveside that the canopy couldn’t cover them all. Sammy sat between his Mama and Papa and was very well-behaved, but after all, that was the way Sammy was. All the time he held on to his Grandpapa’s old yarmulke.
For days after the funeral, Sammy carried the yarmulke with him everywhere. When he sat on the floor playing with his toys, it was folded up in his lap. When mealtime came and he was placed in his highchair, he would drape it neatly over the chair arm while he ate; he was careful to never spill any food on it. When his Mama took the yarmulke to stitch up the frayed edge and to hand-wash it, Sammy stayed right by her side and watched. And when he went to bed every night, he slept with it close to his heart.
One day, two weeks after his Grandpapa’s funeral, Sammy was sitting outside on the back porch, with the black yarmulke in his little paws, while he watched his cousins playing a game with some neighborhood children. After watching them for about five minutes, he looked at the yarmulke and looked at his friends. Then he got up and went back inside to his bedroom. He placed the black skullcap on his bed and toddled back outside to join in the game; he had a wonderful time.
After that, Sammy kept the yarmulke in the bottom drawer of his dresser, where he could find it easily whenever he wanted it, which was often. When he was confused, or hurt, or sad, or excited, or joyful, he would take out his Grandpapa’s yarmulke and hold it close. He still slept with it from time to time as well.
And, as he grew, he would occasionally try it on.
PART 8
It was the Sabbath and Evening Services were to begin shortly. In his small office in the back of the synagogue, the Dark-Eyed White rabbi draped his shawl over his shoulders and adjusted it so that it sat properly. A Sable ferret, dressed in the red serge uniform of the RCMP, sat in one of the office chairs and watched him as he dressed. Murphy’s campaign hat was occupying one of the few empty spaces on the rabbi’s desk, which was mostly piled high with papers and books and magazines; as always, Sammy had too much to read and not enough time.
Murphy said, “You know, Sammy, it’s not very often that I see you without your yarmulke.”
Sammy chuckled. “Well, Murph, I don’t wear it all the time. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to bed with it.” He picked up the old yarmulke. The black had faded some over the years, but not much. The simple trim had not lost its bright red color, and one could hardly tell where the skullcap had been mended. In all it was still in excellent shape. Sammy held the yarmulke in his paws and said thoughtfully, “Actually, I do miss sleeping with this. It’s been awhile.”
Murphy shrugged. “Well, why not? There’s no one to say that you can’t.”
“True.”
After a moment, Murphy said, “Wherever your Grandpapa is, old friend, he must be very proud of you.”
There was a catch in Sammy’s voice when he answered. “I’d like to think so.”
“I’ve talked with your parents, and I know that they’re proud of you. It stands to reason that he would be, too.”
“Like your Dad is of you.”
“Like my Dad is of me.”
At this point someone knocked at the office door. Rabbi Sammy placed his yarmulke on his head and said, “Get that for me, will you, Murph?”
“Sure thing. It’s time for me to go on, anyway.” Murphy opened the door and found a young Cinnamon jill there, carrying a bundle wrapped in a blanket. “Hello, Ma’am,” Murphy said. “Is there something we can do for you?”
The jill smiled at Constable Murphy and replied, “Hello, sir. I wanted to see the Rabbi. Is he here?”
“Sure is. Hey, Rabs, it’s for you!”
Sammy scowled at Murphy. “’Rabs’, is it? I’ll remember that the next time you get mistaken for a doorman.” To the jill, he said, “How do you do? I’m Rabbi Sammy, and the comedian is Murphy. Don’t mind him; whatever he’s got, it’s not catching.”
Murphy picked up his campaign hat from Sammy’s desk and set it on his head. He said, “Now that we’ve set a tone of deep and abiding respect, I’ll give you two some privacy. I’ll see you after Services, Sammy.”
“Fine, Murph, talk to you later!” After Murphy had left, Sammy shook his head. “Rabs.” He looked at the jill more closely and said, “Have I met you before? You look familiar.”
She said, “You might be thinking of my Mother; people say that we look so much alike. But, yes, we have met before, although you may not remember it and I certainly don’t. I was only three days old at the time and you were just a wee toddler. My name is Clarissa.”
Sammy’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really? That was a long time ago.”
“My Mother told me about it. You met her the day she left the hospital with me; she showed me to you in the waiting room. The little kit she met that day made quite an impression on her. When she heard of a ferret named Sammy becoming a rabbi, she knew who he was.”
“I… see. I do remember meeting her. And I do remember seeing you.” Sammy smiled at the Cinnamon jill. “You’ve become a pretty young lady.”
Clarissa dropped her eyes and smiled. “Thank you, Rabbi.”
Sammy cleared his throat. “Um, so – what can I do for you, Clarissa?”
Clarissa held up her bundle. “I want to show you something.” She pulled the blanket back.
Nestled in the blanket was a tiny ferret kit, only a few days old. He was covered with grey fur, and his eyes were still tightly shut. He could feel when the blanket was taken away, and he squawked and wriggled around, waving a tiny paw in the air. This was a lively one.
Sammy gazed at this small creature and reached forward to touch the little paw. The kit grasped the rabbi’s paw; the contact seemed to sooth him and he settled down.
Clarissa smiled at the baby and said, “He’s my firstborn. His name is Levi.”
Rabbi Sammy looked down at baby Levi and said nothing for a few seconds. He gently stroked the tiny paw, and got a contented squeak for his efforts.
Finally he looked up at Clarissa and said, “Thank you for bringing him here. I’m very happy to meet him.”
“Thank you, Rabbi. I was wondering if – I know you’re busy, but – could you say a blessing for my son?”
Sammy nodded, “I would be happy to.”
“Thank you so much. It would be an honor to us.”
“And an honor to me.” Sammy gently pulled his paw from the baby’s grasp. The tiny kit didn’t raise a fuss.
And Rabbi Sammy held his paw above Levi’s head and began to recite a blessing.
July, 2007
PART 1
It was a beautiful day to be outdoors, and the reception was large and lavish, as they usually are for traditional Jewish weddings. The adult ferrets were raising a toast to the newly married couple - a lovely Cinnamon jill dressed in an elaborate gown and her handsome Blaze groom. A group of young ferrets were playing nearby, wrestling, dancing around or simply racing around in circles, laughing and squealing. An old Sable ferret, wearing a yarmulke, sat nearby, watching the youngsters play. He looked over at the bride - his daughter Katherine - and began to sing.
“Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older.
When did they?
“When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?
Wasn't it yesterday,
When they were small?
“Sunrise, sunset...
Sunrise, sunset...
Swiftly flow the days.
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.
“Sunrise, sunset...
Sunrise, sunset...
Swiftly fly the years.
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.
“What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another,
Day by day.
“They look so natural together,
Just like two newlyweds should be.
Is there a canopy in store for me?”
The old ferret turned his attention to the kits.
“Sunrise, sunset...
Sunrise, sunset...
Swiftly flow the days.
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.
“Sunrise, sunset...
Sunrise, sunset...
Swiftly fly the years.
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.”
One of the ferret kits - a little Dark-Eyed White - stopped running around and looked over at the old ferret. He toddled over and looked gravely at his Grandpapa.
The little kit asked, “You okay, G'ampa?”
His Grandpapa replied, “Oh, I'm fine, Sammy. I'm a little tired. Now that the wedding is over, I will have time to rest.”
The old ferret looked at the little kit and smiled. “Such a wee one you are.” He tapped the kit's chest with his paw. “And such a big heart in that tiny body! So much wisdom, so much caring, in a young child. You know something, Sammy? I believe you are destined to become a Rabbi when you grow up. And I believe that you will make a fine one.”
Little Sammy placed his paws on the old ferret's knee and said softly, “I love you, G'ampa.”
Grandfather pulled the kit close. “And I love you, too, my little Sammy. Come up here on your Grandpapa’s lap.”
It was a couple of hours later that Miryam and Jakob left the wedding celebration to look for their son. They found their Sammy curled up in his Grandpapa’s lap, fast asleep. Grandpapa Levi was gently snoozing himself, with his arm around his grandson. Miryam and Jakob smiled and quietly returned to the wedding party. Another hour or so wouldn’t hurt.
PART 2
Miryam finished reading her sister’s letter. Other honeymooning couples would have been satisfied with sending out postcards, but not Katherine. She loved writing letters, and they could run to several pages. In the two weeks since she’d gotten married, this was her third letter. Her new husband, Alvin, had added a note to the second, joking that he’d been warned that a wife could be expensive, but no one had mentioned having to keep her supplied with postage stamps.
Miryam put down the letter and listened. It was awfully quiet outside. Her brother Ira’s four children were playing outside with her little son Sammy, and it was almost too quiet. She got up and looked out the window.
Ah. The five children were sitting in a circle in the front yard. Ira’s oldest Aaron had found a dreidel and was spinning it on the ground in the middle of the circle, even though it wouldn’t be Hanukkah for several months yet. Miryam watched for a few moments and realized that Aaron was teaching her Sammy the dreidel song and game. The little kit was watching the top as it spun around, his eyes wide with wonder. As she watched, Aaron picked up the dreidel and explained the four Hebrew letters on the side. Sammy was too young to comprehend, but he listened closely all the same. Miryam smiled. Ira’s children, like all the children in her extended family, were fond and very protective of Sammy.
She looked again at the photos that had come with Katherine’s letter. Alvin was good with a camera and they had included some excellent shots of Seattle’s Space Needle and the famous Red Barn at Boeing’s Museum of Flight. What with having to take a long detour around California, it had taken them a long time to reach Washington State. Now they were enjoying Seattle and were planning to move on to Vancouver in a few days.
There was a commotion outside. A car had pulled up in the driveway, and Miryam was surprised to see Ira’s wife Angelica get out. She wasn’t due to pick up her children for another hour yet. Aaron and the others were squealing to see their mother, but Angelica looked distracted.
Miryam rushed outside. Something was wrong.
Angelica didn’t waste any time. “Miryam! It’s Grandpapa Levi!”
“Oh, no! What happened?”
“He was at the store when he suddenly collapsed. He was taken to the hospital. They’re not sure, but Jakob thinks it was a heart attack.”
Miryam felt cold. His heart. It had bothered him before. Papa…
Miryam looked down at her son. Sammy was sitting on the ground, holding the dreidel in his paws; he had heard his Grandpapa mentioned and was listening intently.
“Angelica, I must go to the hospital. Will you give me a ride? Will you watch Sammy?”
“Of course, I’ll give you a ride, but I don’t think that it will be necessary for me to watch Sammy. Jakob says that Grandpapa is awake and asking to see him.”
Yes. Grandpapa and Sammy loved one another so much. She bent down and picked up her son.
“We go see G’ampa?”
“Yes, Sammy, we’re going to see Grandpapa.”
PART 3
The hospital waiting room was crowded when Miryam came in carrying Sammy. She was supposed to meet Jakob there, but where was he? She looked around, but couldn’t see him.
“Miryam!” There he was, waving at her from over by the Reception desk. She waved back at him and headed that way.
When she reached him, he gave her a peck on the cheek and kissed Sammy on his head. “I’m glad that you both got here okay. Miryam, I’ve been filling out your Papa’s admission papers, but there are one or two questions about things that I don’t know. Could you help me answer them?”
“I’m sure I can.” She set her son down. “Sammy, Mama and Papa have some things to do here. We’ll go see Grandpapa in a few minutes. Don’t wander too far away.”
“Yes, Mama.” Sammy looked around at all the ferrets in the big room. He’d never been here before, but Mama had said that this “hospital” was a place where very sick people came. Some of the people looked unhappy; others looked scared or worried. Were they sick? Sammy noticed a Cinnamon lady ferret nearby, sitting in a funny chair with wheels and holding something wrapped in a blanket. She didn’t seem sick to Sammy. When she looked down at her bundle, she looked happy. Sammy wondered why.
The lady looked up and saw Sammy watching her, and she smiled at him.
The little kit said, “Hi. My name Sammy.”
“Hello, Sammy. My name is Annabelle.” She held up the bundle in her lap. “Come here. I want to show you something.”
Sammy had been warned by Mama to be careful of strangers, but this lady seemed nice. He toddled over to her funny chair with wheels. The lady gently folded the blanket back and Sammy was filled with wonder at what he saw.
“Sammy, this is Clarissa. She’s only three days old. We’re going home today.”
Curled up in the blanket was the tiniest ferret kit Sammy had ever seen. Clarissa’s head seemed so big for such a little body. She was covered in grey fur, and her eyes were still tightly shut.
Sammy stared at this little creature for several seconds. Finally he looked up at Annabelle and said the only word he could think of to describe what he felt.
“Pretty.”
“Yes, I think that she’s very pretty.”
Clarissa couldn’t see or hear the world around her, but she seemed to sense that something was happening. In any case, she could feel that the blanket wasn’t covering her anymore. She stirred and with a little squeak extended one of her paws.
Sammy reached forward and gently touched the paw. As small as his own paws still were, they were huge compared to the baby’s. She wrapped her paw around one of Sammy’s fingers, and it seemed to calm her down.
Jakob came over and touched his son’s shoulder. “We’re ready to go see Grandpapa. Come along now.”
“Okay.” Sammy gently pulled his paw away from the baby’s grasp, but this didn’t seem to disturb her. She snuggled down in her blanket. He held his paw above her little head for a few seconds. Annabelle watched this thoughtfully – it wasn’t the sort of gesture a toddler would make – but somehow it seemed right.
Jakob picked Sammy up, and before they left, the little kit said, “Bye-bye.”
Annabelle replied, “Goodbye, Sammy – and thank you.”
Part 4
Grandpapa Levi looked so fragile, curled up in the hospital bed as he was. One end of a transparent tube was taped to one paw, the other end leading to a plastic bag hanging from a metal rack by the bed. A constantly beeping electronic machine was on the other side of the bed, and a wire from this disappeared beneath the blanket covering the old ferret. To Miryam, it looked like her Papa had shrunken since she’d last seen him.
He may have been asleep, but he opened his eyes as Miryam and her family stood by the bed. The smile he gave was weak.
“Ah, my daughter, it’s good to see you here. I’m sorry if I can’t give you the usual hug and kiss on the cheek.”
“There will be other times, Papa. When you’re better.”
“When I’m better. Yes, of course.” The old ferret gestured at the machine by the bed. “Meet my friend. He’s a secretary of sorts. My body tells him many things, and he takes it all down.” He listened to the beeping for a few seconds. “A very good worker, but he says the same thing over and over again and it gets boring.”
Grandpapa held up the paw with the feeding tube attached. “As you can see, you caught me at mealtime. I’d offer you something, but there’s only enough for one, I’m afraid. Besides that, I’m not sure this is kosher. I asked the nurse about it and she just looked at me funny. No sense of humor, these shiksas.”
Jakob said, “Well, I suppose that would depend on how they killed it.”
The old ferret gave out some short, wheezy gasps, as his shoulders shook. It was weak laughter, but it was laughter, none the less. “Oh, that is a good one. I’ll have to remember it. Jakob, it’s good to see you as well. Have I ever told you how fortunate my daughter is to have a husband as good as you?”
“Many times, Grandpapa Levi. Ever since Miryam and I became engaged.”
Grandpapa nodded. “To tell you the truth, I thought so when I first met you. I just didn’t say anything then. When you got engaged, it seemed safe to bring the subject up.”
“Ira and Angelica will be here soon, Grandpapa Levi. They’re going to call Katherine and Alvin in Vancouver. They’ll probably get here as soon as they can.”
“It would be a shame if they have to cut their honeymoon short, but life is like that sometimes. Now then – where is my grandson?”
“G’ampa!” Sammy clutched at the railing, but he couldn’t climb over it. Jakob picked him up and set him down on the bed next to the old ferret. Sammy carefully crawled over the wire and feeding tube and gave his Grandpapa a hug. Grandpapa Levi managed to bring his arm up and wrap it around the little kit.
Sammy sat up. “G’ampa sick?”
“Yes, my little one, Grandpapa is sick. It is a hurt in my heart.”
“G’ampa get better?”
“I hope so, little one. Maybe I will.” Grandpapa paused, then said softly, “Maybe this time I will. But I’m an old ferret. One of these days, though, something will happen to Grandpapa and he will not get better.”
“Papa, hush!” said Miryam. “It will do you no good to say such gloomy things!”
“But such gloomy things are true, daughter mine. None of us lives forever. I cannot deny such gloomy things. I have had a good life, and I have a family that I love.”
Sammy gave the old ferret another hug. “G’ampa get better!”
“There are good doctors and nurses working on me, little one. They are trying their best to make me better. Hopefully they will succeed. But it’s in God’s hands. We shall see what He wants for me.”
Sammy lay down beside his Grandpapa, as his Mama and Papa sat down in a couple of chairs.
“I love you, my little Sammy.”
“I love you, G’ampa.”
PART 5
About every week or so, Jakob took his family out to eat at their favorite kosher restaurant. Mama liked it because she didn’t have to cook a meal. Sammy always loved it. Sitting in a booster seat made him feel special, and the waitress lady was nice to him. Best of all, Mama and Papa always praised him for being a good boy. So, after eating out a few days later, the family was in a happy mood when they returned home.
Just as they walked in the front door, the telephone rang.
Jakob answered, “Hello? – Oh, yes, doctor! Yes, is something wrong – oh.” He bit his lip and said nothing as he listened. A sad look came to his face, as he finally said, “Yes, thank you. We’ll be up there as soon as we can. Thank you for everything.”
Jakob slowly placed the telephone back in the cradle and looked at Miryam. She felt numb; she didn’t need to ask what the phone call was about.
Sammy looked up at his Mama and Papa, and said, “G’ampa?”
Jakob drew his wife close to him and hugged her as he said, “They say it was peaceful. He settled down for an afternoon nap and … well …”
Miryam said, “It is good. He’s no longer in pain,” and she began to cry.
Sammy tugged at his Mama’s dress and repeated, more plaintively, “G’ampa?”
Miryam sighed and looked up. “Yes. We’ll have to go to the hospital. First we’ll call Alvin and Ira’s families. I’ll take Sammy to the next-door neighbors. They can look after him –“
Sammy said, “I wanna see G’ampa!”
Miryam knelt down and spoke softly to her son, “Sammy, we can’t take you with us this time. You’ll have to stay behind.”
Sammy became more insistent. “I wanna see G’ampa!”
“Sammy, no. You’re too young to understand –“
“NO!” The little kit waved his fists and stamped his feet. “I – WANNA – SEE – G’AMPA!” Sammy abruptly sat down on the floor and wailed, “G’ampaaaa…” He fell to one side and curled up on the floor.
“Oh, Sammy…” Miryam gazed sadly at her son. “You’ve never acted like this before.”
Jakob said, “This is something that he’s never faced before.” He bent over and picked up his son. Sammy buried his face in his Papa’s shoulder and wept.
Jakob continued, “He knows. He doesn’t understand, but, all the same, he knows.” Jakob stroked Sammy’s soft, white fur. “Our little boy and Grandpapa Levi were very close. Their bond must be strong indeed.”
A muffled little voice sobbed, “G’ampa...”
Miryam stepped closer and placed her hand on Sammy’s back. She said, “Yes. It is a very special bond. I guess we won’t need the neighbors to babysit after all.”
Jakob replied, “No. I don’t think so. Little one?”
Sammy sniffled as he looked up at his Papa.
Jakob wiped away his son’s tears. “Mama and I will have to make a few phone calls. Then we will take you to see Grandpapa.”
Part 6
The feeding tube and wire had been removed, and the machine and rack were gone; they weren’t needed anymore. The old ferret lay curled up on his side. Someone had placed upon his head a yarmulke made of fine white silk, trimmed in gold.
Six ferrets stood quietly around the bed as they gazed down at Grandpapa Levi. Katherine and Alvin, Ira and Angelica, Miryam and Jakob. There was only one child in the room, in his Papa’s arms. A nurse was nearby, holding a paper bag, but she kept to herself.
Sammy’s voice trembled as his eyes glistened with tears. “G’ampa?” But there was no response. Sammy turned his head away and whimpered.
Alvin said softly, “He looks so peaceful. It’s almost like he’s asleep.”
Sammy turned back around and said, “G’ampa not s’eep. G’ampa go ‘way.”
Alvin replied, “Yes, Sammy, you’re right. Grandpapa has gone away.”
Katherine said, “That’s quite a fancy yarmulke Papa is wearing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before.”
Miryam replied, “I’ve never seen it before at all. I don’t know where it came from. His favorite yarmulke was the old black one, with the simple red trim. He wore that one all the time.”
Ira spoke up. “Yes, that’s true. He wore his black one for as long as I can remember. Papa must have had it for years before we came along; he never said where he first got it. He even wore it when he officiated at our wedding – at all of our weddings. You’d think he’d want to have it on when he – when the time came.”
Alvin said, “That makes sense. I wonder what happened to that old yarmulke?”
“I can tell you about that.” The nurse stepped forward and joined the family by the bedside. She smiled at the little kit and said, “Hello. Are you Sammy?”
Sammy looked at her and nodded his head. “Uh-huh. Hi.”
“Hi. Your Grandpapa wanted you to have this.” She took something out of the paper bag and held it out for Sammy.
It wasn’t much to look at - a black skullcap with red trim, a bit frayed around the edge.
Sammy’s eyes grew big when he saw the yarmulke. He reached out and took it from the nurse and hugged it tight. “T’ank you.”
The nurse nodded. “You’re very welcome.” She said to the others, “He left specific instructions on what he wanted done with his old yarmulke. He said that it had done him good service for all his years as a rabbi and he figured that it ought to be passed on to someone who would appreciate it. He told me to give it to his grandson Sammy. He picked out that white silk yarmulke, but I don’t think that it mattered to him what he’d be wearing now.”
Ira nodded. “Yes. That’s Papa. He would be more concerned with legacy than with himself.”
Angelica said, “That old yarmulke is a bit big for such a tiny kit, isn’t it?”
Jakob looked at his son and smiled. “He’ll grow into it.”
Sammy leaned forward in his Papa’s arms, reaching for Grandpapa Levi. Jakob frowned and said, “Do you want to touch Grandpapa, little one? I’m not so sure –“
“Nuh-uh. No touch.” Sammy leaned forward as far as he could. Jakob moved to let him reach further.
Sammy stopped and held his little paw over his Grandpapa’s head. He held this pose for several seconds before leaning back and clutching the old yarmulke even closer.
Sammy said, “Bye-bye, G’ampa.”
Part 7
Grandpapa Levi was a well-known and highly respected member of the Jewish ferret community, so the synagogue was packed with mourners for his funeral, and so many were at the graveside that the canopy couldn’t cover them all. Sammy sat between his Mama and Papa and was very well-behaved, but after all, that was the way Sammy was. All the time he held on to his Grandpapa’s old yarmulke.
For days after the funeral, Sammy carried the yarmulke with him everywhere. When he sat on the floor playing with his toys, it was folded up in his lap. When mealtime came and he was placed in his highchair, he would drape it neatly over the chair arm while he ate; he was careful to never spill any food on it. When his Mama took the yarmulke to stitch up the frayed edge and to hand-wash it, Sammy stayed right by her side and watched. And when he went to bed every night, he slept with it close to his heart.
One day, two weeks after his Grandpapa’s funeral, Sammy was sitting outside on the back porch, with the black yarmulke in his little paws, while he watched his cousins playing a game with some neighborhood children. After watching them for about five minutes, he looked at the yarmulke and looked at his friends. Then he got up and went back inside to his bedroom. He placed the black skullcap on his bed and toddled back outside to join in the game; he had a wonderful time.
After that, Sammy kept the yarmulke in the bottom drawer of his dresser, where he could find it easily whenever he wanted it, which was often. When he was confused, or hurt, or sad, or excited, or joyful, he would take out his Grandpapa’s yarmulke and hold it close. He still slept with it from time to time as well.
And, as he grew, he would occasionally try it on.
PART 8
It was the Sabbath and Evening Services were to begin shortly. In his small office in the back of the synagogue, the Dark-Eyed White rabbi draped his shawl over his shoulders and adjusted it so that it sat properly. A Sable ferret, dressed in the red serge uniform of the RCMP, sat in one of the office chairs and watched him as he dressed. Murphy’s campaign hat was occupying one of the few empty spaces on the rabbi’s desk, which was mostly piled high with papers and books and magazines; as always, Sammy had too much to read and not enough time.
Murphy said, “You know, Sammy, it’s not very often that I see you without your yarmulke.”
Sammy chuckled. “Well, Murph, I don’t wear it all the time. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to bed with it.” He picked up the old yarmulke. The black had faded some over the years, but not much. The simple trim had not lost its bright red color, and one could hardly tell where the skullcap had been mended. In all it was still in excellent shape. Sammy held the yarmulke in his paws and said thoughtfully, “Actually, I do miss sleeping with this. It’s been awhile.”
Murphy shrugged. “Well, why not? There’s no one to say that you can’t.”
“True.”
After a moment, Murphy said, “Wherever your Grandpapa is, old friend, he must be very proud of you.”
There was a catch in Sammy’s voice when he answered. “I’d like to think so.”
“I’ve talked with your parents, and I know that they’re proud of you. It stands to reason that he would be, too.”
“Like your Dad is of you.”
“Like my Dad is of me.”
At this point someone knocked at the office door. Rabbi Sammy placed his yarmulke on his head and said, “Get that for me, will you, Murph?”
“Sure thing. It’s time for me to go on, anyway.” Murphy opened the door and found a young Cinnamon jill there, carrying a bundle wrapped in a blanket. “Hello, Ma’am,” Murphy said. “Is there something we can do for you?”
The jill smiled at Constable Murphy and replied, “Hello, sir. I wanted to see the Rabbi. Is he here?”
“Sure is. Hey, Rabs, it’s for you!”
Sammy scowled at Murphy. “’Rabs’, is it? I’ll remember that the next time you get mistaken for a doorman.” To the jill, he said, “How do you do? I’m Rabbi Sammy, and the comedian is Murphy. Don’t mind him; whatever he’s got, it’s not catching.”
Murphy picked up his campaign hat from Sammy’s desk and set it on his head. He said, “Now that we’ve set a tone of deep and abiding respect, I’ll give you two some privacy. I’ll see you after Services, Sammy.”
“Fine, Murph, talk to you later!” After Murphy had left, Sammy shook his head. “Rabs.” He looked at the jill more closely and said, “Have I met you before? You look familiar.”
She said, “You might be thinking of my Mother; people say that we look so much alike. But, yes, we have met before, although you may not remember it and I certainly don’t. I was only three days old at the time and you were just a wee toddler. My name is Clarissa.”
Sammy’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really? That was a long time ago.”
“My Mother told me about it. You met her the day she left the hospital with me; she showed me to you in the waiting room. The little kit she met that day made quite an impression on her. When she heard of a ferret named Sammy becoming a rabbi, she knew who he was.”
“I… see. I do remember meeting her. And I do remember seeing you.” Sammy smiled at the Cinnamon jill. “You’ve become a pretty young lady.”
Clarissa dropped her eyes and smiled. “Thank you, Rabbi.”
Sammy cleared his throat. “Um, so – what can I do for you, Clarissa?”
Clarissa held up her bundle. “I want to show you something.” She pulled the blanket back.
Nestled in the blanket was a tiny ferret kit, only a few days old. He was covered with grey fur, and his eyes were still tightly shut. He could feel when the blanket was taken away, and he squawked and wriggled around, waving a tiny paw in the air. This was a lively one.
Sammy gazed at this small creature and reached forward to touch the little paw. The kit grasped the rabbi’s paw; the contact seemed to sooth him and he settled down.
Clarissa smiled at the baby and said, “He’s my firstborn. His name is Levi.”
Rabbi Sammy looked down at baby Levi and said nothing for a few seconds. He gently stroked the tiny paw, and got a contented squeak for his efforts.
Finally he looked up at Clarissa and said, “Thank you for bringing him here. I’m very happy to meet him.”
“Thank you, Rabbi. I was wondering if – I know you’re busy, but – could you say a blessing for my son?”
Sammy nodded, “I would be happy to.”
“Thank you so much. It would be an honor to us.”
“And an honor to me.” Sammy gently pulled his paw from the baby’s grasp. The tiny kit didn’t raise a fuss.
And Rabbi Sammy held his paw above Levi’s head and began to recite a blessing.
