Charlie was a
good boy but he
was very lazy.
He complained
about anything
he had to do, be
it school stuff
or any help that
his mother asked
of him: sweeping
the yard, making
his bed, putting
away his clothes
and toys... The
boy would
respond
immediately,
upset:
- Always me,
mom... I'm
tired. Also, I
have to do my
schoolwork!
- Well then,
honey. If you
have homework,
go do it!
- Not now, Mom.
I'll get some
rest a little. I
will do it later
on, okay? - the
lazy boy would
answer.
The mother would
be become silent
and dispirited
because she knew
her son well.
When he did not
want to do
something, there
was no use
insisting. He
would end up
crying, making a
scene, as if it
was a big
problem to be
solved.
So, his mother
started to do
the house chores
which were not
few. She cleaned
the kitchen, did
the whole
family's
laundry, hung it
on the line, and
then went on to
iron the pieces
that were
already dry.
|
Meanwhile
Charlie took a
nap in his room.
Later on, he
woke up rested
and went to the
kitchen. He saw
his mother
ironing the
clothes and
asked:
- Mom, when will
you fix the
afternoon snack?
I am
starving!...
|
 |
|
Without stopping
what she was
doing, she said
that only when
she had finished
ironing. |
- But there's
still a lot! -
complained the
boy.
- I know,
darling, but I
have to do it
all now because
tomorrow I will
have more, and
you need the
clothes.
He scowled.
Displeased, he
went into the
living room and
sat down to
watch TV. His
mother, who was
busy but did not
take her eyes
off of him, saw
him sit on the
couch and turn
on the TV so she
said:
- Charlie, have
you done your
homework?
- Of course not,
Mom! I got very
tired and slept
until now.
- Oh... And when
do you want to
do it?
- After the
snack - the boy
answered
decidedly.
 |
The mother
became silent
and continued
ironing. When
she finished,
she took the
pile of pressed
clothes and put
them away. She
returned to the
kitchen and was
starting to fix
a snack when she
realised:
- Charlie, we do
not have any
bread. Could you
go to the bakery
to buy some
bread for us,
honey?
|
|
- I can’t now. I
am watching a
cartoon. |
The mother said
nothing. She set
the table and
went out to get
the bread. When
she returned,
the boy asked:
- Didn’t you
bring that sweet
bread that I
like, Mom?
- No. I only had
money to buy
this one here.
Scowling, he
drank a glass of
chocolate milk
and skipped the
bread. His
mother, still
silent, sat at
the table, put
coffee in the
cup, cut a piece
of bread and
buttered it,
then had her
snack.
The boy, angry,
complained he
would not want
to have a snack
because they did
not have the
bread he liked.
To which his
mother replied:
- It is up to
you,
sweetheart.
Charlie left the
table irritated
and returned to
the living room.
Seeing this, his
mother asked:
- When are you
going to do your
homework,
honey?
- I will only do
it if you help
me, Mom! You
have been busy
with everything
but me!
His mother
looked at him,
not believing
what she was
hearing.
- Darling, each
one of us has
their duties.
I've done mine;
you must do
yours.
At that moment
the boy burst
into tears,
yelling:
- I do not know
how to do these
tasks that the
teacher gave me,
Mom! I need help
and I have no
one to help
me!...
Watching the
drama that his
son was doing,
she let him cry,
in silence.
Noting that his
mother did not
care about his
crying, Charlie
complained:
- I got it, Mom.
You do not like
me. You only
think of the
house chores and
does not pay me
the slightest
attention.
 |
And he went back
to crying
loudly.
The mother, who
knew the child,
did not bother,
and decided to
wait for him to
stop the drama.
As he noticed
that she was not
worried about
him, he asked:
- Will you not
help me at all,
Mom?
- No, honey. If
you had helped
me with the
house chores I
would have had
time to help you
with your
homework.
However, I had
to do it all
alone and I
could not help
you especially
because you
slept all
afternoon
without worrying
about your
duties. Now,
|
|
I'll start
fixing
dinner
because
your
father
won’t be
long
getting
home -
she
answered
serenely. |
- Mom! My
teacher will
flunk me!
- It's not my
problem,
darling. I did
my chores, even
with no one to
help me.
Wide-eyed, he
looked at his
mother and went
to his room,
realising she
was right.
Later, he
returned, saw
her with a tired
expression and
agreed with her:
- Mom, you're
right. You
actually asked
me for help but
I did not help
you. You worked
all afternoon
and even went to
the bakery. And
you were not
doing it for
yourself but for
us. I am sorry!
I know I acted
wrong. I promise
I will always
help you when
you ask me. OK?
The mother
looked at her
son and embraced
him with great
affection. After
all, he had
understood the
lesson!
- Charlie, go
get your
notebook. I will
help you with
your homework,
honey!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
28.03.2016.)
