Sofia was on her
way to pick up
her daughter
from school when
she suddenly saw
children playing
in the school’s
playground just
by the time she
got closer to
it. That made
her smile.
There were seven
or eight
children
skipping rope
together. One
would jump at a
time whilst two
children would
swing the rope.
The others would
sing and clap at
the same time.
She then saw a
boy getting
closer to the
group. He wanted
to play with the
other children
but was stopped
by Sofia’s
daughter, Lucy,
in a very rude
way:
— No, not you!
You can’t play
with us.
 |
Sofia was
quite
surprised by
her
daughter’s
attitude. It
was really
disappointing
to see that.
The boy felt
quite sad.
He sat down
quite far
from the
other
children
with his
head down.
Sofia came
close to him
to chat. His
name was
Rafael. She
asked him
why he
wasn’t
playing with
the other
children.
She didn’t
want him to
feel bad she
saw what
happened
earlier on.
The boy
raised his
eyes, looked
at her and
said calmly:
— They
didn’t
let me
play with
them,
but
it
doesn’t
|
|
matter. I
got used to
it already. |
Sofia found that
resignation and
maturity quite
unusual for a
child of his
age. He seemed
to be only eight
years of age.
— Why didn’t
they let him
play with them?
Have you fought
somehow?
He smiled sadly
and said:
|
— No! The
thing is I
am black and
they don’t
like me.
They say I
look quite
ugly because
of the
colour of my
skin.
Sofia held
his hands
and said
with
kindness:
— You are a
very
beautiful
boy, Rafael.
Inside and
outside.
Don’t
believe on
what they
say to you.
They don’t
know what
they are
saying.
Rafael’s mom
suddenly
showed
up at
school,
waiving at
him. |
 |
Sofia
decided to
take her
daughter
home
without
making any
comments.
She
decided
to invite
her daughter
to go
out
after lunch.
The little
girl loved
to go
shopping.
|
They both went
out, happily.
They first went
to a clothes
store. Her
mother let Lucie
choose a dress.
The little girl
couldn’t decide
which colour she
wanted her dress
to be. There
were so many
beautiful
colours! There
were yellow,
red, white,
black, green,
pink dresses....
She just
couldn’t make
her mind.
— Oh, mom! They
are so
beautiful! I
think I want a
purple one.
The shopping
assistant packed
the dress. Lucie
left the shop
with her mom
feeling really
excited with her
new gift. They
soon got into a
shoe shop. The
little girl felt
it was again
quite difficult
to choose the
colour she
wanted. She
decided to get a
black pair.
They soon went
to a toy shop
and the little
girl felt
fascinated by
the different
coloured balls
that were
displayed there.
Her mom allowed
her to choose
one; she went
for a red ball.
Lucie was so
excited;
therefore, more
surprises were
coming...
They soon passed
by a pet shop
where there were
animals
displayed for
purchase. The
little girl
really enjoyed
that shop
because she was
able to look at
the pets
carefully. There
were chickens,
ducks, rabbits,
dogs, cats and
even a little
monkey.
The little girl
looked at the
little dogs in a
cage. Her mom
then said:
– You can choose
one, my
daughter.
— Can I really?
— The little
girl asked;
feeling quite
excited.
 |
— Yes, sure!
You always
wanted to
have a
little dog.
Feel free to
choose one.
Which one
would you
prefer?
The little
girl
couldn’t
make up her
mind. There
were so many
types and
with
different
colours:
white,
black,
brown,
grey.... She
ended up
choosing one
that looked
quite sad.
They went
back home.
The little
girl would
carefully
carry her
little
dog
with
her. She
couldn’t
stop talking
about
|
|
their trip: |
— We saw so many
beautiful things
today, mom.
— Yes, that’s
true! There were
so many varied
colours as well!
— They were all
so beautiful
mom; I just
couldn’t choose
one.
— The colours
from nature are
so beautiful, my
daughter. We
just need to
choose amongst
them. Have you
realised the
same happens
with people?
— What do you
mean, mom? — The
little girl
asked.
— Look. There
are people with
red, yellow,
brown, black,
white skin. It
all depends on
your origin;
where you came
from. Is that
clear? For
example, your
friend Tamika is
Japanese;
therefore, her
skin is yellow.
Carolina is
blond and white
as milk. Roberta
has got brown
skin and dark
hair. Julie’s
hair is red just
like fire.
Rafael has dark
skin. Aren’t
they all
beautiful,
though?
The little girl
looked at her
mom feeling
quite ashamed.
She then looked
down.
— What happened,
my daughter? —
Her mom asked.
— Mom, since you
are now
explaining the
colours from
this
perspective, I
can now
understand
things better.
The little girl
then told him
what she did
with Rafael
today. She also
said:
— I now
understand that
all colours are
beautiful; you
always say we
are all
brothers,
right?
— Yes, that’s
right my
daughter. The
fact that we are
born with this
or that colour;
with or without
money is God’s
decision. He is
our Father and
loves us the way
we are, because
we are all his
children.
On the following
day, Sofia
dropped Lucie at
school. She was
able to see her
daughter
reaching for
Rafael and
inviting him to
play with her.
She was the
first child to
approach him on
that morning,
which brought a
massive smile to
the boy’s face.
