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Pheeweee! ...
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Hearing the
train whistle
approaching,
Tony ran from
the house. He
lived in a farm
and felt true
passion for
trains passing
through there.
Whenever he
heard the noise
of the train, he
would run out to
see it. He did
not like to
study and
sometimes even
stopped going to
school to watch
the train.
Tony admired the
people he saw in
the
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little
windows
and
waved
smiling
at him
as the
train
went
fast. He
had a
dream:
to
travel
by
train. |
On that day,
Tony ran when he
heard the
whistle.
However,
surprised, he
noticed that the
train speed
decreased
further to a
stop just before
a curve.
- What might
have happened? -
thought the boy.
With his heart
pounding, Tony
went there.
Getting closer,
he felt the full
force of the
train. It was
much larger than
he imagined! …
The driver, in
uniform and cap,
was walking on
the tracks,
looking for
something. Tony
went to him and
said:
- Can I help
you, sir?
The man looked
up and saw him.
- Ah! You're
that kid I
always see when
I drive past
here!
- It's true. I
love trains -
the boy replied.
- What is your
name?
- Anthony, but
everyone calls
me Tony, sir.
- Nice to meet
you, Tony. I'm
George. I always
pass through
this region and
I think it is
beautiful! Ah …
I would be very
happy if I lived
here. I love the
green plants,
fresh air, blue
skies and peace
of the
countryside. But
I have to live
in the big city,
where you never
see the sky.
Only
pollution!...
Tony was
surprised to
hear those
words. The
driver
continued:
- When passing
by here
yesterday, I
lost a tool. I
looked inside
the cabin but
could not find
it. I think,
then, that it
must have fallen
through the
window.
- Do not worry,
George. I'll
help you find it
- Tony said
helpfully.
After a few
minutes
searching the
rail road, the
driver looked at
the clock:
- Unfortunately,
Tony, I need to
go. I have a
scheduled time
to reach the
next station and
I can not delay.
It's sad,
because the tool
belongs to the
company. If I do
not find it,
I'll have to buy
another, and I
gain so little
money.
Tony was
surprised.
Seeing it from
afar, he thought
George was
happy, rich and
carefree,
because in his
way of
understanding,
the driver would
get a lot of
money to work
and ride the
train all the
time with that
lovely uniform.
Feeling sorry in
the face of his
situation, Tony
reassured him:
- George, do not
fret. It will
appear. Trust
God.
They parted.
Soon the whistle
warned that the
locomotive was
leaving. The
large train
wheels were put
in motion and
the train left,
panting.
Tony continued
looking for the
tool. He
examined under
each plant,
close to each
stone. Then, he
found it. It had
fallen into a
hole, half
hidden by
bushes.
The boy went
home and told
his parents
about that
afternoon's
adventure.
The next
morning, after
school, he
anxiously
awaited the
train.
Pheeweee… Upon
hearing the
whistle, Tony
ran with the
tool in his
hand. George saw
it and, with a
broad smile,
slowed down
until it stopped
completely. He
got off the
trainpleased.
- You found it,
Tony! Thanks!
I'm so relieved!
They embraced.
George said he
wanted to visit
Tony's house and
explained:
- I have time,
because I have a
freight train
and at this time
there are no
other trains
passing by here.
Tony took George
to his house,
which was close
by, and
introduced him
to his mother.
- Madam, your
son helped me
and I would like
to return the
favour by making
his dream come
true. I will
take him to ride
the train. I'm
going to the
next station,
then
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I will
come
back
with a
passenger
train.
Soon I
will
bring
him
back, if
you
allow
it!... |
Because of that
surprise his new
friend made him,
the boy glanced
pleadingly at
his mother, who
nodded.
Overjoyed and
with his heart
was pounding,
Tony went with
George to the
train. At the
driver's cabin
he waved at his
mother, smiling.
It was an
amazing trip!
Amazed, Tony now
saw the world
pass by from
inside the
cabin: the
landscapes,
plantations,
farmers working
the animals in
the pasture...
At dusk, he was
back home all
satisfied. At
dinner, he told
his father the
day's adventure.
- What did you
feel when riding
a train, my son?
- I was
fulfilled, Dad!
And I
understood, too,
how I was
mistaken. Seeing
the driver pass
in the huge
train, I thought
he was very
happy as I
thought I was
unfortunate to
live in this
place, to be
required to
study and work
the land.
However, George
told me about
his problems,
that his wife is
ill and his
children have no
one to stay
with. He also
said that by not
having studied,
it had been
difficult to get
that job.
The father, who
was more
experienced,
considered:
- My son,
appearances are
deceptive. I
also, at times,
had the dream of
living in the
big city and be
happy. However,
being
illiterate, I
could not get
good work and I
was so poor that
I decided to
come back to the
countryside,
where I have
always had work
and we live in
peace. And God
helped us so
much that now we
have this farm
and live well!
Tony had never
heard the father
talk about the
past and could
now understand
it better.
- You are right.
I learned a lot
today talking to
people on the
train. Sitting
beside them whom
I thought happy,
I realized that
they also suffer
and have
problems like
us.
The boy was
thoughtfully
silent for a
moment, then
concluded:
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- I see another
very important
thing, Dad. It
is not the place
where we are
that makes us
happy or
unhappy, but how
we feel about it
- said Tony.
He said that he
felt the desire
to help all
people on the
train but did
not know how to
do it, and
acknowledged
that his parents
were right. He
needed to study
and learn, to be
somebody in
life.
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And
then, he
would be
able to
help
others
and feel
happier. |
- Yes, my son -
said the mother
moved. - So
let's thank God
for all the
blessings He has
given us: life,
health, peace,
and especially
the love of our
family.
Meimei
(Psychographed
by Celia Xavier
de Camargo, on
04/10/2010.)
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