Preparations For The Trip

They were about to have a long weekend and with great joy the children were preparing to travel. They would be able to play as much as they wanted!

Their happiness was great! Nevertheless, they knew they would miss their friends. Juliana enjoyed being with her friends and got used to go to their house or they would come to her home after school, and they would play all afternoon.

On that day, when he arrived home, their father told them that he would not work during the holidays and they would go to his parents’ home.

Juliana was very pleased:

- Yay! It’s been a long time since we saw grandpa Peter and grandma Carmela! When do we leave, Dad?

- As soon as I get the car ready but it will not be long.

- Mom, I cannot close my suitcase! What is going on?...

- What do you think happened, honey? - her mother asked as she stirred a pot.

- I do not know! Maybe I put too much in it!

- Exactly. So, empty it and put aside only what you cannot leave behind. And just take the necessary, OK, Juliana?

- Got it, Mom.

Juliana returned to her room and started all over again. Still, there was too much! Then she returned to the kitchen and said:

- Mom, I do not know what to do! I cannot fit everything in my suitcase.

- All right, darling. After lunch I'll see what I can do but if you help me and set the table for lunch.

Juliana said she would remove some things from the suitcase and left the kitchen. Her mother set the table, prepared the dishes with the food and also called the twin boys and her husband for lunch. They sat down, said a prayer and began to help themselves. But Juliana was angry because she could not pack her suitcase.

Everyone was happy with the news that they would travel but the girl was very upset. After lunch, her mother asked her to help her clean the kitchen but Juliana said she was tired and that she would go to sleep.

The mother said nothing. She washed the dishes; dried everything and put them away. Then she went to Juliana's room to see what she was doing. Her daughter slept.

At about 5pm, as the girl had already slept enough, her mother called her:

- Juliana! Wake up, honey!

- I'm tired, Mom.

- But didn’t you want to pack your stuff?

- Yes, mom. But now I want to sleep.

The mother left the room and went on to take care of other things. She arranged the twins’ clothes and decided what they would need, helped them arranging the bags, and they were very happy because they would even bring a game that they liked a lot.

When she woke up, Juliana was hungry and wanted a snack. The table was already clean but she sat down, poured herself some chocolate milk and then complained that there was no cheese.

- Only butter... Wow!! Not even a piece of cheese?

Her kind mother, who had worked all day while Juliana slept, took a deep breath and spoke fondly:

- Sweetheart, everyone here helped and did something. Only you did nothing! And still you complain?

- Wow, Mom! I tried to get my suitcase ready but I could not!

- Well, Juliana. Packing your stuff is your problem. You are grown up enough for it. If you had done what I asked you, I would have had time to help you pack your suitcase! However, you thought better to asleep all afternoon.

- I was tired, Mom!

- Tired of what, honey? Doing nothing?...

The girl turned red as a pepper. Then she began to cry:

- Nobody likes me here at home! I'm a nobody!...

The mother, who heard her daughter's words indignantly replied:

- Juliana, your problem is that you only think about yourself. You never try to help your brothers who are smaller than you. How many times have they asked for your help with their homework? You never help me when I'm busy with the house chores, and I do ask for your help. You are always aggravated and only think about your own problems. Think about it a bit. Think about how you acted today!

She looked at her brothers and noted that they agreed with their mother. So, Juliana left the room crying, went to her room and threw herself on the bed, feeling as if no one in the family liked her. Later, feeling calmer, she went to her mother who was watching television and knitting booties for the poor babies that were about to be born. Embarrassed, she reflected on her ways, kissed her mother and apologised: - Mom, forgive me! I recognise that I have done wrong. I promise I will change from now on. I want to help more with the house chores, help my brothers and be a better person, like you, that in addition to all the

housework, still knits to help other moms in need.

Juliana hugged her mother and said that from that day on, she would be different. Happy with her daughter’s change, the mother smiled and invited her as she gave her a hug:

- Would you like to pack your suitcase now?

MEIMEI