| BUBU by Martin Green |
| That summer of 1942, when Arnold was 12 and his father was away in Oklahoma working on something to do with the war, they escaped the heat by going from the Bronx all the way out to Brighton Beach. As she did often during the summer months, Arnold’s mother packed up their bathing suits, pails and shovels, books and other beach paraphernalia, in a big shopping bag and, with his younger, seven year-old sister, Hannah, they took the subway for the long ride to Brighton Beach, a stop before Coney Island. By the time they arrived, they were all hot, sweaty and irritable. But, as Arnold's mother often said when they stepped off the train and felt the cool salty ocean air, “It was worth it.” From the station, the family walked the three blocks to the small wooden house of Arnold's paternal grandparents. Everyone called his grandmother Bubu. She was short, no more than five feet tall, and round as a circle. Bubu greeted them, giving everyone a hug. When she hugged Arnold, already taller than her, she remarked as usual, “He’s getting bigger all the time.” Bubu always had lunch ready for them and a big piece of halvah for Arnold, because she knew he liked it. Arnold knew he was the apple of Bubu’s eye, the smart grandson she expected to go to college. But he had disappointed her. She had wanted him to go to Hebrew school and then get bar-mitzvahed. Within a week of attending Hebrew classes after his regular school hours, he had rebelled, unable to bear sitting in a stuffy little room, intoning those strange-looking words, knowing that outside all of his friends were playing ball. Shortly after lunch, they walked to the beach. Arnold’s mother found a small space amid the mob of sun worshipers, to lay out their blanket, and took out her book to read. Arnold and Hannah raced to the water and jumped up and down in the waves. After a while, they came back to their blanket, and Hannah played with her pail and shovel while Arnold read his own book. “Ma,” asked Hannah. “Why can’t we stay over at Grandma’s house? It has lots of rooms.” “Yes, but they’re all rented to other people.” “Oh.” Arnold's grandfather rented every room to get as much money as possible. He and Bubu each had their own bedrooms and sometimes he even rented out Bubu’s room. Arnold had heard his mother say that his grandfather was mean. Nobody liked him, but everybody loved Bubu. She was a pillar of her schule. Though round and short of breath, she was always going somewhere to help others. “How come we never see Grandpa?” Hannah asked her mother. “He’s very busy.” “What does he do?” “Well, lots of different things.” Once, Arnold had overheard Bubu say that his grandfather spent all his time at the baths where he usually played cards. At the end of the day, they returned to the house, changed, and ate the supper Bubu made for them. Then followed the long, long subway ride back to the Bronx. One day that fall when Arnold returned home from schoo1, his mother said she had bad news. Bubu had died. She had been bringing food to someone when she suddenly fell to the floor and was gone. They all went to Brooklyn to attend the funeral. The Rabbi of Bubu’s schule made a speech telling of all her good works. Then she was put into the ground and dirt thrown on her coffin. That night, Hannah asked her mother if Bubu was now living in the earth. “No, dear. She’s in heaven.” “Is she with God?” “Yes, she was such a good person. She’s with God.” Arnold did not believe that people, good or not, went to heaven. About God, he was not sure. “Ma,” he said. “Can I still go to Hebrew school?” Arnold did not know where these words came from. He felt he had to say them. Did God make him say them? “Yes, I think so. I think there’s a special class so you can just prepare for your bar-mitzvah.” “Good. I want to do that.” “I’m glad. Bubu wanted you to be bar-mitzvahed. She’d be very happy.” “I wish I’d told her this summer.” “Maybe she’ll be able to see you from heaven,” said Hannah. Arnold did not think so, but perhaps somehow, Bubu’s spirit would know. Anyway, he endured the school and the bar mitzvah — For Bubu. # |
"BUBU" Copyright by
Martin Green
