The chatterer
Patricia, an eight year old child, loved gossiping. She
loved telling everyone what she found out about people.
She enjoyed watching what was going on around her and
interpreting it on her own way. She never bothered to
find out if what she was talking about was actually
true.
She spread news the everywhere. As soon as she heard
something new from one person, she would tell someone
else straight away. She was always ending up getting in
the middle of chaos!
Her mom was always telling her this is a very severe
shortcoming:
— My daughter, you shouldn’t behave likethis. You will
end up having no friends
to talk to!
Her mom was right. One day Patricia went to school and
saw her colleague Fernanda with a colourful pencil
sharpener. It was very similar to the one Marcia had.
The class hadn’t even started and she decided to tell
the teacher Fernanda stole her classmate’s pencil
sharpener.
The entire classroom started to accuse Fernanda as well.
It was total chaos!
Fernanda started to cry and said she was innocent, but
no one believed her. Marcia, at this right moment,
walked into the classroom and saw what was going on. She
then said to the entire group:
— This is not true! There has been a mistake. Fernanda
didn’t steal anything. I was the one who gave it to her,
since she really liked my colourful pencil sharpener. I
gave her a brand new one not so long ago!
Everyone apologised to Fernanda, who was tearfully. She
felt humiliated in front of the entire class. They then
turned up against to Patricia. They felt really angry at
her attitude, and decided to turn their back to her. She
was no longer considered to be their friend.
On that day, Patricia arrived back home feeling really
sad. Her mom was concerned of her behaviour and asked
what was going on.
— Oh, mom! You have no idea! My colleagues are very
angry with me. They don’t want to talk to me anymore! —
Patricia said, crying.
— Why is that, dear?
— There was a massive problem at school yesterday, and
it was my entire fault — Patricia, with tears in her
eyes, told her mom what happened.
— Oh, my daughter! People who talk too much end up
loosing their friendships and creating problems for
themselves. Patricia, it is very serious to accuse a
classmate of robbery — her mom said, seriously.
— What if it’s true, mom?
— If this is the case, you should first of all talk to
the person you think might have made the mistake. Do you
know the story of the three wise monkeys? No? The
inspiration for most monkey groups comes from a carving
above the portico of a 17th century temple in Japan
called the Nikko Toshogu Shrine which includes a carving
of the three wise guardian monkeys in a representation
of a sacred stable. In Japanese 'don't see, don't hear
and don't speak' (loosely known as 'see no evil, hear no
evil and speak no evil') is translated as 'mizaru,
kikazaru, iwazaru'. I will show it to you.
Her mom went to look for the picture she had kept with
her belongings:
— Please look, Patricia! The three wise monkeys embody
the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil,
and speak no evil".
The girl thought for a moment and asked:
— Mom, but... If we hear or see something wrong, should
we not tell people?
— Well, it depends. If the issue only affects the person
who is making the mistake, then it’s her own problem.
Therefore if the mistake will cause harm to other
innocent people, than we should warn whoever we need to
help.
— I got it, mom.
— We should not avoid seeing the mistake or problem, but
making comments. We need to remember the true meaning of
the word charity as employed by Jesus: "Benevolence for
every one, indulgence for the imperfections of others,
forgiveness of injuries." It is important for us to see
others’ mistakes and avoiding committing the same one.
— Ok, mom but what do I do now?
— Please think. If you were at Fernanda’s shoes, what
would you like her to do?
Patricia thought for a moment and said:
— I would have liked her to apologise to me in front of
our colleagues.
— Good thinking! Now you know what you need to do
tomorrow …
On the following day, Patricia went to school and
decided to talk to her classmates. She stood up in front
of the entire class and said:
— Fernanda, I have made a mistake yesterday. I accused
you of something without knowing if it was true or not.
I am so sorry for what happened. I ask you to forgive
me. I feel very ashamed, but this will never happen
again. I have learned a lesson. I want to have a good
relationship with everyone from now onwards. I will
never ever gossip again.
Fernanda stoop up and walked towards her colleague. The
girl then hugged the other and said:
— Everyone makes mistakes, Patricia. The important part
is to maintain our friendship.
Patricia smiled and thanked her friend for such
generosity.
— Believe me; I learned my lesson.
Patricia then decided to reproduce with her hands the
gestures of the three wise monkeys as if she said: ‘see
no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’.
Aunt Celia
Translation:
Carolina Von Scharten
carolinavonscharten@yahoo.com