Manny, Manny

That, as Manny would often say having watched Casablanca six times, was the start of a beautiful friendship!

They would meet up every day after Sammy came home from school, and on weekends. They played all the games that Manny had learned as a child; Stando, Hit the bottle cap, and Kinger. They took walks to Fletcher’s Field, gathered chestnuts in Mrs. Bloom’s backyard (only when she wasn’t home) drank sodas at Solly’s corner store, and talked about the number of Stanley Cups the Montreal Canadians would win. They also talked about what it was like to be hearing impaired. Turns out that neither of them were happy about it. Manny knew how hard it had been for him – even if he didn’t show it, and how difficult it must be for Sammy. One day, when Sammy was still at school, Manny knocked on Sammy’s door.

“Not home yet,” Sammy’s mother said.

“I know,” said Manny, “it’s you I want to speak to.”

“Well then, come in, sit down, I’ll get you a soda” she replied.

Nervously twirling the soda bottle in his hands, Manny rapidly blurted out, “Mrs. Goldstein, you have to get Sammy a hearing aid. It’s important that he hear everything said to him. I don’t want him to grow up like me. I don’t ever want him to be called Sammy-Sammy!”

Mrs. Goldstein looked at Manny for what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a minute or two.

“Thank you,” she finally said with tearful eyes. “I know this wasn’t easy for you to say. Thank you for caring about Sammy.”

Two months later, Sammy had his hearing aids. Yes, they were very visible. Yes, they looked awkward… but not to Sammy. People hardly noticed them when they saw the huge smile on his face.

Manny and Sammy didn’t get together very much after that. Every day Sammy could be seen playing those same games with a group of friends. They would still wave to each other though.

One day, Manny saw a moving truck in front of Sammy’s house and he went over to investigate. Mrs. Goldstein came out and gave him a big hug and kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you, Manny,” she said, “for giving Sammy a new life. I’ll never forget you for that.”

Sammy Goldstein went on to become a very successful business person and eventually sponsored the creation of the Montreal School for the Hearing Impaired. When you walk through the front lobby, you’ll see a large bronze plaque. It has the following inscription:

“Dedicated to my friend Manny
who always knew that one name
is all we need”

Libby and Sol would have been very proud of their son Manny.