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Fayge's Big Decision

Ages 6-9 | Story and 9 activities

Fayge has two wonderful invitations and only one Sunday.

The first is to a baking class at the community center, where she'll get to decorate real cupcakes and take them home. The second is to the zoo with her best friend, Shira, and her family.

She loves baking. She loves animals. She can't choose.

"Mommy, what should I do?"

"What do you think?" says Mommy.

"I don't know!" Fayge flops onto the sofa. "They both sound so fun. If I go to baking, I miss the zoo. If I go to the zoo, I miss baking. Either way, I lose something."

"That's what makes it tricky," says Mommy. "When both are good, you can't make a wrong choice. But you can make a choice that fits you better."

"How?"

"Let's make two lists. What's good about each one?"

Fayge gets a piece of paper and draws a line down the middle. On the left, she writes Baking. On the right, she writes Zoo.

Under Baking she writes: Fun cupcakes. Sprinkles. Learn new skills. Take them home for Shabbos. Under Zoo, she writes: Shira. Giraffes. Ice cream. A whole day outside.

She chews her pencil. "They both have lots."

"What about the not-so-good parts?"

Under Baking: Only once, and it costs money. Under Zoo: Might rain. Long car ride.

"Hmm," says Mommy. "What does your heart say?"

Fayge closes her eyes. She imagines herself at the baking table, covered in frosting. Then she imagines herself at the giraffe enclosure, laughing with Shira. The second picture makes her smile without trying.

"I think the zoo," she says slowly. "I really want to be with Shira. We haven't had a whole day together in ages."

"That sounds like your answer."

"But what about the baking class?"

"Could you do something similar later?"

Fayge's eyes light up. "Maybe we could bake cupcakes at home next week. You could help."

"I'd love that."

On Sunday, Fayge goes to the zoo. She stands next to the giraffes, craning her neck to see their long tongues grabbing leaves. She and Shira share a giant ice cream. They watch the monkeys swing and the penguins waddle. It is warm and sunny, and they laugh until their sides hurt.

When Fayge gets home, she isn't sad about the baking class. She's made her choice, and it is a good one.

The following Motzei Shabbos, Fayge tells Shira about the baking class she skipped. Shira says, "Next time, maybe I'll come to that one with you." Fayge likes that idea very much. They shake on it, right there on the front steps.

The Thursday after that, she and Mommy bake cupcakes in their own kitchen. Fayge decorates them with blue frosting and silver stars. On Shabbos, they sit in the center of the table.

"These are gorgeous," says Totty.

"I made them," says Fayge.

She's learned something important. If she waits and listens to herself, she can pick. Both choices were good. And in the end, she's gotten a little of each.

The next time she has two good choices, she'll make a list. And then she'll close her eyes and ask her heart.