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Sitting at the
door of her
house with
Claudia, a
friend of hers,
Mariana was
amused to see
people that were
passing by,
making comments
about them.
She said,
laughing:
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— See, Claudia,
that woman over
there. What a
terrible outfit!
Then she said:
— What about
that one? Take a
look at her
hair. She looks
like a witch!
Just the broom
is missing! —
and burst in
laughter.
As she saw a boy
passing in front
of her, she said
loudly, not
caring if she
would be heard:
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— Take a look at
these sneakers!
They’re worn
out! Maybe he
found them in
the garbage can.
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The boy, who
heard Mariana’s
remark, turned
back and looked
at them feeling
humiliated, and,
bending his head
down, kept
walking in
silence.
Claudia,
kind-hearted,
got ashamed by
her friend’s
attitude.
— Mariana, we
need to respect
people. We can’t
treat them like
that. Did you
just see how the
boy got upset?
Mariana replied,
shaking her
shoulders: |
— Who
cares?
I’m glad he
heard that, so
he’ll think
twice before
wearing them
again!
— It’s not his
fault to be
poor, Mariana.
Probably that’s
his best pair of
shoes! Besides,
Jesus taught
that we should
do unto others
as we would have
others do unto
us.
Would you like
to be treated
that way?
Mariana, though,
who was not used
to be contested
by her friend,
complained:
— You’re a fool!
Get over
yourself!
She stood up
angrily and
slammed the
door, leaving
Claudia alone at
the gate.
Her mom, seeing
her that way
inquired:
— That’s so
mean, my
daughter! Why
did you slam the
door like that?
And Mariana, in
a fit of rage,
answered:
— Claudia is so
annoying, mom! I
can’t stand
anymore. I don’t
want to be her
friend again.
Her mom kept
silent, just
inviting her to
have lunch.
The family was
gathered to have
the meal.
Sitting at the
table, Mariana
was still moody:
complained about
her little
brother, that
was not eating
properly; her
grandfather, who
was making
noises to have
soup; the food,
that was not
good; and even
the dog, which
was barking in
the yard.
After the meal,
her mom called
Mariana, sat
with her on the
couch and,
carefully,
asked:
— My daughter,
do you want to
tell me what
made you so
angry?
Calmer, Mariana
told her
everything. Her
mom heard in
silence, while
she remembered
all the times
she had already
talked about it
to her daughter,
and said:
— Your friend
Claudia is
right, my
darling. Start
observing your
behavior and you
will notice that
you just see the
bad side of
things. Now at
lunch time, you
kept on
criticizing your
little brother,
the grandpa, the
food and even
the dog you like
so much. You
said nothing
good!
Her mom stopped
talking;
analyzing the
effect it had on
her daughter,
and went on:
— Don’t you
think you should
change the way
you see life,
trying to look
for the bright
side of people,
situations and
things?
You’ll be
happier, believe
me.
Besides, Jesus
taught that
every man will
receive
according to his
deeds.
You are going to
reap what you
sow. It’s the
Law.
Mariana heard
her mom’s words
and kept
thinking the
rest of the day.
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On that night,
they went to
visit her
grandmother who
lived across the
city. On the way
back, it started
raining and the
wind was strong.
The temperature
fell and, when
they got home,
it was pouring
down.
On the following
day, Mariana
woke up with a
sore throat and
voiceless. As
she saw her mom
in the kitchen
making
breakfast, she
took a piece of
paper and wrote:
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— You were
right. I’m
reaping already!
As she read what
was written, her
mom smiled and
said:
— It is natural
to be like this,
honey.
It was cold
yesterday!
Despite her
mom’s comment,
Mariana was sure
that she was
receiving for
what she had
done. She had
talked too much,
disrespecting
her fellows, and
now she was
voiceless.
— What if I
never talk
again?!... — she
thought, scared.
At that moment,
Mariana took a
decision. She
would change her
way to be,
looking at the
bright side of
everything and
respect people.
She started to
put in practice
her good deeds
as soon as she
left home for
school, making
apologies to
Claudia for what
she had done.
But, calm and
good natured,
her friend had
already
forgotten the
argument.
Happy, looking
up at the sky,
Mariana said:
— What a
beautiful day!
Aunt Célia
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