Children

‘œYorum,Yorum, gingey, gingey, where did you get your red, red hair!’.’  Giorah’™s words stung me’  like bees as I ran from him. I felt terrible. If Giorah didn’™t tease me about my hair it would be my name. How much bad luck can a kid take? If only I had a couple of wishes! That would be really great. When my Mum and Dad gave me my name, didn’™t they know Yoram to the boys means a nerd ‘“ a bum? When my teaser was far enough behind, I began walking. I didn’™t pay attention to an old man sitting on a low stone wall. When I was opposite, his: ‘œHello, young man. Why so sad?,’ surprised me.’  I looked …

‘œAre you ready,’ Kossy asked. As scared as I was, I nodded and waited. But the truth is I was not ready at all. All kinds of colours were swimming around in my head. Then I heard Kossy say. ‘œThere. It’™s done. Looks good to me. Dark brown. I hope you’™ll be happy, Yory.’ Kossy didn’™t have a mirror anywhere. ‘œGo home. Look in your mirror. I’™m sure you’™ll be pleased.’ ‘œG’™bye Kossy. I’™ll come back and tell you,’ I said. Very excited I went quickly home to see for myself. As I came through the door Mum screamed: ‘œYory, what have you done to your hair?!’, ‘œThe kids at school tease me, Ma! You don’™t know what it’™s like …

‘œLet go ‘“ it hurts!!’, I shouted with Giorah’™s fist in my hair. Of course it hurts. But maybe I’™ll pull some out and it will grow back black, that way I’™ll be doing you a favour, wont I.’  Ha! Ha!’ ‘œLet Go!’¦’ and as I said it I pulled away from his grip.. My head hurt badly but his ‘œYoram, Yoram, gingey, gingey,’ stung even more. He’™s big and fat and two years older than me. Then I thought that maybe with my friend Shimi, together we could teach him a lesson he would remember. It was time to get even with Goliath. ‘œCome on, Shimmi, the two of us can beat him easy ‘“ teach him not to …

Kossy smiled at Yory and held out his hand for the Giggleweed leaves. ‘œThat’™s the giggleweed alright – you did it, Yory. You remembered to think hard of Giorah. Now we better be getting back. You remember my room well, don’™t you? Well I want you to close your eyes, picture the room in your mind and hold my hand. Open your eyes only when I tell you.’  Okay?’  Here we go again!’ My heart was beating hard as I pictured the wooden box-like room with the dusty window. Suddenly Kossy’™s loud ‘œWhere are we?’, forced my eyes open and I stared in amazement about me. It seems I made a mistake.’ ‘  We were in a small wooden room alright …