Gustavo, a boy
from a wealthy
family, was very
proud. He lived
in a large and
beautiful house,
where he lacked
nothing.
Anything he
wished his
father would
give him.
As it would be
expected,
because of his
life style,
Gustavo was also
quite selfish.
He never shared
anything with
anyone.
One day, Gustavo
went out and
with his hand in
his pocket he
could feel, full
of satisfaction,
the money his
father had given
him to buy
whatever he
wanted.
The proud boy
began to walk
the streets
looking at all
that he could
buy with the
money in his
pocket. He
looked at the
windows of
clothes, shoes,
toys, but
nothing
interested him.
 |
He walked around
a lot under the
strong summer
sun until he
felt tired.
After a while,
he decided to
stop to rest.
First, however,
he saw an ice
cream shop and
bought an ice
cream. Then he
sat on a bench
in front of the
ice cream
parlour.
He had barely
sat in the shade
yearning to
start enjoying
his tasty ice
cream when a
ragged boy sat
on the same
bench.
Aggravated by
the presence of
the boy who wore
old and dirty
clothes as well
as looked hungry,
Gustavo turned
the other way,
pretending not
to have seen him.
But the boy was
looking at the
ice cream that
Gustavo had in
his hand and
|
|
said with a
smile: |
- What a
beautiful ice
cream! It must
be delicious!
Ah! How I'd like
to try it!...
Hearing the
boy's words,
Gustavo raised
his head even
further and
arrogantly said:
- But my ice
cream you will
not have! This
was just what I
needed! Me
having to give
you a little of
my delicious ice
cream! Get out
of here, kid!...
But the poor boy
replied:
- How can
someone like you
who has good
clothes,
expensive shoes
and must have
everything, be
so selfish? If I
had what you
have, I would
help those who
have nothing!...
Listening to the
boy, Gustavo
flushed with
anger and did
not know whether
he answered or
finished the ice
cream, which
began to melt in
his hand. Then
he answered:
- Yes, I am rich!
So what? I can
buy anything I
want! Even this
ice cream! But
it is mine and I
will not share
it with anyone,
let alone with
an ill-mannered
boy like you, do
you understand?
|
Seeing Gustavo
angry, he smiled
to see that the
ice cream had
already ran down
his arm, and
suggested:
- I think you
should have your
ice cream soon,
otherwise you
will miss your
chance. Look! It
is melting fast!
- It's your
fault, you
cheeky boy. If
you had left me
alone to have my
ice cream, this
would not have
happened!
|
 |
|
The boy replied
humorously: |
|
- It's true! But
if you had given
me a little when
I asked, you
would not have
wasted your ice
cream. See?
Being selfish,
you wasted your
delicious ice
cream!
Gustavo looked
sadly at the
melted ice cream
in his hand.
Then he turned
to the boy as he
was also
desolated
watching it, and
who then said:
- I'm sorry.
When I saw you
so well dressed,
clean, smelling
good, proud and
with a delicious
ice cream in
your hand, I
could not resist
the urge to mess
with you. I'm
sorry. Now
neither you nor
I can have the
ice cream, which
has already ran
down your whole
outfit!
The boy's
expression was
both touching
and funny at the
same time.
Gustavo started
laughing. After
a while the two
were laughing a
lot.
Then Gustavo
said:
- You're right.
I was really
very selfish.
What's your name?
- Johnny. And
you?
 |
- Gustavo. You
know what I'm
going to do?
Come with me! I'll
buy two ice
creams, one for
me and one for
you!
- Really,
Gustavo?
- Of course! As
you said, I have
money!
- Ah! And can I
choose the
flavour?
- Of course you
can.
|
- Ah! So I would
like chocolate
and strawberry!
I always thought
those might be
the best
flavours, but I
could never
afford ice
cream. So today
I will try them!
After ordering
the ice creams,
they sat on a
bench and tasted
those delights,
laughing and
talking as
friends. When
they finished
having their ice
creams, Johnny
put his hand on
his belly, and
breathing deeply
with a satisfied
expression,
said:
- Ah! That ice
cream was
delicious! Thank
you, Gustavo,
for your
generosity.
When he got
home, Gustavo
told his parents
what had
happened and how
he had been
embarrassed
before the boy,
with the melted
ice cream in his
hands. And with
a beautiful
smile, he
promised:
- God has given
us so much, isn't
it, Dad? Why can't
we share some of
the much we have
with those who
have less than
us? I felt such
satisfaction
seeing Johnny's
joy that my
heart swelled in
my chest! I
never want to be
proud and
selfish with
anyone again!...
I think Jesus is
pleased with me!
His father
nodded,
satisfied:
- Without a
doubt, my son.
The fact that we
have money does
not mean that we
should consider
ourselves better
than other
people, because
we are all
brothers and
children of God,
our Father!
From that day on,
Gustavo never
forgot that
pride and
selfishness
bring us nothing
good, keep us
away from people
and prevent us
from making
friends. And
throughout his
life, he never
forgot that
lesson taught to
him by a street
kid.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
13/04/2015.)
