The chatterer 

Patricia, an eight year old child, loved gossiping. She loved telling everyone what she found out about people. She enjoyed watching what was going on around her and interpreting it on her own way. She never bothered to find out if what she was talking about was actually true.

She spread news the everywhere. As soon as she heard something new from one person, she would tell someone else straight away. She was always ending up getting in the middle of chaos!

Her mom was always telling her this is a very severe shortcoming:

— My daughter, you shouldn’t behave likethis. You will end up having no friends

to talk to!  

Her mom was right. One day Patricia went to school and saw her colleague Fernanda with a colourful pencil sharpener. It was very similar to the one Marcia had. The class hadn’t even started and she decided to tell the teacher Fernanda stole her classmate’s pencil sharpener.

The entire classroom started to accuse Fernanda as well. It was total chaos!

Fernanda started to cry and said she was innocent, but no one believed her. Marcia, at this right moment, walked into the classroom and saw what was going on. She then said to the entire group:

— This is not true! There has been a mistake. Fernanda didn’t steal anything. I was the one who gave it to her, since she really liked my colourful pencil sharpener. I gave her a brand new one not so long ago!

Everyone apologised to Fernanda, who was tearfully. She felt humiliated in front of the entire class. They then turned up against to Patricia. They felt really angry at her attitude, and decided to turn their back to her. She was no longer considered to be their friend.

On that day, Patricia arrived back home feeling really sad. Her mom was concerned of her behaviour and asked what was going on. 

— Oh, mom! You have no idea! My colleagues are very angry with me. They don’t want to talk to me anymore! — Patricia said, crying.

— Why is that, dear?

— There was a massive problem at school yesterday, and it was my entire fault — Patricia, with tears in her eyes, told her mom what happened. 

— Oh, my daughter! People who talk too much end up loosing their friendships and creating problems for themselves. Patricia, it is very serious to accuse a classmate of robbery — her mom said, seriously.

— What if it’s true, mom?

— If this is the case, you should first of all talk to the person you think might have made the mistake. Do you know the story of the three wise monkeys? No? The inspiration for most monkey groups comes from a carving above the portico of a 17th century temple in Japan called the Nikko Toshogu Shrine which includes a carving of the three wise guardian monkeys in a representation of a sacred stable.  In Japanese 'don't see, don't hear and don't speak' (loosely known as 'see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil') is translated as 'mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru'. I will show it to you.

Her mom went to look for the picture she had kept with her belongings:

— Please look, Patricia! The three wise monkeys embody the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil". 

The girl thought for a moment and asked:

— Mom, but... If we hear or see something wrong, should we not tell people?

— Well, it depends. If the issue only affects the person who is making the mistake, then it’s her own problem. Therefore if the mistake will cause harm to other innocent people, than we should warn whoever we need to help.

— I got it, mom.

— We should not avoid seeing the mistake or problem, but making comments. We need to remember the true meaning of the word charity as employed by Jesus: "Benevolence for every one, indulgence for the imperfections of others, forgiveness of injuries." It is important for us to see others’ mistakes and avoiding committing the same one.

— Ok, mom but what do I do now?

— Please think. If you were at Fernanda’s shoes, what would you like her to do?

Patricia thought for a moment and said:

— I would have liked her to apologise to me in front of our colleagues.

— Good thinking! Now you know what you need to do tomorrow …

On the following day, Patricia went to school and decided to talk to her classmates. She stood up in front of the entire class and said:

— Fernanda, I have made a mistake yesterday. I accused you of something without knowing if it was true or not. I am so sorry for what happened. I ask you to forgive me. I feel very ashamed, but this will never happen again. I have learned a lesson. I want to have a good relationship with everyone from now onwards. I will never ever gossip again.

Fernanda stoop up and walked towards her colleague. The girl then hugged the other and said:

— Everyone makes mistakes, Patricia. The important part is to maintain our friendship.

Patricia smiled and thanked her friend for such generosity.

— Believe me; I learned my lesson.

Patricia then decided to reproduce with her hands the gestures of the three wise monkeys as if she said: ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’.

                  Aunt Celia

Translation:
Carolina Von Scharten
carolinavonscharten@yahoo.com