Paul was raised
with love and
care by his
parents.
He studied in a
nice school, had
a great teacher
and friends to
have fun with.
In short, he was
a happy student.
However, one
time entered an
older boy who
got transferred
from another
school. A
persuasive boy,
Robert started
to dominate
Paul, who
thought his new
friend was a
great leader.
From this day
on, Paul started
having low
grades, he
didn’t do the
homework
anymore, had
problems at home
and got home
late at night,
and his mom was
not aware of
that.
He didn’t listen
to his parents
and teacher; the
boy was getting
more and more
undisciplined,
disrespectful
and uninterested
in everything
that he was
taught so far.
His parents,
worried, didn’t
know what to
do.
At this time,
Paul’s father
started having
health problems.
His heart was
seriously sick
and he needed to
follow a strict
treatment.
One day, Paul
got home late at
night and
couldn’t get in.
There was nobody
home.
Without knowing
what to do, he
looked for
information with
a neighbor.
Thus, he learned
that his father
was not feeling
well and was
taken to the
nearest
hospital.
Anxious, he ran
to the hospital
and found his
mother crying.
— Thanks God you
arrived, my son
— she
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said.
— How is daddy?
— he asked.
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— He is being
examined by the
doctor, Paul,
but we took too
long and I’m
afraid it’s too
late.
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— But, why
mommy? Why
didn’t you ask
Ann to call from
a pay phone?
— I did, my son,
but the phone is
out of order.
Very
disappointed,
the boy
remembered that
his gang
destroyed the
phone for fun.
He insisted:
— But there is
an Emergency
department near
home. Why didn’t
you call an
ambulance?
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His mom said:
— We tried,
Paul... but the
ambulance,
unfortunately,
had all its four
tires flat, done
by a gang of bad
guys, according
to them.
Very ashamed,
Paul remembered
that, also for
fun, they
damaged the
ambulance that
was on the
street.
Feeling sorry,
in tears, Paul
confessed all he
did to his
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mother, and
said: |
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— If daddy dies,
I’ll never
forgive myself.
Because of me he
couldn’t get the
help he needed.
His mom listened
to the story
carefully and
said:
— It is always
time to regret
from our
misdeeds, my
son. Pray for
God on behalf of
his father.
He always helped
us whenever we
needed.
Some time later,
the doctor came
to say that
everything was
fine and the
patient would
soon get well.
Full of joy, mom
and son hugged
each other,
thanking God
first.
And, from that
day on, Paul
became the boy
he used to be,
recognizing that
respecting
others’ things
is very
important,
especially the
public ones that
help society,
and we never
know when we are
going to need
them too.
Instead of
transmitting his
good qualities
to his friends,
he got dominated
by them.
Paul promised
himself that he
would do all he
could so that
his friends
would understand
that only
respect and love
can make us
become better
people.
Loyal to his
promises, Paul
looked for the
telephone
company and the
hospital
confessing all
that he did and
saying he was
willing to
repair them.
Aunt Célia
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