Moishy and Miriam Morris were feeling a bit sad. It wasn’t that they didn’t love their Bubby and Zeidy. They loved them dearly. But that didn’t mean they wanted to spend a whole day there. Especially while the rest of the family went off on a trip. Even if the trip was to visit distant relatives.

Bubby and Zeidy’s house was very quiet. It was full of old knickknacks you had to be careful not to knock over. Bubby and Zeidy’s house was boring.

But Mommy insisted they would have a nice time there. She said Bubby and Zeidy really wanted to see them. So Moishy and Miriam found themselves ringing Bubby and Zeidy’s doorbell. They were greeted by two smiling grandparents.

First Bubby sat them down at the dining room table. Then she served cake on proper china plates. Bubby always served cake, which she baked herself. The children had to admit it was absolutely delicious. When they finished eating they made a brachah acharonah. Zeidy answered amen. Then they just sat there. What were they supposed to do now?

“Would you like to read a book?” asked Zeidy.

Zeidy’s books were all old and faded.

“No, thank you,” said Moishy and Miriam.

“Would you like to play a game?” asked Bubby.

Bubby’s games were ancient.

“No, thank you,” said Moishy and Miriam again.

Zeidy and Bubby looked at each other.

“What do you want to do then?”

I want to go home, thought Moishy. But he only said, “I don’t know.”

Miriam shrugged.

“I’ve got it!” Bubby announced. “I remember when I was a child with the flu. I couldn’t go to school or play outside. I was miserable and bored. My grandmother sewed me puppets. Let’s make puppets!”

Moishy and Miriam looked at each other. Puppets? How did you make puppets?

But Bubby was already getting ready.

Bubby opened a closet. Zeidy helped her take out something heavy. Bubby said it was her old sewing machine. Moishy and Miriam had never seen anything like it. Then Bubby took out a bag with scraps inside. The scraps were of felt, in all different colors. She held two pieces together, and fed them into the sewing machine. Moishy and Miriam watched in surprise. The fabric flew back and forth under Bubby’s skilled hands. In no time at all, Bubby was holding up a puppet-shaped item!

“Now he needs eyes,” declared Bubby. “Here, you choose.”

(Excerpted from Mishpacha Jr., Issue 798)