Cole, who is 6 years old, decided to write a letter to his grandfather, who is in the hospital. “What would you like to say to Grandpa?” Mr. Woolf asked Cole, who was seated on a red stool six feet away.

“Hi, Grandpa, I hope you feel better,” he said.

“That’s a great start,” replied Mr. Woolf. With a hunt and peck at the keyboard, he exercised some editorial license and added: “You can do it. I love you.”