Page 22 - Pierce County Lawyer Novemer December 2024

The two were silent for a long moment. Then the boy said,
“Why not?”
The frankness of his own question startled Tzi-zith. “What
does the Menorah do?” the bird asked as Tzi-Tzith attached the
candlestick to his back.
“It announces freedom, tonight,” he said. “Tonight is the eighth
night and the oil in the Temple lasted eight days on that first
Hanukkah.”
Tzi-Tzith slid down from the great birds back, and the gull
looked hard at him.
“How do we light them?” he said.
“With my flint, stone and flax,” Tzi-Tzith said as he struck the
flint against the stone and blew hard on the red embers glowing
in the flax.
“Careful of my feathers,” the bird cautioned, and whirled back
to the porthole to find a safe perch as the burning tallow dipped
on his feathers at each bob and roll.
“Tzi-Tzith, you must hurry,” the gull cried, “So I can fly with the
Menorah and not be burned.”
Tzi-Tzith lit each as quickly and as solemnly as he could,
calling the Berakhah of blessing for each attribute: light, justice,
peace, truth, benevolence, brotherly love, harmony and finally,
freedom!
In the corner, near the galley stove, stood a great black kettle
which now showed clearly as the Menorah light increased.
And it was good that Tzi-Tzith saw it, for when the first shell
landed with a loud explosion, Tzi-Tzith used it for a helmet. It
fit him more like a small tent.
“You just may have wakened the British,” the gull shouted.
“Oh, what have I done!” Tzi-Tzith cried, pulling his tallit
closer around him and calling on the Lord God of Israel for
protection.
The gull lurched out from the porthole as the second cannon
shell splashed nearby.
“You’re not going to make a flight?” Tzi-Tzith blurted.
“That’s right, boy in the name of the Menorah.
“The Menorah spells freedom in light,” Tzi-Tzith yelled as the
bird flew off.
“The boy looked after the gull, then back at the stove and he
crawled into it for safety.
“I am tired,” he said, spacing his words.
Outside he could hear the flapping of wings and the explosions
of shells moving further away.
It was dawn when the boy awakened. Soontag and the Captain
were standing above him with the Menorah in one hand, its
candles burned down to their wicks and the half dead body of a
gull in the other.
“How did you plan to send a bird out to draw the British guns?”
Soontag asked as Captain Mason stood quietly beside him.
“I just never thought about you getting all that dirty,” the boy
said as he picked up the battered bird, but there was no answer.
“He’s still wet!” he said and handed the bird to Soontag.
“Yes, and he is more the Tzi-Tzith than you!”
“But I’m not Tzi-Tzith,” the boy said. “I am a Maccabean, I am
Judas or John. I am ready to fight for freedom.”
He looked long at the gull now sitting quietly awake. “He is
the Tzi-Tzith, for he was part of our prayer and brought our
freedom.”
“It’s time you joined the crew as a full member,” Captain Mason
said as Soontag nodded agreement, and the gull perched on the
porthole and blinked.
Joseph Allen Smith is the father David Smith,
a local attorney. Joe has provided holiday
short stories for the Pierce County Bar
Association Magazine in previous publications.
Unfortunately, Joe passed away earlier this year
at the age of 90 years old. He was an incredible
story-teller and he wrote a holiday short story for
his family every year for over 50 years. He will
be sorely missed. This year’s story was written in
November of 1972. David spoke with Joe before
he passed away and he expressed that it was an
honor to have been published in the Tacoma-
Pierce County Bar Association Magazine.
Joe requested that Tzi-Tzith (A Story About
Hanukkah), be this year’s story. He again shares
his family gift with you.