The Game with No Last Turn
Chapter 1Something with a Handle
"Something with a handle," said Binyomin.
"A cup," Shloimy said.
"Too easy."
"A very difficult cup."
The boys laughed around the lunch table. They were playing a guessing game. One boy chose an object. The others took turns asking questions until they found it.
Shloimy liked this game. He especially liked making Binyomin laugh.
Today he had also promised Rabbi Adler that he would help sort the classroom reading books during the last part of lunch.
There was time for a round before that. Just one.
Chapter 2The Next Object
The answer was an umbrella. Dovid guessed it after asking whether you carried it outside.
"Now Dovid chooses," Binyomin said.
Shloimy glanced at the classroom clock through the open door. He should leave soon.
"One last round," he said.
Dovid chose something round. It was not a ball, a plate, or the world.
"Is it something you can eat?" Shloimy asked.
"No."
"Good. I have already eaten lunch."
Two boys joined the table to listen. Shloimy forgot the clock while guessing buttons, wheels, and coins.
At last Binyomin guessed a roll of tape.
"Now my turn!"
Chapter 3A Smaller Minute
Shloimy pushed his chair back.
"I have to go help with the books."
"But you asked questions for Dovid," Binyomin said. "Stay for mine."
"I said one last round."
"This is a little round."
Shloimy looked toward the classroom again. The books were piled on two desks. Rabbi Adler was putting out the empty baskets.
He stayed standing beside his chair.
"One little question," he said.
The object had four corners. Not a book. Not a window. Not a desk.
The little question became three questions.
Chapter 4The Waiting Boy
Meir stood behind Shloimy's chair, following every answer.
"You can ask mine," Shloimy told him.
Meir looked at Binyomin. "Can I?"
"We are already in the middle," Binyomin said.
Shloimy's cheeks warmed. He did not want to walk away while Binyomin was speaking. He also did not want Rabbi Adler to be left sorting all those books alone.
He sat for another moment, then stood again.
"I need to go now. Meir heard all the clues. He can take my place."
Binyomin opened his mouth.
Shloimy kept his voice friendly. "Tell me the answer later. I want to know."
Chapter 5The Empty Basket
In the classroom, Rabbi Adler handed him an empty basket.
"Easy readers here, longer stories there. Check the covers before choosing."
Shloimy began sorting. From the lunch table came a burst of laughter.
He turned his head. Meir was sitting in his chair.
For a moment he wanted to run back and find out what was funny.
Then he picked up the next book. He had come to help, and the first basket was still empty.
He and Rabbi Adler filled it together.
Chapter 6Four Corners
When the bell ended lunch, Binyomin came in carrying his lunch bag.
"A handkerchief," he told Shloimy.
"What?"
"Four corners. The answer. Meir got it."
"I guessed everything except that."
"You guessed a square pickle."
"It could happen."
Binyomin looked at the neat baskets. "Are you choosing an object tomorrow?"
Shloimy put the last book away.
"Yes. But let's finish before I need to leave. We can say who gets the last turn before we start."
Binyomin thought about it. "Then choose something hard."
Chapter 7The Last Turn
The next day they agreed on two rounds before the books needed carrying to the reading corner.
Meir joined and chose first. Shloimy chose second.
His object was something they had all seen yesterday.
"A chair!" Meir said.
Shloimy nodded. Binyomin stood up. "I'll carry one basket." They left together. Today, the last turn was actually the last turn.
