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The day was
bright and
sunny.
The
neighbourhood
was quiet,
almost
motionless, and
the children
used to play
with their
neighbours on
the street.
That day, Tom,
which was six
years old,
invited his
friends to play
ball in the
street. They
were very into
the game, when
the weather
began to change.
Heavy clouds
were looming on
the horizon,
moving
constantly,
until the sun
disappeared.
Everything went
black. It seemed
night!
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Before long,
thick raindrops
began to fall.
Lightning
streaked across
the sky,
followed by
deafening
thunder. The
boys looked for
shelter under
Tom's porch,
waiting for the
rain to stop so
they could
resume their
game.
Meanwhile, they
were talking,
exchanging ideas
about school
when they began
arguing.
It was
common
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that it
would
happen,
because
Tom, who
was very
proud,
loved to
show he
was
better
than the
others,
thinking
he was
the
smartest,
most
intelligent
and most
capable. |
Half an hour
later the rain
had stopped and
the boys were
preparing to
return to the
game, even with
the wet street
when they began
to hear a
different noise,
as if rocks were
falling on the
roof. They soon
realized the
reason.
They actually
were. There were
chunks of ice
hitting the roof
and falling on
the ground. The
boys had never
seen a hailstorm
and were
surprised. They
forgot about the
recent
misunderstanding
and were
delighted with
the event.
When it stopped
raining stones,
they ran to the
middle of the
street picking
them up and
noticing that
they were indeed
ice. They put
them in their
mouths, then
they began to
play, throwing
them at each
other, and
decided to see
who could
collect and eat
the most hail
stones. And then
they counted:
One! Two!Three!
Go!!
Tom, always
judging himself
the cleverest of
the gang,
decided to act
differently. He
took the stones
and kept them in
his pocket.
Soon the sun
started shinning
and the day was
beautiful again.
Even more
beautiful now
because
everything was
clean and
bright, air,
plants,
side-walks,
everything.
When the boys
saw, with
sorrow, that the
rocks were
melting in the
street, Tom
puffed out his
chest and
decided to show
the others that
he was the
smartest:
- See how silly
you are? I was
the only one
keeping the
stones! ...
Then, reaching
his hands into
his trouser
pockets, he
tried to grab
the stones that
he had put away
so carefully to
show his
friends, but
found nothing.
Surprised and
disappointed
because he had
saved the stones
very well, Tom
realized that he
just got water
on his hands.
He withdrew his
wet hands from
his pockets and
tilting his
head, he looked
at himself and
saw that his
trousers were
also wet. The
others did not
contain their
laughter,
pleased to see
Tom humiliated,
because he
always wanted to
be more than the
others.
The boy remained
with his head
down, upset.
However, his
best friend,
Philip, pitiful
to see him in
that situation,
approached and
said:
- Do not be sad,
Tom. We have all
made mistakes
too. Everyone
makes mistakes!
Every day we
learn a little
more. I have
learned from my
mother that
Jesus taught us
to always do
unto others as
we want others
to do unto us.
This way you
can't go wrong.
Tom looked at
his friend who
had been so
generous with
him, and thought
that if the fact
had happened to
any of the
others, he would
not have missed
the opportunity
to ridicule
them. Then he
gave Philip a
hug.
- You are quite
right. Thanks,
Philip.
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Then Tom thought
for a moment,
and looking at
every one of his
friends, said: |
- Just now I
realized how
annoying I've
been with you. I
apologize for
all the times
that I have hurt
your feelings.
Can you forgive
me?
The others
exchanged
glances of
understanding,
then ran to
embrace him.
- Tom, we're
friends, right?
Tom agreed with
a smile of
relief and
catching the
ball, invited:
- It's true. So
let's continue
the game?
Meimei
(Text based on
real life facts.
Received by
Celia X. Camacho
on 21/03/2011.)
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