Torah Morah tales- Adi gets a doobi

Torah Morah Tales- Bears from Bergenfield

Adi receives cheer from a doobi as told by Naomi Ifhar and retold by Claire Ginsburg Goldstein

Adi, age 8 was lying in her neatly made green hospital bed, feeling nervous and scared. She had never left home before. She didn't understand why she couldn't have stayed home to get better there. She had always had a warm cup of tea given to her from her mom when she was sick before. She looked down at the pic line sticking into her right arm. She shuddered.

"Are you up?" a voice sounded from befind the next bed's pulled closed curtain. Adi wasn't sure where the voice was coming from. Should she answer? she wondered.

"Yes, I can't sleep. I am scared. I usually have my teddy bear to sleep with. I call him, Doobi Hakatan. His father, Doobi Hagadol. is usually being washed so I sleep with Doobi Hakatan. I am all alone here. I need something to cuddle with." she sighed. How was she going to fall asleep?

"Don't worry. Mar Teddie will be stopping by soon with doobis to give out." the voice replied. The other person giggled. "When I was your age, I worried all the time. I needed a doobi to help me fall asleep as well. Now, that I am big, I don't need the doobi like I used to but I could use one...every once in a while." Adi wondered how old was this person speaking to her?

"Who are you? How old are you?" Adi asked cautiously. She bit her lip.

"My name is Dorit. I am 9. I just celebrated my birthday last Wednesday." Dorit laughed. Adi relaxed. So she wasn't so much older after all. ..and who was Mar Teddie? "Wait until you meet Mar Teddie..he brings us these doobis from this lady in New Jersey, he told us. I can't believe that there are so many doobis to give out and all the time!" Dorit exclaimed. She began to giggle and giggle..." and here he is now!" Adi couldn't believe the timing...She was going to be able to meet Mar Teddie after all.

Someone tried to knock on her curtain. Adi laughed. There weren't real walls, separating the children in her room, just gray green colored wintery looking curtains that hung from floor to ceiling.

A retired man, well dressed in a dark blue suit, light blue cotton shirt and striped blue and gray tie, rather tallish looking, entered the room and pushed his glasses up his nose. He stopped and tried not to appear awkward looking.

"I know that it is late." he hesitated. Adi wondered what he would offer her. She hoped that she would like the toy. What if she didn't like it and wanted another one instead? Should she be polite or tell him the truth? " I am Mar Teddie and I deliver doobis from the teddy bear lady in  New Jersey. I have all kinds today. I mean tonight. Which one would you like to hold tonight?"

he searched in his laundry bag, looking for a doobi that Adi might like. Adi hoped that he would offer her the bag and let her look through the bag. He held up one toy. She shook her head. It wasn't her type. Either was the second one or the third. Oy, she was getting anxious now. What if he went through all the toys and she found nothing that she liked? He shuffled his hand deeper into the bottom of the bag. He hoped that he would find a toy that Adi would like. He had so many toys to give out this night.

After a few more tried, Mar Teddie found a brown, beige, and tan 16" cheetah that he thought that Adi might like. Adi smiled.

This cheetah looked like it represented courage. Adi needed courage now. The cheetah would help Adi make it through the night. As he handed Adi the cheetah, he said that he hoped Adi would feel better.

"How can I not? I have a doobi to help me heal quickly now. Thank you." She remembered her manners.

Mar Teddie smiled with relief. It wasn't always easy to find a toy that would please each child.

"Don't forget me. I know that I am big. I am 9 now, but I want a doobi also. I have so many that you gave me. Each time, I come here, I get another doobi from you." Dorit shouted from behind the curtain.

Adi looked for answers from Mar Teddie. He looked back at her, reassuredly. Adi felt thankful that she hadn't met Mar Teddie before since she knew that usually she was healthy. Dorit hadn't been that fortunate. Dorit knew Mar Teddie for years.

"It was nice to meet you, Adi. I hope that you heal quickly." Adi felt better already. Hopefully, Dorit would too.