Seven year-old
Tadeu left home
to go to school
but because he
had left early
he had plenty of
time and decided
to take a
different,
longer route.
He kept walking
and entered a
neighbourhood he
did not know. He
was even a
little scared
because he
suddenly noticed
that he did not
know how to get
to school. He
was in an ugly
area with very
poor houses. He
saw some
children playing
in the street
and asked them:
 |
- I got lost. Do
you know how to
get to school?
A girl, who
should have been
about his age,
said:
- You go up the
first street,
then turn left,
and you'll be
near the school.
Tadeu thanked
her, took the
route that the
girl had given
him
|
|
and soon
arrived
at
school.
However,
he kept
thinking
about
that
girl. He
could
not get
her out
of his
head all
day. So,
the next
day, he
went the
same
way. The
children
were
again
playing
in the
street.
The girl
was part
of the
group
and, as
she was
older
than the
others,
she was
in
charge
of the
game. Tadeu
stopped and
greeted her: |
- Hello! It was
easy to get to
school
yesterday. I had
gone the wrong
way and got
lost. Again
thank you. I am
Tadeu. And you
are?
- Virginia.
- Ah! Virginia,
I've never seen
you at school.
Where do you
study?
The girl said
she did not go
to school. Her
parents did not
have the money
to spend with a
school.
- But at the
school where I
study, I do not
have to pay for
anything! -
Tadeu replied.
- But you have
to have good
clothes,
notebooks,
books, and
everything else.
And I do not
have those - she
said sadly.
Tadeu still had
time so he
continued
talking. He
learned that her
parents worked
all day, earned
little and she
cared for her
younger
siblings.
- But you're
still so small!
How old are you,
Virginia?
- Seven
years-old.
Tadeu looked at
the girl in
amazement. She
was his age but
she took care of
her brothers and
thus could not
study. Tadeu
said goodbye to
her, feeling
sad. He compared
his life to that
of that girl of
his own age but
who was already
so responsible.
He hardly paid
attention to
class that day.
Upon returning
home, Tadeu
sought his
mother in the
kitchen, where
she was
finishing lunch,
and said:
- Mom, did you
know that there
are children who
do not go to
school because
they cannot?
- Why the
question, Tadeu?
- his mother
asked in
amazement.
He told his
mother what had
happened and
that he had
talked to the
girl.
- Mom, you need
to meet her. She
is my age and I
noticed her
sadness at not
being able to go
to school! I was
sad too. She
lives close by
and I want you
to meet her.
- Honey, I
understand your
concern but
there are
families who are
really very poor
and lack all the
basic things to
live. After
lunch we will go
there. I've
never heard of
this poor
neighbourhood
around here.
We'll see what
we can do, okay?
- said the
mother as she
hugged her son
affectionately.
His father
arrived and,
more excitedly,
the boy sat down
to have lunch
with his family.
Right afterwards
they went to the
neighbourhood
that Tadeu had
mentioned. His
mother also felt
very sorry when
she saw the
condition in
which those
families lived.
The boy showed
Virginia's home
to his mother,
and they went
there. Tadeu
called the girl,
who came to meet
them a little
scared. What
would they want
with her?
He introduced
the girl to his
mother and they
all began to
talk. Laura
said:
- Virginia,
Tadeu told me
you do not study
and that you
need to take
care of your
brothers. It is
true?
- Yes, ma'am. My
parents work in
a recycling
business and
earn very
little. And I
take care of my
two younger
brothers.
Laura learned
that the girl’s
parents would
come home from
work at dusk so
she promised to
return to talk
to them. She
also gave them
some food she
had brought. The
girl's eyes
shone and she
said that the
food was very
welcome because
she had nothing
to feed her
brothers.
They said
goodbye but left
a little joy in
that home. Later
that afternoon,
they came back.
Virginia's
parents welcomed
them with
pleasure. Laura
explained the
reason for her
visit, and
asked:
- Did you know
that there is a
kindergarten
near here where
the children can
be well cared
for all day? No?
It is true!
- Dona1 Laura,
we have only
recently moved
here and we know
nothing of this
city. If our
children have a
place to stay,
that will be a
blessing! Then
Virginia can go
to school, as
she so wishes -
said her father.
- That’s right,
Antonio. As for
school supplies
and books, they
are provided by
the school
itself. Whatever
is missing, I'll
give it to your
daughter.
Besides, my
husband knows
people and he
can get you
other jobs. You
can count on us
for whatever you
need!
|
A few days
later, Virginia
was already
enrolled in
school and happy
with life. Tadeu
gave her a
backpack, that
he had gotten
but would not
need since he
already had
another, as well
as clothes and
shoes which no
longer fitted
his sister as
she was a year
older than him.
Thus, joy
returned to that
family, where
everything was
lacking and
where life
|
 |
|
would
now be
easier.
And in Tadeu's
house joy
increased too
because they
were helping
other people in
so much need.
They found out
that in that
neighbourhood
they were all
poor and living
in difficulties.
So Laura and her
family came to
the rescue of
other homes,
which gave them
great
satisfaction and
inner peace. |
Now the family
prayers had
special
significance
because they
felt that Jesus
was happy with
all of them.
1 In Brazilian
society, Dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman’s first
name.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Célia X. de
Camargo on
22.7.2013.)
