The Thin Section

Ages 12-15

Every Friday, Nechama brings her grandfather the paper, in two parts, and every Friday she keeps one.

The paper is left on the porch, in a plastic bag, a thick section and a thin one. She carries them in. The thick one goes on the arm of his chair. The thin one she takes to the stairs, and sits on the third step, and reads, folded small, while the kettle heats.

He nods at the thick one. He opens it, and reads it, and does not say a word about the thin one.

She does it the next week. Then again.

On the third week, when she comes in with the tea, he has put the thick section on the floor. He is looking at the stairs.

She sets the cup down by his hand. He does not take it. She goes back to the stairs and sits.

Today the bag is wet at the corner. She slides the thin section out and leaves it on the third step, with a damp edge, and takes the thick one in, the pages soft.

He is in his chair, with his glasses on. She holds the thick one out.

He looks at it. He looks at her. He puts out his hand, past it, and waits.

She goes back to the stairs, and brings him the thin one, still folded to her page.