For my Grand-Kids, they listened, we laughed and made believe.
What a great summer they had that year in Jachupitzville. It had been so warm that the kids were able to swim in Neris river, that run along the edge of the village, most of all of it was school vacation. The best swimming spot was still next to the old mill. The willow trees on the river edge provided shade from the strong sun, and the fields were just covered with small wild strawberries. Most of the local kids would spend the day playing and swimming, and their mothers would send sandwiches and milk for their lunch. There was no ice-cream in those days, but the heavy yellow cream, fresh from the dairy, was a good substitute, especially with wild berries.
Barney and his friends loved to swim and play. They made up games and some of the kids would play games that their parents had taught them. These games were handed down from parents to children and everyone seemed to know the rules, so there were never, ever, ever any arguments. BarneyÌs best game was when they cut a thin branch from one of the willow trees and then they would collect clay from the edge of the river. Barney would then make little round clay balls, place them on the end of his willow stick and fling them across the river. BarneyÌs friend Jossel loved to play this game as well and the one who reached the other side with the most shots was the winner. Every one in Jachupitzville knew that Barney was the super highest, furthest, fastest, straightest spinningest, crap-in-a-bucket rock-chucker-with-a -slingshot on the Eastern European Sea board. (It was rumoured that if Barney had lived in those times when the Philistines were fighting with the Jewish People, they would have sent him instead of David to slay the Giant Goliath.)
Well like all good things, summer came to an end and it was time to get ready for the new school year. Barney was not very happy, as there were so many things he still needed to do. He still had that great big clay site to work through, and his pile of practice rocks was still not quite finished. How could a boy still be the super highest, furthest, fastest, straightest spinningest, crap-in-a-bucket rock-chucker-with-a-slingshot on the Eastern European Sea board if he did not practice? His mother was not interested, she said Ï Barney today is your first day of school for the new year and I need for you to be ready on timeÓ
Well, Barney packed all the things he needed for school in his knapsack and whatever he could not fit into his knapsack was stuffed in his pockets. He had his books, pencils, eraser, ruler, scissors, tape, spare paper, his extra piece of string in case of emergencies, whistle, candle, water bottle, rusty nail, hairbrush, Tallis and Tafillim, spare kippa, prayer book, and last but not least, his broken piece of magnifying glass.
As Barney was about to leave his mother handed him the most beautiful, delicious cheese and tomato sandwich with a touch of mayo and a delicate sprinkle of green onions on challa for his lunch.
ÓOI VeyÓ said Barney I have no place left for my sandwich! Well BarneyÌs mother Mumma Breina started to cry, Ïwhat is my Barney going to eat if he has no room to take his most beautiful, delicious cheese and tomato sandwich with a touch of mayo and a delicate sprinkle of green onions on challa. How is he going to be able to be strong enough to still be the boy who is the super highest, furthest, fastest, straightest spinningest, crap-in-a-bucket rock-chucker-with-a-slingshot on the Eastern European Sea board?Ó
ÏDonÌt Cry MummaÓ he said ÏI have an idea. Pass me that knifeÓ and then with a Zorro style flourish, Barney cut a hole in the centre of the most beautiful, delicious cheese and tomato sandwich with a touch of mayo and a delicate sprinkle of green onions on challa sandwich, and triumphantly placed it over his middle finger.
Barney walked to school with his most beautiful, delicious cheese and tomato sandwich with a touch of mayo and a delicate sprinkle of green onions on challa held up high over his head. Everybody wanted to know what that was that looked like a most beautiful, delicious cheese and tomato sandwich with a touch of mayo and a delicate sprinkle of green onions on challa with a hole in the centre was, and Barney proudly said ÏA BagelÓ
After that the whole village knew Barney as ÏBarney BagelÓ and the whole world heard about it and started making ÏBagelÓ
So on Sunday morning when you are eating your bagel with cream cheese and lox, or a delicious cheese and tomato with a touch of mayo and a delicate sprinkle of green onions, think how lucky we are that Barney had no place to put his lunch, the most beautiful, delicious cheese and tomato sandwich with a touch of mayo and a delicate sprinkle of green onions on challa that first day of school.