The Best Dad In The World

Charlie, a very mischievous boy, arrived home super annoyed.

He was in the backyard playing ball with his friends and inadvertently smashed the glass from one of the windows.

His father, who had been reading the newspaper on the porch, realised what had happened and got up immediately to talk to his son:

- Son, be careful! Do not kick the ball too hard. You broke the glass from our window. What if it was the neighbour's house? I would have to pay! What if you had hurt someone?

- But, Dad, it was not my fault!

- In any case, it will cost money to fix and I will discount it from your allowance.

The boy entered the kitchen and sat down on a chair feeling upset. Maria, the house maid, who was washing the dishes, asked:

- What was it this time, Charlie?

- My father quarrelled with me just because I broke a windowpane. He said he'll deduct it from my allowance. It's always my fault! All me! All me!

Maria, who was very fond of the boy, affectionately replied:

- Charlie, we should all be responsible for our actions. And your father was just trying to teach you responsibility, discipline, and respect for the belongings of others.

- But, Maria, he tells me off all the time! It’s for not taking a shower, not doing my homework, not putting away my toys. I'm tired! I wish I had another father. Look, Maria, I do not think I'm even going to give him a present on Father's Day.

- He does it for love, Charlie. And it's not true that your father is on your case all the time. Think carefully!

Charlie, already feeling calmer, thought for a moment and agreed.

He remembered all the times his father had taken him for a walk, fishing, ice cream, riding a bicycle, to the amusement park and also remembered every time his father had gotten home from work tired, but still had sat down to help him with his homework.

More than that: he remembered the times when his father had tiptoed into his room to wish him goodnight.

- You’re right, Maria. My father cares about me.

Maria, a woman who had had a very hard life, put her hand on his head, sat down beside him and said:

- I’m going to tell you a story, Charlie. There is a boy who since he was little has been very mischievous, doing wrong things, fighting with his neighbours, not respecting people, but he never had someone to teach him. His mother loves him very much and, because the boy grew up with  no father, she did not want him to suffer more. And so, she always excused everything her son did, surrounding him with care and attention. She never believed the school teachers or anyone who came to warn her about her son's bad behaviour. One day, he started stealing. At first it was petty theft, but then he started to steal bigger things like stereos, tv sets, even cars.

Charlie listened to her with his eyes wide with astonishment:

- And then? - he asked interestedly.

- Then he got arrested. His mother regrets to this day that she did not give him the education he needed.

The boy was impressed.

- Do you know him, Maria?

With teary eyes she replied:

- I do, Charlie. The boy is my son.

Only at that moment he realised that even though Maria had worked in his home since he was born, he knew nothing of her life.

Maria stopped talking, wiped her eyes on her apron, and said:

- So thank God every day, Charlie, for having a father who cares for you and loves you very much. If I had bothered to give a good education and religious guidance to my son, he would probably be a different person today.

Charlie, very seriously, recalled:

- That’s why Mom and Dad always say that the Gospel of Jesus will help us to be better people.

- That's right, Charlie. But I did not know that before.

Coming back from shopping, his mother entered the house and Charlie ran to meet her.

- Mom! Mom! We need to get Daddy's gift!

- Easy, honey! What happened that got you so anxious?

- I have just discovered that I have a wonderful father! The BEST DAD IN THE WORLD!

AUNT CELIA

Translation:
Johnny Silveira / silveirajohnny@yahoo.com