The Two Cups

On certain occasion, a family had to move to another city because of the head of the house's job. Nine year old Lina did not like it and in the days before the move she would cry and complain, saying:

- I do not want to move! I'm not going to like this new city! Here I have friends at school, in the neighbourhood and we play a lot! I will miss my teacher and all I'm going to leave behind! Please, daddy! Do not do this to me! ...

And her parents, broken hearted, would talk with her daughter saying:
 

	- Sweetie pie, there they are also good people and you'll make new friends! - I don't want to! I'm not going! - flounced the girl, angrily. The mother sighed, full with pity for the daughter
who was suffering so much. But the father replied firmly, hugging her fondly:

- Lina, my daughter, this change will be better for us. I'll have a position of greater responsibility in the company and will earn more, being able to give our family a better life!

A week later, it was moving day. The truck arrived and soon the house was empty. Lina felt her heart ache with sadness.

The new city was beautiful, full of trees and very friendly. The house, bigger than the old one, the school was beautiful and the classroom filled with many students who tried to help Lina with her adaptation. But the girl insisted on not being interested in anything.

When a colleague asked how the city where she had come from was, her eyes would shine and she would say:

- Where I was born was much better than here! There, I had many friends! I walked around a lot and played everyday with my neighbours after school! People were very nice!
 

	- But here too you will make friends. All you need is a little patience to get to know people and let them get to know you! - said Jerry, her classmate and neighbour. - I don't believe it. Especially since I'm not
interested in getting to know anyone! - she replied, unfriendly.

After a few days, Lina began to become increasingly sad, crying all the time. The mother, noticing her daughter's sadness and hugging the girl affectionately asked:

- Lina, what is happening? You come home and go straight to your room, and won't play as before! You were always a happy child! Do you have a problem?

The girl started to cry, and sobbing said:

- It's just that I don't have any friends, mom. Neither at school nor here in the neighbourhood.

- Why? You were always cheerful and made friends easily! ...

- I don't know, mom! - and began to cry even more pitifully.

Concerned, the mother went to school and asked to speak to her teacher, Martha. After the greetings, the teacher asked the anxious mother:

- Did Lina say something to you, Lucy?

- No, Martha. And that's exactly why I came to here. Lina is sad and claims she has no friends, which seems strange. She was always cheerful and made friends easily. Is there something happening that I should know?

- I wanted to talk to you, Lucy. The students complain that Lina does not want to make friends with anyone, rejects this city and values the old one, where she came from. We let it be for a while thinking it would pass, but nothing's changed. Lina's classmates, however, got fed up with her attitude and don't go to her anymore. I've tried everything and I don't know what else to do!... replied the concerned teacher.

- I understand, Martha. Leave it with me. I'll talk to Lina.

Returning home, Lucy called her daughter to lunch. When Lina sat at the table, she was presented with two glasses. In one there was a dark liquid and in the other, milk mixed with something. The girl was surprised. The mother first took the glass with the dark liquid and ordered:
 

The girl tried it and smiled happily:

- Ah! Thank God. It's milk with a little bit of coffee, sweetened, just as I like it. But why did you do this, mom?

- So that you feel the difference between the two cups. Thus are our relationships with people. If we are sour, bitter, they will not like it and move away from us. If we are sweet, friendly, cheerful, they are willing to be with us, be our friends.

The girl, who was very intelligent and smart, understood what her mother was trying to teach her.

- I was very different there where we lived, wasn't I, mom?

- That's true, dear. There, you liked people, gave them your best, and they responded by offering you the best of themselves. That is how we make friends. Changing this situation is up to you, Lina.

- You're right, mom. When we got here, I was upset and did not accept the friendship that my classmates and neighbours offered me. Now I miss it. But I know what I'll do! - Lina said, smiling.

The girl went into the kitchen, put a piece of cake on a plate, covered it with a napkin and ran out the door. Next door, she knocked and when as a boy answered, she said with bright eyes and a beautiful smile:
 

	- Jerry, I brought to you a piece of cake that my mother made. It is delicious! Try it! ... The boy looked up and smiled too, surprised and thanking her kindness, invited:
- Come in, Lina! It looks delicious! I'll try it right now. Later on, would you like to play?

- Yes! It will be great playing with you!

Deep down, getting rid of the bitterness that she had nursed for months, Lina felt happy, knowing that that friendship was the first of many to come.


                                                                  MEIMEI


(Psychographed by Celia Xavier de Camargo on 05.07.2012.)