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Gabriel was very
happy. He spent
a great
Christmas with
his family and
New Year started
well. His dad
decided to spend
some days in the
beach and they
need to hurry in
order to get
ready to go.
So many things
to sort out! So
many things to
take with!
Clothes, shoes,
mat, parasol,
chairs…
Ah! We can’t
forget the ball,
the roller
blates,
raquetes, cap
and solar
protector! -
Gabriel thought
to himself.
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On the night
before the
agreed day, they
all laid down
early. They left
before the sun
rise. Gabriel
was not able to
sleep on that
night. He was
too anxious as
he wanted to be
on the road as
soon as
possible. After
getting
everything
ready, they left
euphoric and
travelled for
many hours with
no problems on
the way.
Around midday, they were all tired and
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hungry.
Dad
promised
they
would
stop for
lunch at
the
first
restaurant
they
manage
to find.
Suddenly,
they saw
a car
parked
on the
side of
the
road.
They
seemed
to be
having
problems
and
Jorge,
Gabriel’s
dad,
decided
to stop
and see
if they
needed
any
help. |
Robert, his
older brother,
complained:
— Are you going
to stop, dad?
Oh, please don’t
stop! We are
tired and
hungry. Besides
this, we don’t
even know these
people!
Jorge turned
over to his the
son very serious
and said:
— Robert, we
have to be
helpful, my son!
What if we were
having
difficulty on a
deserted road?
Wouldn’t we want
to be helped?
— Of course! —
the boy
answered
unwillingly,
taking a deep
breath.
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Jorge stopped to
help and came
out of the
vehicle, whilst
the family kept
waiting at the
car. He
understands a
bit of
mechanics,
offered to have
a look at the
other vehicle.
Not very long
after, both
families were
talking outside
the cards. Mums
were exchanging
ideas; kids were
playing
together, eating biscuits and
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drinking
water.
They
found
out they
were all
going to
the same
beach. |
Jorge fixed the
car and they all
said good bye,
as if they were
old friends.
Claude hugged
Jorge and said:
— I don’t even
know how to
thank you,
Jorge. If it
wasn’t for you,
I wouldn’t know
what to do. The
nearest city is
far away and
help would take
a long time to
reach us.
— Please don’t
thank me,
Claude. I am
sure you would
do the same for
me.
They restarted
the trip and a
few hours later
arrived at the
destination.
Watching the sea
is always joyful
and they were
all very happy
about it. The
day was really
sunny ad they
were having a
lot of fun.
Claude’s family
was not seen
since; they even
forgot about the
incident at the
road.
One morning, the
beach was full
of people and
parasols.
Gabriel was
playing with a
bucket full of
water when he
saw a crab. He
ran after the
animal but even
though he was
making a big
effort to catch
it, he wasn’t
able to reach
it.
After a while,
he felt tired
and wanted to go
back to his
family, but
wasn’t able to
find them!
He didn’t know
where he was.
He is just a
little boy who
feels
exhausted. He
looked up, and
wasn’t able to
see people’s
faces due to the
brightness of
the sun.
Without knowing
where to go, he
started to cry
and shout:
— Mum! Dad!...
But no one heard
him.
When he was
feeling tired of
crying out, he
heard someone
saying:
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— Hey, little
boy, where are
your parents?
— I don’t know.
I am lost!
Sniff, sniff...
The man looked
at him, and
asked:
— But aren’t you
Gabriel?!...
— Yes, I am.
— Don’t worry! Please stop
crying.
Let’s look for your
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parents.
Do you remember
me?
I am Claude; you
helped on the
way to the
beach, on the
road. Claude
went where a
loudspeaker was
available nearby
and asked them
to let Jorge
know Gabriel was
with him. |
Immediately
afterwards, the
boy’s family
found them. They
were really
relieved, and
his mom hugged
the boy, crying
of happiness.
Jorge, very
surprised,
thanked his
friend Claude.
— Thank God you
found my son. We
were desperate
and didn’t know
where to look
for him. We
don’t even know
how to thank
you!
Claude opened a
big smile and
said:
— Please don’t
thank me, Jorge.
I am sure you
would do the
same for me.
Robert looked at
his dad with
tears in his
eyes:
— Thanks to you
dad, Claude
recognized
Gabriel! Now I
understand you
were right to
stop at the side
of the road to
help those
people. It is
giving that we
receive.
Aunt Celia
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