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In a certain
street there
were several
boys living
there. One of
them was Walker,
a ten year old
boy. He was the
most active,
intelligent and
naughty boy in
the
neighbourhood.
Walker was a
leader. He used
his abilities to
challenge his
friends and
humiliate them.
He was always
making up bad
jokes and
creating
competitions
amongst them.
From these
competitions, he
always managed
to be the one
who won them.
Everyone feared
for him, since
he always tried
to harm others
with his words.
He also had an
answer for
everything.
One day when
Walker came back
from school, ne
noticed that he
had new
neighbours. One
of the houses
used to be empty
before, but
there were
people living
there now.
On the following
days he got to
know his new
neighbour called
César.
He began to
study at the
local school and
started to
attend the same
classes as
Walker does.
They were of the
same age but
Cesar was much
bigger than him.
Cesar looked
like he was
twelve years old
or more.
In the beginning
Water tried to
humiliate him in
front of the
other colleague.
He would call
him Big Giant
which made the
classroom burst
with laughs.
Therefore, Cesar
smiled to him
and didn’t try
to put up a
fight as Walker
was expecting.
This reaction
made Water feel
very intrigued
and irritated.
He then began to
bully his new
colleague but
Cesar would
never react.
Cesar was a very
pleasant boy to
be around. He
soon began to
gain his
colleagues’
respect and
friendship.
He was always
willing to help
others.
Walker
challenged Cesar
when they first
played football:
— Right, Big
Giant!
Let’s see if you
can run being
that heavy? — He
shouted out
loud.
— Let’s see! I
will do what I
can, Walker! —
he answered.
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The game started
and Cesar was
soon able to
show to the
entire team he
was able to play
really well. He
even scored a
beautiful goal,
which made his
colleague feel
desperate as he
wasn’t expecting
that.
Time went by and
Big Giant was
now friends with
everyone. All
colleagues
called him by
his nickname in
a kindly manner.
Walker suddenly
realised his
friends would no
longer call for him.
They
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didn’t
pay
attention
to him
when he
came
looking
for
them.
He began to feel
concerned about
it. What was
going on?
He has always
been the leader,
but now his
friends seemed
to be avoiding
him. They seem
to prefer
hanging out with
Big Giant? |
Walker began to
feel very angry
with his
colleague. He
then thought of
a plan to make
Big Giant look
bad in front of
his colleagues.
He got home,
threw his bad on
the floor and
sat on the
couch. His mom
was already
getting
concerned about
him for several
days.
She came closer
to him and said:
— My son, I feel
you are not well.
What happened?
He told his mom
what was going
on in tears.
He then asked:
— Why has
everything
changed in my
life, mom?
My friends don’t
seem to care for
me anymore.
They only care
for Big Giant!
She pondered for
a moment and
replied:
— My son, you
are the only one
who might know
what is going on.
I know we will
reap what we sow.
Think about the
way you treated
your colleagues
and the way Big
Giant treats
them. We always
receive for what
we do to others.
Walker began to
think of the way
he treated his
colleagues... He
began to compare
himself against
the way Big
Giant behaved.
He could see
they reacted in
different ways.
He sat down at
the school bench
and thought
about everything
his mom said...
Someone, out of
a sudden, sat
next to him. He
looked at this
person and
realised it was
Big Giant. What
a surprise! He
felt like
exploding with
anger! He began
to think of
several things
to say to him.
Walker wanted to
offend Cesar so
badly he wasn’t
even thinking
straight. Big
Giant looked at
him and said:
— Are you ok,
Walker? I saw
you from
distance and
realised you are
not well. I felt
worried about
you since I like
you so much.
Walker looked at
him. He couldn’t
believe what he
was hearing! The
other boy then
said:
— You were the
first friend I
met in this town.
I would like to
thank you for
everything you
have done for me
since I got here.
Our colleagues
are finding it
strange that you
are now avoiding
them for no
reason!
Walker looked at
him carefully.
He wanted to
find out if he
lying, but he
wasn’t! That was
the way he
behaved with
everyone all the
time. Bit Giant
talked to
everyone with
kindness.
Walker then
understood that
everything that
happened
throughout that
time was not due
to Big Giant,
but because of
his behaviour.
His mom was
right. He was
the one who was
behaving in a
bad way towards
everyone.
Walker took a
deep breath and
said:
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— Big Giant, I
would like to
apologise for
the way I
treated you. I
know understand
you are
different from
me.
— Why do you
want to
apologise? You
never hurt me!
You have a funny
way of treating
people and
joking around
but I never felt
like you
offended me.
— So, are we
friends?
— Yes, of
course! Would
you like to have
lunch with me,
Walker? My mom
will love to
meet you. I
always talk
about you.
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— Yes, sure! I
need to go home
first and let my
mom know. I am
sure she will
love to meet you
too!...
They then walked
side by side, as
old friends do.
Walker felt
relieved. He now
understand that
his behaviour
cause that
situation.
On the following
day, he came
closer to his
friends and
began to treat
them nicely. He
stopped with all
bad jokes he
used to do.
— Are you
feeling ill,
Walker? — one of
them asked.
The boy smiled
and said:
— No, I am
feeling great.
In fact, I would
like to
apologise for
the way I
treated you in
the past.
His colleagues
felt strange, as
they thought
this was just
another joke but
understood that
Walker really
changed for good.
They were now
becoming good
friends.
From this day
onwards,
friendship and
fraternity began
to exist amongst
them, for
everyone’s joy...
Meimei
(Received by
Célia X. de
Camargo on 13th
September 2010.)
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