Chapter 3

It was the seventh and last night of Chanukah. Benjamin couldn't believe how quiet the entire week was. No one even noticed that the dreidel was gone, in fact, he was beginning to wonder if it all was a dream and it never really happened in the first place.

But he knew that it was missing because there was an empty spot in the dreidel's old place in the breakfront. In fact, he was sure of it.

Upset and tired, he climbed into bed. He hadn't told anyone what had happened and he was it was just as well.

He had just stretched out under the covers when he felt something by his left foot, something cold and pointy. He jumped out of bed and tore apart the blanket and sheets again, only he shook them, which he hadn't done the first time. He heard something heavy hit the floor and reached down to pick it up. Sure enough, there was the beautiful silver dreidel. It had been in tangled in the bed sheets all along. It was a miracle that he had found it and on the last night of Chanukah.

Quickly, he ran down to the breakfront, opened it, and put it back in its proper place, hoping that no one had noticed it had been missing the entire week.

Now he was looking forward to receiving his surprise from his father at Sunday breakfast this morning.

David and Naomi were spending the weekend at the brownstone to help out on the last morning of the holiday. There was a special breakfast planned with bagels and whitefish and homemade cream cheese.

"You do remember when we had this the first time?" Percival whispered in her ear as she put down the little bowl full of whipped cream cheese.

Nellie nodded. "Break fast after Yom Kippur. I just looked at it and said "You always eat this stuff?" She looked up at her husband who was smiling. His glasses were sliding down his nose and use his finger to slide them up again.

"We never had any of this stuff in Walnut Grove," she said, smiling up at him, "but it sure makes a nice change."

Percival smiled and kissed his wife on the lips. "Let's call the kids in."

"I think they're both still asleep," Nellie said. "By the way, Benjamin's been acting strange the entire week and he won't tell me anything."

"Do you think he'll talk to me?" Percival asked.

Nellie shrugged. "Why not? You two always talk to each other."

On his way upstairs, Percival passed by the breakfront and couldn't help but notice that the shiny silver dreidel had been returned to its proper place.

Now how did that get back there, he thought as his eyes got lost in that sparkle. Hadn't he done the same thing as a kid?

He could still remember his mother calling him over to her and showing him the dreidel. It has fascinated him so much that he had come downstairs that first night of Chanukah and took it back to bed with him. It had gotten lost for a whole week, but Percival finally found it on the eighth day. It has been buried under the covers, but he had to shake them before it finally fell on the floor. He had run down the stairs to return it to its proper place before anyone in the house had ever found that it was missing. But his mother knew all along where it had been, he had seen that twinkle in her eye. She had just never said anything.

"Papa, Papa, we're here," the two of them called, running down the stairs meeting his father halfway.

"I was just on my way upstairs to wake you two up," Percival said, bending down to hug them. "Come on, I have your surprises right here."

He stood up taking the two of them by the hand and walked over the table.

"The time has come to give you your surprises," he said, handing them each a piggy bank to place the eight cents in. This will teach you the value of money and how to hold onto it." He held up two small rectangular shaped boxes. "And these are from you grandmother. These will help you keep track of all your expenses, how much you earn and how much you save."

Jenny and Ben opened up the rectangular boxes and there inside was a beautiful fountain pen.

"Papa," they both cried in unison and ran over to hug him. "Say thank you to your grandmother, too," Percival said, release them. "Now go, we have a special breakfast prepared and it's getting late."

"Grandma, Grandma," they called out and ran over to her. She was sitting in her favorite chair by the fireplace, knitting. They thanked her over and over for their beautiful present. She showered them with kisses until Nellie called them over. "Jenny, Benjamin, come on, it's time to eat. Everything is ready."

"Benjamin," Edna called, "Can you stay here a minute? I need to talk to you about something important."

"Uh oh," Benjamin sighed and rushed back. "Yes Grandma," he asked.

"I see that the silver dreidel is back," Edna said, knitting another scarf. I couldn't imagine where it had gotten off to, but now that it's back, I just hope that it doesn't disappear again."

Benjamin's smile widened and hugged her. "It won't, Grandma. It won't ever disappear from the breakfront again."

"Benjamin," he heard his mother call again. "Coming, Mama," he said, breaking from his grandmother. He began to run over, but something made him turn around. And there was his grandmother looking straight at him, with a little twinkle in her eye.