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Sylvia lived in
a comfortable
house, had
loving parents,
attended a good
school and had
everything.
Only child, she
was used to see
all her demands
met, and never
took “no” as an
answer.
As the years
passed by,
Sylvia’s parents
realized how
much they made
of a mistake
about her
education. They
understood that
they had
transformed the
girl, now 8,
into a selfish,
arrogant,
unsatisfied,
proud and
demanding
creature.
Whenever they
said no, she
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would make a
scene,
screaming at
the top of
her lungs. |
After being
through
countless
bloopers,
Sylvia’s parents
decided it was
time for a
change, before
it got too late.
What could be
cute in a
two-year old kid
was unacceptable
in an eight-year
old girl.
As they wanted
to give her a
reality check,
one day her
mother said:
— Come on, my
daughter. We are
going out.
— Sweet! Let’s
go shopping? I
really need a
lot of things! I
want to buy some
blouses, three
pairs of jeans,
some shoes and
also toys. I’m
tired of the
ones I have.
They are old and
useless! — the
girl said,
giving a
grimace.
Her mom said
calmly:
— We are not
going shopping,
Sylvia.
— Oh! No? So
where are we
going, can you
tell me?
— We are going
to make a visit.
— I don’t want
any visits! I
want to do
shopping! — the
kid replied,
moody.
Still calm, her
mom insisted:
— First the
visit. Later, if
you behave,
let’s see!
Without further
explanations,
Yolinda grabbed
his daughter by
the hand and
took her to the
car. With a bad
face, the girl
looked through
the window.
The car left the
busy avenues,
heading to the
outskirts of the
city. Where were
they going?
—Sylvia thought.
They parked in a
very poor
street. The
houses were
ugly, the people
dirty and
badly-dressed.
On the streets,
there was
neither asphalt
nor sidewalk.
Kids were
playing on the
earth, amongst
puddles of
smelly mud.
Sylvia was
disgusted. What
an awful place!
Her mom looked
calm. She walked
peacefully,
greeting others
with a friendly
smile. In front
of a house, she
stopped. Knocked
on the door and
someone came to
open it. It was
a woman with a
badly combed
hair, dirty face
and hand-mended
clothes.
— Good morning,
Maria. We
stopped by for a
visit.
The woman got
happy as she
heard the news.
— Yolinda! Nice
to have you
here! Come in!
Come in!
Sylvia found it
weird. She never
thought her
mother kept
relationship
with “them”.
They came in.
The house was
really small. In
the living room,
which was also a
bedroom, Sylvia
saw a bed.
She came up to
it, curious.
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A girl, who
looked her age,
was in bed.
— Is she sick? —
she asked,
surprised.
— Marcia, when
was a baby, got
very sick. From
that time on,
she hasn’t been
able to get out
of this bed.
She doesn’t walk,
speak, see...
She can only
hear. I still
have to feed
her. She can’t
go to the
bathroom, so I
always need new
clothes. Right
now, she’s wet
already. I need
to change her.
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Sylvia kept
looking at that
girl who was
lying, and could
not get out of
there, to play,
go to school nor
hang out. Her
eyes were
watering and she
felt her heart
full of
compassion.
At this moment,
her mom said:
— Maria, I
brought food,
milk and
cookies; to
Marcia, clothes
and shoes.
Besides, take
this money.
It’s not much,
but I think it
will be enough
to pay the water
bill, the light
and gas. If you
need anything
else, let me
know. I know you
are alone and
can’t work
because you have
to take care of
Marcia.
The poor woman
could not be
happier. With
tears in her
eyes she
thanked,
pleased:
— Yolinda, it
was Jesus who
sent you here.
May God bless
you! You will
always have
enough for you
and your
daughter.
They said good
bye. Got in the
car, and started
the way back.
When they
arrived
downtown,
Yolinda asked:
— Do you want to
go shopping now,
my daughter?
Sylvia sighed
and shook her
head:
— No, mom. I
think I don’t
need anything.
In fact, I have
too much.
The rest of the
trip the girl
remained silent.
Later, Sylvia
called her mom
in the room.
There were two
boxes on the
floor, full of
clothes, shoes
and toys. With a
broad smile,
Sylvia asked:
— What about
taking all these
things to
Marcia, mom?
After all, I
don’t need them.
I’m sure that,
there, it will
be more useful.
I’d like to give
her some books
too. As she can
hear, I intend
to read to her.
Yolinda hugged
her daughter
carefully. The
lesson was well
taken. Now she
was sure that
Sylvia would
never be selfish
and demanding
anymore.
— You’re right,
sweetheart.
Today we are
going to take
all these things
to Marcia.
She’ll love it!
Aunt Célia
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