The Bent Nail

Ages 9-12

Nachman is holding the picture to the wall, and his father is holding the hammer.

It is the one of his grandfather, in the dark frame. His father has marked the place with a pencil. He puts the nail against the mark, and taps once, and the nail bends over and lies flat on the plaster.

"Hm," says his father.

He pulls it out with the back of the hammer. It comes out crooked. He puts it on the windowsill.

He takes another from the box. The wall is hard. He taps, and it bends again.

"Let me," says Nachman.

His father looks at him. Then he hands over the hammer.

Nachman takes a nail from the box. He holds it low, near the point, between two fingers, and sets it on the mark. He taps lightly, three times, until it stands by itself. Then he moves his fingers away and hits it. It goes in, straight, up to the head.

His father hangs the picture on it, and steps back. It is level.

His father goes to wash his hands. On the windowsill the two bent nails are lying side by side.

Nachman picks them up, and carries them to the drawer in the hall. He puts them in, and slides the drawer shut.