On a sunny
morning, Sofia
and Peter, both
seven years-old,
were playing in
the backyard.
 |
They got tired
of their game
and decided to
ride their bikes
in the small
sidewalk around
the house.
Joyfully, they
rode in opposite
directions and
shouted as the
passed each
other because as
the sidewalk was
narrow, they ran
the risk of
bumping into
each other.
Sofia's mother,
hearing the
shouts
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 |
|
and
laughter,
stopped
her
chores
and went
out to
see what
they
were
doing.
As she
saw
their
“game”,
she
ordered: |
- Slow down. It
is dangerous and
you might get
seriously hurt!
But the
children,
enjoying the
risk they ran,
did not want to
stop. Sofia
complained:
- Oh, Mom! It's
so nice this
way! Let us
continue,
please!
Peter added:
- We promise to
be careful.
On that request,
the mother
agreed:
- It's OK. As
long as you
don't go too
fast.
The children
agreed and kept
on playing. At
first, they
cycled more
slowly but then
gradually
increased the
speed.
Suddenly,
Sophie's mother
heard a noise
accompanied of
cries and ran.
At one point,
when passing
each other,
Peter lost his
balance while
looking at
Sofia, his bike
hit hers and
they left the
sidewalk, both
falling on the
cement floor
that surrounded
the house.
Sofia screamed.
Her mother ran
as she heard the
noise, and found
her child lying
on the ground
with a bloody
forehead. She
examined her and
saw that the cut
was huge.
- Honey! What
happened?
- We bumped,
Aunt Lucia and
Sofia fell -
explained the
little boy,
crying with
repentance.
But her mother,
worried,
examined the
wound then took
her daughter in
her arms and
carried her to
the nearest
hospital.
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The girl was
attended by a
doctor who,
after examining
her, gave her a
few stitches and
then wrote a
prescription
with the
necessary
medication.
- For a few
days, Dona1 Lucia,
Sofia should
take this
medication and
stay in bed. No
playing around,
do you hear me,
Sofia? -
instructed the
doctor.
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 |
- All right,
doctor. But may
I play with my
friend Peter?
- Yes. As long
as it is indoors
and without much
movement. Watch
TV, read or play
board games.
You've got
stitches on your
forehead and if
you fall again
you might
complicate your
situation.
Understood?
- Got it. Thank
you, Doctor.
They left the
hospital and her
mother went into
a pharmacy and
bought the
remedies. Then
they went home,
where Sophie
laid down
because the
medication made
her sleepy.
Peter, who was
their neighbour,
went home.
The next few
days were
difficult for
Sofia, who was
used to go to
school and play
with her
friends. When
Peter showed up
all cheerful,
Sofia got upset.
Deep down, she
would like him
to suffer too,
be in pain as
she was. After
all, both were
playing that day
but only she got
hurt. It was not
fair!
Her mother
entered the room
bringing her the
remedy and a
snack, and found
Sofia frowning,
as if angry. She
asked:
- Did something
happen, honey?
Are you in pain?
And Sofia, after
a little
thought, said:
- No, Mom. But
if Peter was
playing with me,
why am I the
only one who
needs to take
medicine? He
also fell!
Her mother
smiled, sat up
in bed with her
and said:
- Sofia,
darling, Peter
likes you very
much. But he did
not get hurt!
Answer me one
thing: When
you're hungry,
should he eat
instead of you?
- Of course not,
Mom!
- If you're
cold, is it he
who should wear
a sweater?
- What a silly
question, Mom!
Of course
not!...
The kind mother
hugged her
daughter and
added:
- Sofia, do you
understand that
there are things
that only we
ourselves can do
for our benefit?
However much he
likes you, Pedro
will not take
the medicine,
eat or dress
warmly for you.
Your little
friend is sad to
see you with a
bandage on your
forehead and
scratches on
your arm, but
all he can do is
give you his
affection and
friendship. That
is why he
arrives with a
smile, which is
a gift for you.
Do you
understand it,
honey?
Sofia nodded
showing that she
understood and
smiled:
- Yes, Mom. But
deep down I
would like him
to suffer a bit
too.
- Peter is
suffering,
Sofia. It is
just that his
suffering is not
in the body but
the soul.
Right then the
boy showed up.
- Hi, Sofia! Are
you better
today?
- Much better,
Peter, because
you arrived!
Her mother
hugged them both
and left the
room so they
could talk.
But she still
managed to hear
her daughter
say:
- Mom brought me
a snack, Peter.
Let's share it.
It is enough for
us both!
Satisfied, Lucia
returned to her
duties glad to
see that her
daughter was
learning to
share what was
hers, and
understanding
that friends
show their
friendship when
they try to make
us smile in
difficult times.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
06/07/2015.)
1 In
Brazilian
society, Dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman's first
name.
