Theme: Overcoming

Arthur's solution

Arthur came home from school. He carried his bag and was hungry, because it was lunch time. Arthur was no longer a child, so his parents let him come walking alone, because the school was not far away.

The doorbell rang but no one answered. Usually it was his mother who opened the door every day. He insisted on a few more times but got no answer. The house was protected by an iron fence and a gate. His two dogs were in the garden in front of the house. They approached and Arthur patted them through the railing.

- Where is Mom? Do you know? - He said jokingly, as if the dogs could answer.

Arthur began searching for his keychain in his backpack. His parents had made a copy of the house keys for him and recommended that he always carry them with him. But since he rarely used them, he didn't worry about that much. He didn’t find them. He may have kept it somewhere else.

Arthur began to get nervous. He wanted to be mad at his mother, thinking she should be there. He sat under the large tree in front of his house.

- How long will I have to wait here? Where did my mother go? I'm going to starve soon! What a boring thing! – He complained.

The boy sat there for a while. Every person approaching, Arthur watched, wondering if it was his mother. But it was not.

After a while Arthur's irritation gave way to other thoughts. He began to worry about his mother. There could have been a problem.

When Arthur got calmer, recalled that his mother always said that God allows us to have difficulties so then we have opportunities to overcome, learn and develop new skills. “When a problem comes up, Arthur, it's no use complaining. You have to focus on seeing what you can do best to overcome or solve that situation” she told him.

Arthur stood up, encouraged. Watching the tree, he saw that one of its branches hung beyond the gate grate.

Determined, he threw his backpack over the railing and with effort climbed the tree. He grasped his arms and legs on the branch and hung until he passed the railing. He let go of his legs, hung up with his arms outstretched and jumped down onto the grass in the garden.

Satisfied, Arthur smiled with contentment. His dogs again came to meet him, wagging their tails.

- Did you see how it is done? – Arthur joked cheerfully.

Then the boy went to the door. But, as he had expected, it was locked. Arthur came around the house and tried to enter through the back door, which opened onto the kitchen. But it was locked too.

But Arthur was not discouraged. He was so glad that he had managed to get over the railing, the tree branch, that he kept looking for a way into the house.

He forced a little the kitchen window and managed to open it. From there, Arthur could see the door key on the table.

In the utility room closet, Arthur grabbed a broom and a piece of wire. He tied it tightly to the end of the cable, making a hook.

The boy put the handle of the broom through the window opening and, after several attempts, managed to grab the key and open the door.

Arthur fetched his backpack from the garden and finally went home. He opened the fridge, took food, warmed it, fried some eggs and had lunch.

Shortly thereafter, his mother arrived. She came hurriedly, imagining finding her son on the sidewalk waiting for her. She was surprised to find him at home, fed and quiet, watching television.

- Wow, Arthur! That’s good, son! I thought you might be without your keys. Good thing you got in - she said.

- Actually, I didn't have the keys but I managed - said Arthur, feeling victorious.

In brief words he told how he had solved the situation.

His mother realized that, far from being upset, Arthur was proud of the steps taken.

The son, also wanting to understand what had happened, asked:

- But what happened, Mom? Why did you leave? I was worried.

The mother then explained:

- Aunt Nina called anxiously, asking me for help, because your cousin Mariana was not feeling well and even fainted. I left the house in a hurry to help her and didn't even have time to leave you a note. We took Mariana to the emergency room. The doctor said she was very weak from a virus and a bit of anemia. She had to take medicine at the hospital but now with the right medications and treatment, she'll be fine soon.

- Probably Mariana will seek to eat better and take better care of her health now. - said Arthur -After all, difficulties always bring us learning, don't you, Mom?

The mother smiled, understanding that her son was imitating her words and replied:

- Sure, honey!

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com