Win or Lose: Chapter 5
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Y itzy had never been so scared in his life. He ran over to where the old man lay on the floor. Many thoughts raced through his head as he ran. Why did Mr. Greenbaum fall? Was he sick? Was he still alive?
“Mr. Greenbaum!” Yitzy cried, “Are you okay? Should I call Hatzolah?” He held his breath, waiting to see if the old man would respond.
“Harumph!” Mr. Greenbaum cleared his throat loudly.
Yitzy’s heart skipped a beat. Mr. Greenbaum was alive!
“Call Hatzolah?” asked the old man, in a hoarse, raspy voice. “Why on earth would you call Hatzolah?”
“Huh?” Yitzy was in shock. Mr. Greenbaum was looking right at him, and on his face was a huge smile.
Yitzy couldn’t believe it. Mr. Greenbaum had been his neighbor all his life and had never seen him smile once.
“This is very funny,” chuckled Mr. Greenbaum, “I can’t believe that I just tripped over my own shoelace.”
Yitzy looked down and noticed that Mr. Greenbaum’s shoelace was indeed untied.
Mr. Greenbaum began laughing loudly. Yitzy stared at the man in amazement. Mr. Greenbaum is laughing, he thought to himself. How can this be? I’ve never, ever seen him look the slightest bit happy.
Yitzy sighed. Nothing that’s happening today makes any sense. First, I got chosen to represent my class in a Mishnayos competition, and now I’m seeing old, grumpy Mr. Greenbaum smile and laugh. There is only one explanation for all this. I am dreaming. This whole crazy day has all been just a bad dream. I bet I’m still in bed, and my mother is going to wake me up any second now.
Mr. Greenbaum sat up on the sidewalk and held his hand out to Yitzy. “Would you mind helping me up, Yitzy?” he asked.
Yitzy was surprised to that Mr. Greenbaum knew his name. Almost in a daze, Yitzy reached over and grabbed the old man’s hand. He braced himself and helped pull the old man up.
Mr. Greenbaum was heavier than Yitzy had thought. Could people feel heavy in a dream? he wondered
“Ow,” grunted Mr. Greenbaum, when he was finally standing.
“Are you okay?” asked Yitzy nervously.
Mr. Greenbaum bent over, and began rolling up the right leg of his pants.
The right knee was quickly turning a deep shade of purple.
“I’m fine,” answered Mr. Greenbaum, “I think I just banged my knee when I fell. It feels like it’s a little bruised. Would you mind helping me walk to my apartment?”
“Of course,” answered Yitzy. He quickly positioned himself next to Mr. Greenbaum. Mr. Greenbaum looped his arm through Yitzy’s and the two of them carefully made their way into the building, down the hall, toward Mr. Greenbaum’s apartment.
“Thank you so much, Yitzy,” said Mr. Greenbaum. “By helping me now, you are doing a big chesed. I am happy to see that you are growing into a fine young ben Torah.”
“Oh… thank you,” Yitzy stammered.
Just then, the door to Levinson apartment opened.
Rabbi Levinson was leaving. He immediately noticed Yitzy walking with a limping Mr. Greenbaum.
“Oy,” he said. “What happened? Are you okay, Mr. Greenbaum?”
Mr. Greenbaum smiled. “Baruch Hashem, everything is fine,” answered Mr. Greenbaum. “I tripped over my shoelace, and Hashem sent your Yitzy to help me get up and walk me home.”
“Do you want me to call Hatzolah?” asked a concerned Rabbi Levinson.
“No, no,” answered Mr. Greenbaum, “I’m fine, baruch Hashem. I just bruised my knee a little, but I’ll be okay.”
“You’re probably going to need to put ice on that knee,” said Rabbi Levinson. “I’ll run into my apartment and get an ice pack.”
Rabbi Levinson ran back into his apartment and quickly returned, holding an ice pack. He noticed that Mr. Greenbaum was struggling to get his apartment key out of his pocket while keeping his balance.
Rabbi Levinson ran over to the old man. “Mr. Greenbaum,” he said, while holding out his hand. “Please give me your key and let me open the door for you.”
Mr. Greenbaum hesitated. It looked like he really didn’t want anyone to come into his apartment.
“No, no,” he stammered. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine. I can do it by myself.” Mr. Greenbaum stuck his hand deep into his coat pocket. He pulled out a key and began lifting his hand toward the lock on the door. “Oooh,” he moaned.
The old man looked down at his knee. It was really hurting badly now, and as he lifted his hand toward the lock, he put more weight on his knee. “Okay,” he sighed, “I guess I do need a little help. Here’s my key, Rabbi Levinson. Please open the door for me.”
Rabbi Levinson took the key and turned it in the lock.
Yitzy was very curious. He had passed this apartment thousands of times in his life and had often wondered what Mr. Greenbaum’s home looked like. He had imagined it to be very dusty, full of old, broken furniture. Now he would be going inside.
With a loud creak the door swung open.
The apartment was dark.
While leaning against Yitzy for support, Mr. Greenbaum reached inside and flipped on the light switch. Yitzy had been right. The apartment was full of old furniture. He was happy to see that the furniture was not dusty at all. The apartment was surprisingly neat and clean. The walls were covered with black and white pictures. Yitzy guessed the pictures showed members of Mr. Greenbaum’s family.
“Hurry, Yitzy,” urged Rabbi Levinson. “Help Mr. Greenbaum over to the couch. He needs to rest his leg and get this ice pack on his knee.”
As carefully as he could, Yitzy helped the old man maneuver over to the couch and gently sit down.
Rabbi Levinson looked at Mr. Greenbaum’s knee.
“You’d better keep that leg raised, so it doesn’t get swollen,” he said. He found an old stool and brought it over to the couch. Mr. Greenbaum gently lifted his leg and rested his foot on the stool. Then Rabbi Levinson handed him the ice pack, which he placed on his knee.
Rabbi Levinson turned to his son.
“Yitzy,” he said, “It looks to me like Mr. Greenbaum could use a bowl of your mother’s chicken soup.”
“I’ll go get it,” Yitzy volunteered.
Rabbi Levinson thought about that. “No, Yitzy,” he said. “Your mother’s chicken soup is very hot. You’re too young to be running around with it. You stay here with Mr. Greenbaum and I’ll go get the soup.”
Mr. Greenbaum’s face turned red.
“No! No! No!” he cried angrily. “I do not want chicken soup, and I do not want company. Rabbi Levinson and Yitzy, I want you to leave my apartment right now. If you don’t leave my apartment immediately,” he roared, “I will call the police to make you leave!”
“Uh oh!” cried Yitzy.
(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 740)
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