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The Umbrella That Is Too Big

Chapter 1Rain

On Wednesday morning, rain taps on the window.

Faigie looks for her small yellow umbrella. It is not by the door.

"I think you left it at school," says Tatty.

"What do I use?"

Tatty goes to the closet and takes out Zeidy's old umbrella. It is black. It is very big.

Chapter 2Too big

Faigie holds it with both hands. The umbrella is taller than her head. It opens with a loud pop.

"It is too big," she says.

"It will keep you dry," says Tatty.

Faigie walks to school under the black umbrella. It tips to the left. The handle is heavy. Her arms get tired.

She remembers Zeidy walking to shul in the rain with this umbrella. He held it high, and it kept his hat dry. She did not think about how big it was then.

Chapter 3At the door

At the school gate, three girls stand under their small umbrellas: Miri, Chaya and Rivka.

"Whose umbrella is that?" asks Miri.

"It is my Zeidy's," says Faigie.

"It is like a tent," says Miri, and giggles.

Faigie's cheeks get hot. She wants to close the umbrella and hide it. She wants to say, "It is not mine."

But it is hers, for today.

Chapter 4What she says

Faigie takes a breath. She counts one, two, three, the way Morah Leah teaches.

"It is big," she says. "And it is old. But it is dry under here."

Miri looks. A drip falls from her own small umbrella onto her shoe.

"My shoe is wet," says Miri.

"There is room," says Faigie.

Chapter 5Under the tent

Miri steps under the black umbrella. So does Chaya. So does Rivka.

Four girls stand close, with the rain drumming on the top. Their elbows bump. Nobody minds.

"It really is like a tent," says Chaya.

"It is a good tent," says Rivka.

Miri puts her hand on the handle next to Faigie's hands, and it is easier with two. The four girls walk up the path to the school door together, and the umbrella stays up.

Chapter 6The umbrella stand

At the school door, Faigie shakes the umbrella outside, under the porch roof. She closes it and puts it in the umbrella stand by the door, with a tray underneath.

Morah Leah comes to the door and looks at it. "That is a big umbrella."

"It is my Zeidy's," says Faigie.

"It kept four girls dry," says Morah Leah. "That is a good job for an umbrella."

Faigie feels warm, and not from the radiator. She sits down at her desk and her cheeks are cool again. She has a funny thought. The umbrella is still too big. It is still old. But it can be too big and still be helpful.

Chapter 7Going home

After school, the rain has stopped. Faigie carries the umbrella closed, with the handle tucked under her arm.

At home, Zeidy sits in his chair.

"Your umbrella was a tent today," says Faigie.

Zeidy laughs. "Was it a good tent?"

"It was dry," says Faigie. "And big enough for four."

She hangs it by the door, to dry.