As he walked
down the street,
Leo, a nine
year-old boy,
saw a man who
looked very sick.
He was on the
porch of a house
sunbathing. He
was very thin
and was crumpled
under a blanket
that warmed him
from the cold
and the wind.
The boy felt
pity when he
noticed his sad
eyes and, as he
walked by, waved
his hand to
greet him:
- Good morning,
sir! How are you?
The old man
seemed surprised
with the boy's
greeting and his
interested eyes
widened:
- Good morning,
boy! What's your
name? I'm Nile!
Come talk to me!
I'm so lonely!...
Leo remembered
that he needed
to buy a few
things for his
mother but
thought it was
still early. So
he stopped and
opened the gate
to the old man's
house and
entered:
|
 |
- My
name is
Leo,
sir. Are
you okay?
The old
man took
a deep
breath
and
murmured:
- I’m
very
sick,
boy.
Soon I
will not
be here
anymore.
I have
accumulated
so many
things,
so many
possessions!...
What
good are
they now?
- That’s
true.
Did you
know
that we
take
nothing
material
from
this
life? It
is no
good to
have
many
|
|
possessions,
for we
shall
have to
leave
them
behind!
- I had
not
thought
of that,
Leo.
It's
true, I'll
have to
leave
everything
here on
Earth.
But I
would
like to
make
good use
of all
that I
have -
said the
surprised
old man
while he
looked
at the
boy.
- Then
why
don’t
you give
to the
poor?
They
will
certainly
use
everything
they
receive. |
Listening to the
boy, Nile became
thoughtful and
thought it would
be good not to
leave his
children
anything as they
had never wanted
to work because
they were just
waiting for
their
inheritance.
- You’re right,
Leo. I'll think
about it. After
all, my two
children have
always been just
interested in
the wealth I
have built in
life, and they
have never
wanted to do
anything as they
thought they
would be rich
when I died. But
what do I do?
- Mr. Nile, I
know a lot of
poor people who
would be happy
with anything
you gave them -
said the boy
after thinking
for a moment.
Feeling excited,
Nile agreed and
asked him to be
taken to those
people who had
nothing. Quickly,
Leo grabbed the
old man’s
wheelchair and
led him to the
sidewalk while
talking
animatedly:
- You know what,
sir? People will
think you're
Santa in
disguise!
The old man
laughed, glad to
be leaving home
after many
months. He
wanted to walk
around for a
little bit so he
could see people,
since his
daughter always
thought it would
not do him good
to go out. Now
he was happy to
be on the
sidewalk with
that nice boy.
He was happy to
be able to go
out and wanted
to stop by a
little square
full of trees.
They watched the
flowers and
heard the birds,
until Nile
thought it was
best to go on.
They arrived at
the poor
neighbourhood
and saw many
children playing
in the street.
He remembered
his grandson,
whom his
daughter would
never let play
outside.
Smiling people
greeted him,
some stopped to
talk to him, and
many, in a hurry,
waved their
hands on their
way to work.
Nile was happy
there in the
midst of those
people.
- And now, what
shall we do? -
he asked Leo.
- It’s up to you,
Mr. Nilo.
|
So Nile
asked
him to
call the
children,
who came
running,
still
sweaty
from
playing
ball.
And the
old man
said:
- I’d
like to
know
what you
need.
Leo will
write it
down in
my
notebook.
The
children
talked
about
their
needs:
one
needed
shoes,
another
needed
books
for
school,
others
needed
clothes.
Three
needed
medicine
for
their
|
 |
|
sick
parents,
and so
each one
talked
about
what
they did
not have
and what
they
needed. |
After writing it
all down, Leo
handed the list
to the old man
who then gave
some of the
money he had in
his pockets to
the children.
They happily
hugged him
because of his
kindness.
Nile was very
happy, he had
never felt so
well! The
affection of the
people had done
him great good,
and that gesture
of love
enveloped him,
bringing him to
tears. Then he
and Leo said
goodbye to the
children and
returned home.
When he arrived
there, Leo left
him on the porch
and said:
- Thank you,
sir! It was a
beautiful
morning! Did you
see how happy
they were?
- I did indeed.
What about you,
Leo, what do you
want? What do
you need to be
happy?
- I do not need
anything, Mr.
Nile. I'm happy!
- What do you
mean, you do not
need anything?!...
- That’s right,
sir. I do not
need anything! I
just need to see
others happy! I
am so glad to
have helped
those children.
Thank you! I
always wanted to
help them but I
had nothing to
give! Whenever
you want to go
for a walk, call
me. Here's my
phone - he said,
handing him a
piece of paper -
I will always be
at your service,
sir.
- I do not
understand, Leo!
You must need
something! -
said the old man.
- No, sir. I
have everything!
I need very few
things: I have
clothes, shoes,
books, toys and
friends! Now, I
have your
friendship,
which is very
important to me!
Thank you, Mr.
Nile. Call me if
you need me.
They hugged each
other, and Leo
said goodbye to
him, adding:
- May Jesus
always bless you,
Mr. Nile!
MEIMEI
Psychographed by
Célia X. de
Camargo, on
21/11/2016.
