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At Octavo’s
school a party
was being
organised. The
students were so
happy preparing
for it. Some
were getting the
colourful
balloons hanging
on the walls;
others were
cleaning the
floor, desks and
chairs.
Sweet and sour
pies were being
prepared in the
kitchen for the
party. They were
all working with
love whilst they
talked and had
fun.
Octavo was
the only
one who
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didn’t
want to
help
around. |
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The teacher was
very kind and
asked him many
times to help,
but he refused
all the time.
At one point,
the teacher
demanded:
— Since you
don’t want to
help organizing
the part, just
like the others,
you will have
another task.
You will need to
give me a
composition
about the life
of ants.
— Teacher,
that’s not fair!
— He complained.
— Why do I need
to do it?
— Octavo, it’s
not fair for you
to be sitting
around without
helping your
colleagues. They
are all making
something
meaningful for
the group,
whereas you
don’t want to
help.
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She then paused
and said:
— You must start
now; otherwise
it won’t be
ready for
tomorrow.
— But how am I
going to do it?
I don’t even
know where to
start! — He then
said.
— Very simple:
just watch the
ants in the
garden!
Octavo sighed
and went to the
school garden.
He then thought:
Oh, no! Where am
I going to find
ants?
He then saw an
ant walking
quickly between
his feet. He
then followed
her and soon
realised there
weretwo other
ants following
the previous
ant, through the
same path.
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He then saw an
ant carrying a
piece of bread
which was
several times
bigger than her.
He then smiled
and thought: —
where is she
going with that
piece of
bread?
He looked around
and found not
far from him a
piece of
sandwich which
was thrown on
the floor. He
saw lots of ants
working
together. Some
would cut the
sandwich in tiny
pieces and
others would
carry it.
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When the piece
would be too
heavy for them
to
carry,
they
would
work
together
and join
strengths
to carry
it.
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Octavo decided
to follow the
path they were
going, and saw
they were going
to an anthill.
They would leave
the piece there
and get back to
work.
— How
interesting!
—Octavo said. He
was so impressed
by the
cooperation and
union he saw
among the
working ants. —
They are so tiny
and so hard
workers!
At that time, he
remembered the
party. He got up
ashamed because
he was not
helping his
friends. He
looked for the
teacher and
apologised. He
asked her if he
could help
somehow.
She smiled and
asked:
— Very well, but
what has made
you change your
mind, Octavo?
— The working
ants you asked
me to research.
They live
together in a
fraternal and
friendly way. If
they can work
together, I also
can do it.
He stopped
talking, looked
at the teacher
and said:
— If I help, I
won’t have much
time to finish
the composition
about the life
of ants. Do I
really need to
hand it in
tomorrow
morning?
She then smiled,
put her hand on
his head and
said, kindly:
— No, Octavo.
There is no need
for you to hand
it in. You
already learned
your lesson.
Aunt Celia
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