Savta and Saba always send the absolute best birthday presents from Israel. One year they sent me an alarm clock that sings “Modeh Ani” to wake me up in the morning. That was the only year I actually got to yeshivah on time every day — until Shia accidentally sat on it, but whatever. Another year they sent me a jar of gobstopper candies from Israel. Those candies NEVER ran out of flavor and you could suck on them all day.
“So what are you doing for the carnival?” Pinny Kupferman asked as all the boys lazed around the bunk during rest period.
“I’m doing shave-the-balloons with Ezra” said Avraham Dov.
“Boring” Pinny said.
“Yeah? What are you doing?” Ezra chimed in.
“Ant racing” Pinny said.
“Cool” I said.
“How about you?” Pinny said.
“I’m waiting for a package from my Saba and Savta” I said. I would say no more.
Shia came running over to me in the dining room the next day. “Did you get the package yet?”
“My birthday isn’t until tomorrow” I said. “Don’t worry.”
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