Nissim's Chanukah Hoop

Two year old Nissim loves his orange basketball more than anything, and he wants to bounce it right beside the glowing menorah on the first night of Chanukah. When his bouncing knocks over the candles and spills sticky wax everywhere, Nissim learns that some moments call for quiet hands. With help from his Zayde and Savta, he discovers a new way to play that turns gelt coins and latkes into his very own hoop game, blending his love of basketball with the warmth of the holiday.

Little Nissim, small and **spry**, held his bouncy orange ball up **high**. He loved the silver cup on the high **shelf**, but couldn't reach it by **himself**.

Tonight the candles waited **still**, on the table by the **sill**. "Chanukah's here!" said Zayde with a **grin**, "but hold your ball, and please come **in**."

But Nissim couldn't wait to **play**, he bounced his ball the wrong, wrong **way**. It rolled and rolled across the **floor**, and knocked the menorah right near the **door**!

Wax went splat on the table **top**, Nissim froze, his bounce did **stop**. Savta gasped and said, "Oh **dear**," while Nissim shed a tiny **tear**.

"I'm sorry," whispered Nissim **small**, "I didn't mean to make it **fall**." Zayde wiped the wax away with **care**, and said, "We'll fix it, don't you **scare**."

They lit the candles, one by **one**, the shamash glowed till day was **done**. Nissim sat with hands held **tight**, watching quiet, watching **light**.

Then Savta brought the silver **cup**, full of gelt coins, filling it **up**. "Toss them in, my little **star**, like your hoop, but not so **far**!"

The gold coin bounced into the **cup**, Nissim giggled and stood right **up**. He hugged his ball with happy **glee**, and clapped as loud as loud could **be**.