At school, the
new pupils were
happy. Laura,
the teacher, had
invited them to
go to the
vegetable
garden. They
were going to
work with the
soil and they
really enjoyed
doing this.
Since the class
had a large
number of
students, they
worked in pairs.
Cheerful and
talking, they
walked to the
place,
surrounded by a
large foot of
chayote that
covered the wire
fence.
|
They went
through the
small gate and
immediately saw
the vegetables,
the veggies,
showing that the
soil was good
and produced in
abundance.
Marcelo, who
worked with
Johnny, said to
the teacher:
|
 |
— Aunt Laura,
our vegetable
garden is
beautiful, isn’t
it?
— Yes, Marcelo.
This is because
all the pupils
help, and work
for the little
plants to grow
and develop! And
there are even
pupils, who come
here at
different hours
and days to
water the
vegetable
garden, so that
the plants lack
no water.
— This is why
our vegetable
garden is so
beautiful, Aunt
Laura! It is the
value of
cooperation! –
added Johnny.
Since time was
short, the
teacher told
each pupil to go
on with their
tasks. Thus, the
pupils scattered
among the
vegetable beds,
walking towards
the place where
they had to
work. Carefully,
they began to
remove the dry
leaves,
loosening the
soil and
removing the
little insects
that could
damage the
plants. If they
were fallen and
dry, the other
pupils would go
and fetch water
from the tap.
They fetched it
in a special
container to
water the plant.
 |
Like this, the
children spent
some pleasant
hours at the
vegetable
garden, taking
care of the
plants, cleaning
and watering
them. All of a
sudden, one of
the boys,
Gustav, who
disliked Johnny,
complained:
— Aunt Laura,
Johnny is not
taking care of
his little plant
properly. Look
how dry and
fallen it is.
When Johnny
heard that, he
reacted:
— How come am I
not taking
proper
|
|
care of
my
little
plant?
It is
beautiful!
When we
arrived,
it was a
little
fallen,
because
it was
thirsty!
But
Marcelo,
as soon
as we
arrived,
took
care of
it and
look how
happy
and
beautiful
it is
now! |
— But you needed
help to do so,
didn’t you? And
not even so is
it beautiful!
Johnny then
answered:
— Gustav, as we
always do when
we come here, I
planted it,
Marcelo helped
by watering it,
and God made it
grow! And I do
think it is
beautiful, yes!
Are you going to
complain about
the work of Our
Father?
Gustav bent his
head and left,
ashamed, because
of Johnny’s
answer.
The teacher put
her arms around
Johnny,
embracing him
with love. He
was the youngest
of her pupils,
but he was the
one that made
the greatest
effort to
accomplish his
tasks.
—
Congratulations,
Johnny. You take
care of your
little plant
very well. You
will be great
when you grow
and have your
own space to
plant what you
want.
— I am already
taking care of
that, Aunt
Laura. I have
improved our
yard and
prepared the
soil, removing
stones, and
loosening the
soil. I am
preparing two
vegetable beds
and soon I shall
begin planting.
Do you know,
Aunt Laura, we
need vegetables
and fruit. We
are very poor
and to have our
own source of
vegetables will
be great for us.
Mommy is happy
with me and I am
happy to help
her and my
little brothers.
Touched, the
teacher embraced
her pupil:
— If you need
something, do
not be shy,
Johnny. You can
call me whenever
you need my
help! I will be
at your
disposal.
MEIMEI
(Message
received on
03/07/2016 by
Celia X. de
Camargo.)
