' So what is there to be gained by calling him Chaim Yankel?"
"Nothing, Feodor. It was a mistake even to think of it."
"It was. Well, as I was telling you before you began this interruption
about names, he is exactly 110 years old. Can you imagine a man 110 years
old? A man 110 years old is an unusual thing, isn't it?"
"It is, Feodor. But I once knew a man 113 years old."
"Ha! And what kind of a man was he? Did he dance jigs? Did he crack nuts
with his teeth? Did he drink like a fish?"
"No, he was an old man and very sad."
"You see! He was sad. So what has he to do with Pitzela? Nothing. Pitzela
laughs all day long. And he dances jigs. And he cracks nuts with his
teeth. Mind you, a man 110 years old cracks nuts with his teeth! Can you
imagine such a thing?"
"No Feodor. It is amazing."
"Amazing? Why amazing? Everything that happens different from what you
know is amazing to you! You are very naive. You know what naive means? It
is French."
"I know what naive means, Feodor. Go on about Pitzela."
"Naive means to be childish late in life. In a way you are like Pitzela,
despite the difference in your ages. He is naive. You know what he wants?"
"What?"
"This Pitzela wants to show everybody how young he is.
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