“Sorry, you can’t have that. It’s dusty and dirty, not a doggie”

Waaaaah! Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Bracha sighed. Chananya was lying on the floor wailing again. What had happened to her sunny-natured little boy? She picked him up and tried to comfort him.

“Why, I believe you’re sick!” she exclaimed, feeling his forehead. Bracha took his temperature. Sure enough, the little boy was running fever.

As soon as Naftali came home, they took Chananya to the doctor for a check-up. Fortunately, it was nothing worse than a slight flu. His temperature was already going down.

“No medication needed right now,” said the doctor. “Just keep an eye on him to make sure his temperature isn’t rising again. He’ll likely be cranky for a bit, but that’s nothing to worry about.”

Naftali and Bracha were relieved to hear there was nothing seriously wrong. But meanwhile, they had a grumpy little boy to deal with.

Bracha took out some toys.  Chananya turned away. Bracha brought out a colorful picture book. He threw it under the sofa.

“Chananya! That wasn’t nice!” said Bracha. She felt around under the sofa for the book. She only found a ball of fluff.

Chananya brightened slightly.

“Woof woof!” he said, which was his name for doggies. He reached for the fluff.

“Sorry, you can’t have that. It’s dusty and dirty, not a doggie.”

Bracha quickly threw it away. Chananya started wailing again.