2016/2017
Vol. 12

Don’t Forget to Say “Good Morning”!

Around 1994, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mr. Grumblat, my mother’s family friend, worked in a slaughterhouse.¹ Mr. Gonzalez also worked in the slaughterhouse — as a doorman. Mr. Grumblat always said “good morning” to the doorman. The doorman was always there when the slaughterhouse opened and stayed there until the door closed at night. Mr. Grumblat never forgot to say “goodbye” to Mr. Gonzalez. He was a very nice man.

One day there were a lot of workers in the slaughterhouse. Mr. Grumblat accidentally got stuck inside the big walk-in refrigerator. After a short while, he was very cold. Everyone passed by, but they didn’t realize anything unusual at all. Mr. Grumblat was stuck there for a long time, and he was so cold! More people passed, but they still didn’t notice him. He didn’t know what to do!

Then everyone began to leave. The doorman, Mr. Gonzalez, was thinking, “How come Mr. Grumblat didn’t say ‘goodbye’? He always says ‘goodbye.’”

Mr. Gonzalez didn’t want to leave. He said to the others, “Not everyone has left. Mr. Grumblat is still here.”

“How do you know he is still here?” they asked him.

“Because he didn’t say ‘goodbye.’”

They checked around, and suddenly somebody found Mr. Grumblat in the refrigerator. He was so happy, even though he was terribly cold. But they finally got him out.

It is important to always greet someone. Mr. Grumblat was a very nice man. Everyone was important to him, and he cared about people a lot.

I am happy that my mother is friends with Mr. Grumblat. He always said “hello” and “goodbye,” or “good morning.” This saved his life.

Bracha Miriam Lavian; New York, USA

1. A slaughterhouse is a place where animals are killed and cut up for food.

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