"Is it Hanukkah? Is it Hanukkah?"

All my big brother does is say the same thing over and over again.

"Is it Hanukkah? Is it Hanukkah?" he keeps repeating. As usual, Nathan is lost in his own world. Then he announces, "Tonight is Hanukkah, tonight is Hanukkah."

"I know, I know," I answer.

Mom gives me a look.

"Ohh-kay ... Nathan's mind is wired differently."

"I'm glad you understand that, Jacob."

"Hanukkah has eight days. Hanukkah has eight days."

I think I'm going to burst.

"And the United States has fifty states," continues Nathan. "Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas—"

Mom cuts in. "I have a good idea, Nathan. Turn on your computer and see if you can find a blank map of the United States where you can put in the state names."

Nathan goes to his room.

Mom asks me, "Would you like to help set up the Hanukkah menorah?"

"Sure," I answer. "I like pretending I'm Judah Maccabee, lighting the menorah in the Temple."

"Tonight's the first night of Hanukkah, so only one candle," Mom says. "Plus the shamash, the helper candle, for lighting it."

I'm Judah Maccabee, winning the war against King Antiochus! We recapture our holy Temple! There's a small jug of oil to light the menorah. It's enough for one day but—a miracle!—the oil lasts eight days.

Tonight I'm going to pray for a new miracle. That Nathan stops repeating himself.

I put the menorah on the table next to the window. A big truck pulls in next door, with a car behind it. A new family is moving in. Yes! It looks like there's a boy my age. I wonder if he plays basketball.

"Mom!" I yell. "I'll be outside shooting hoops."

I bounce the ball really hard. It works. My new neighbor walks over.

"Can I play?" he asks. "My name's Steven. What's yours?"

"Jacob."