Of all the boys
in class, only
Otavio and
Manoel did not
get along.
 |
They were always
fighting and
having
arguments. If
one wanted to
play ball, the
other wanted to
race; if one
wanted to play a
game of
volleyball, the
other wanted to
play football.
They were never
in agreement and
would often end
up punching and
kicking.
Their teacher
became worried
and did not know
what to do to
change that
situation.
One day she
decided to take
the whole class
for a walk in a
beautiful forest
near their
town.
|
To train their
spatial
orientation and
attention, she
divided the
students into
groups of two,
and told them
that they would
all meet at a
predetermined
place in an
hour.
As she split the
group in duos,
she put Otavio
and Manoel
together, to try
to bring them
closer to each
other.
When given the
signal the small
groups took
different paths
and went into
the woods. Upon
their return,
they would have
to report to the
other students
what they had
noticed to be
interesting in
the route they
chose.
Otavio and
Manoel were
deeply angry.
With so many
people, why did
they have to be
in the same
group?
They walked for
a long time
fighting the
whole time. If
Otavio wanted to
go one way,
Manoel wanted to
go another.
But they moved
away from the
track and went
deep into the
forest. Because
they were
arguing, they
did not pay
attention to the
ground and both
suddenly fell
into a big hole
that was hidden
by the
vegetation.
At first they
argued a lot,
blaming each
other for the
predicament they
were in and soon
ended up
fighting again
and rolling at
the bottom of
the hole as they
threw punches.
After much
fighting, they
felt tired and
sat down to
catch their
breath.
Realising that
that attitude
would not help
them, Otavio
suggested:
- It does not
help that we are
here fighting.
We have to come
together to get
out of this
situation. Let's
call for help.
For the first
time, Manoel
agreed with his
classmate and
they began to
shout:
- Help! Help!
... Get us out!
Can anyone hear
us?...
They yelled
until they
almost lost
their voices.
But all their
friends were
distant and no
one could hear
them. The hole
was deep and
vegetation
drowned out
their voices.
Exhausted, they
sat down to
rest.
- Well, what do
we do now?
- I don’t know
but I think we
need to look for
a way out of
here. We cannot
be depending on
others -
considered
Manoel.
- That is true.
I have an idea -
Otavio said.
- Which is?
- The hole is
deep but not
that much. If we
work together,
we can escape. I
think it will
work - explained
Otavio.
- How? - Manoel
asked.
- Let's make a
ladder. I get
down and you go
up on my
shoulders and
with some effort
you will be able
to jump out.
Then you help me
out of this
hole.
So they did, and
before long,
Manoel was
free.
Then, lying on
the edge of the
hole, he reached
out his hand but
could not reach
Otavio's hand.
He had an idea:
- Hang on. I'll
try to find a
long piece of
vine or a tree
branch.
Soon he found a
strong branch
and, using all
his strength,
managed to get
Otavio out of
the hole. They
celebrated a
lot. They were
tired but
relieved and
very pleased.
They embraced
and thanked each
other for the
mutual help.
|
Their teacher
was already
concerned about
their delay when
surprised she
saw Manoel and
Otavio arrive
with dirty
clothes,
exhausted but
embracing each
other. Startled,
she wanted to
know what had
happened and
they told them
all the
adventure they
had had.
When they
finished telling
the story,
Otavio looked at
Manuel and
said:
- Thanks to
Manuel, I'm here
now. If not for
him, I do not
know what would
have become of
me.
|
 |
To which the
other replied:
- But were it
not for you,
Otavio, I would
still be there
in that hole.
Their teacher,
moved, said:
- The truth is
that without
your mutual
assistance you
would not have
managed to
escape. I'm glad
to see that,
after all, you
are in
agreement.
The two boys
looked at each
other, saying:
- As of today,
teacher, we will
be good friends
because we
realise that
only unity is
strength.
Aunt Celia
