The Broken Toy
 

One day, Caio accidentally broke his friend’s new toy car while they were playing together and his friend got very angry with him. But Caio, regretting having broken Olaf's new toy car and almost in tears, explained:

- It was not my fault, Olaf! I grabbed it and the part came off! I apologise but I did not intend to break your new toy. I do not know what happened!...

But Olaf was so angry with Caio that he yelled out while crying:

	- Go away! I do not want to see you in my home anymore. Never again!... And you'll have to pay me for the broken toy, you hear? I'm going to talk to your dad and tell him you broke my new car on purpose. Caio still tried to apologise but his friend would not listen. He opened the front door and Caio left feeling very sad. When he arrived home, his mother saw him pass by her crying and
go to his room, where he threw himself in bed, in despair.

Then she asked:

- What happened, honey? Did you fall? Are you hurt? Where does it hurt?

Caio shook his head, showing her that it was none of those, and explained:

- It’s Olaf, Mom! I was playing with his new toy car and a part came off. Now he thinks I broke his toy on purpose and kicked me out saying I'll have to give him another one!

Sad, the mother hugged her son because of how much he was suffering, and said:

- Do not worry, Caio. I'll talk to your father and he'll buy another toy for Olaf.

- But Dad is always broke, mom; he never has money! - said Caio, weeping again.

His mother calmed him down with an affectionate hug and explained that his father really had no money but that he could get an advance from the factory as part of the salary he would receive by the end of the month.

- But that money will be needed for our household expenses, mom.

- Stay calm, Caio, your father knows what he does. Now, get up, lunch is ready, and your father must be arriving.

Mother and son went to the kitchen. The mother talked to the father and explained to him what had happened, asking him to buy another toy for Olaf. His father took a deep breath, thinking of the bills he would have to pay but agreed:

- All right, Caio. Dad's going to buy Olaf another toy car. You need to tell to me which toy it is, the colours and the model.

Caio explained to his father that it was the newest model in the shops, and his father, after lunch, returned to the factory and asked for an advance on his salary because of the considerable expense he would have to make. Then, with the money in hand, he went to the store.

A salesman came to greet him at the door, and he explained what he was looking for.

- Please, sir, come to the counter and I'll get you the toy you want."

The salesman said the amount and the father's eyes widened in concern. He lowered his head almost to tears. The seller noticed his concern and suggested:

- Sir, if it's too expensive we have cheaper toys. I’ll go get them for you.

- No! It has to be this one. My son expects me to take this exact model.

And noticing the seller's facial expression, the father told him what had happened: that his son had broken a friend's toy car and that the friend had demanded that he buy a new one.

Then the salesman took a deep breath and smiled, calming Caio's father:

- Sir! This model is defective from the factory. So in case of any problems, the store should replace it with a new toy!

- Are you sure?

- Of course, sir! I'll explain to the shop owner what happened and you'll see that there's no problem at all.

Soon the owner of the store came over and learning the problem that had happened and the name of the buyer, had the seller wrap a new toy with the manufacturer's excuses.

Caio's father returned home with the package, all smiles. When he arrived home, he handed the package to his son who smiled and cried at the same time out of relief.

Then they took the package to their neighbour. Olaf's father, who welcomed them with joy, had them enter and sit in the living room. He called his son and Olaf entered the room. Seeing Caio with his father, and a beautiful gift package in his hands, he smiled happily.

- But to what do I owe the honour of your visit? - Olaf's father asked.

- We came to return Olaf's toy, which he accused my son of breaking. However, when I went out to buy another, the seller stated that this model came with a factory fault. So it was not my son who broke it but we made a point of getting him another one.

Olaf's father looked at his son in shame because he had demanded that Caio buy him another toy. With his head down, Olaf flushed with embarrassment. But Caio, seeing the look on his face, said:

- We just wanted you to have a new toy, Olaf. Thank you for letting me play with it!

They embraced and Olaf, flushed with shame, said:

- I am sorry, Caio! I thought you'd broken my new toy. Forgive me!

Caio forgave Olaf and everything ended up well. Olaf never again treated Caio, or any other friend, that way as he realised that he had acted badly with his friend. And he promised himself that he would never do it to anyone again.

MEIMEI

(Psychographed by Célia X. de Camargo on July 4, 2016.)