| Jolly Solly |

Lost and Found

By R. Atkins | July 6, 2021

Mr. Faigelbaum looked down at where Efraim had been coloring. There was nobody there!

Mrs. Faigelbaum was going away to visit her mother for a couple of days. Her mother was recovering from an operation. Reluctantly, she’d decided to leave Efraim behind. The lively little boy would make it impossible for her mother to rest. Mr. Faigelbaum would watch him.

Mrs. Faigelbaum warned her husband that Efraim needed watching closely.

“And lately, he’s developed a new trick,” Mrs. Faigelbaum continued. “He loves going outdoors. If the front door is open for any reason, he’ll try to escape. You’ll need to keep a close eye.”

Mr. Faigelbaum nodded.

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine,” he declared confidently.

When Efraim woke up the next morning, his mother was gone. Daddy was there to give him his cereal, so the little boy didn’t mind. Also, Mommy always sat and fed him. Daddy just gave him the spoon and let him feed himself.

Efraim used the spoon to turn his cereal into a big mush. Half of it fell onto the floor, but Efraim didn’t care. He chucked his spoon onto the floor as well. Then he put the rest of the mush everywhere but in his mouth. He smeared some on his face and some in his hair.

Daddy, who’d been making himself a coffee, looked in his direction just then.

“Oh no! What have you done?” he exclaimed in dismay. “What a mess!”

Daddy left his coffee. Then he cleaned Efraim up as best he could.

“Right, now I’m going to do some work upstairs on the computer. You’ll come with me and color,” said Daddy. He took a pile of papers and a box of crayons. He carried Efraim upstairs to the guest room where the computer was. He made sure the little boy was busy coloring before turning on the computer.

Mr. Faigelbaum typed up an article about the willow warbler. This was one of his favorite birds. Then he leaned back in satisfaction.

“Done!” he said. “And Efraim’s been great, haven’t you?”

There was no answer.

Mr. Faigelbaum looked down at where Efraim had been coloring. There was nobody there! He looked frantically around him.

“Where can he be?” said Mr. Faigelbaum. “I shouldn’t have left the door open. But how did he leave the room without me hearing? He was right next to me!”

Mr. Faigelbaum ran around the house, searching for Efraim. His heart thumped. Was it possible that Efraim somehow got the front door open and escaped?

He opened the front door and looked left and right. There was no sign of Efraim. But there was someone else there, across the road.

“Hey! Jolly Solly! Come quick, I need your help!” yelled Mr. Faigelbaum.

The clown hurried over, Tuki on his shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” he asked in concern.

“Efraim’s missing! He was in the house right next to me, and he suddenly disappeared! I’m so worried, I don’t know what to do!”

“I’m here to help,” replied Jolly Solly. “And Tuki is a great finder. Show me where you last saw Efraim.”

Mr. Faigelbaum led the clown and Tuki upstairs to the guest room.

“Tuki! Efraim’s lost — find him,” said Jolly Solly. He used the low, warm voice that animals loved. Tuki listened carefully, his head to one side. The clown started to leave the room to start the search. But Tuki refused to leave. Instead, he hopped down onto the floor, flapping his wings.

“You’re being difficult today,” murmured Jolly Solly. He bent down toward the parrot. Then he gave a cry.

“Look who’s under the bed!”

It was none other than Efraim. He had fallen asleep on the floor and somehow rolled under the bed!

Mr. Faigelbaum nearly cried for joy.

“Thank you, Jolly Solly! Thank you, Tuki!” he exclaimed.

“Happy birthday!” Tuki screeched.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 868)

Oops! We could not locate your form.