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Charlie and Joey
were neighbours
and classmates.
Because of it,
they spent a lot
of time
together,
playing games or
doing something.
And because they
were always
together,
sometimes they
would quarrel
and end up
fighting.
At those times,
each would
return to his
house crying,
angry, and
complaining to
the parents
about the
other's
behaviour.
Charlie would
say: |
- Enough is
enough! I can't
stand Joey
anymore. I never
want to see him
again. Our
friendship is
over!
At home, Joey
would say in
anger:
- I'll never
play with
Charlie again.
Enough!
Everything has
to be done as he
wants. Never
again I will
make peace with
him.
And each one
complained so
much that their
parents were
also angered by
the attitudes of
the boys. But
one day, the
boys' scuffle
was so bad that,
taking the pains
their child,
each parent also
turned his face
to the parents
of the other.
A few days
later, Joey's
father, Oswald,
who worked as a
sales
representative,
went to a food
company and
asked to speak
with the
manager. The
secretary told
him to wait a
bit. Soon after
he was called,
and to his
surprise, he saw
that the manager
was Charlie's
father, Alfred.
- You ...?
Immediately,
seething, Oswald
grabbed his
briefcase,
turned around
and stomped out
of the office.
Still recovering
from the
surprise, Alfred
tried to go
after Oswald,
but as there
were more people
waiting to speak
with him, he
could not leave.
However, he was
reflecting on
the need to make
peace with his
neighbours, and
he could not
miss that
opportunity.
Thus, when
leaving the
company, at
lunchtime,
Alfred went to
Oswald's house
to try and talk
to him. He
waited until he
saw Oswald
coming. Then he
approached and
asked:
- Oswald, we
need to talk.
You came to me
in the company
but did not say
what you wanted
and would not
even let me
speak! ...
- Of course not!
I did not know
you were the
manager of that
company. If I
knew, I would
not have gone
there! ...
Seeing the
attitude of the
other, Alfred
also felt angry
and they started
fighting, saying
harsh words and
offending each
other. They were
on the street so
people began to
stop to watch
and
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the neighbours left
their homes when
they heard the
screaming.
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When they were
at the height of
the discussion,
two boys
approached. One
of them asked:
- Daddy ...
What's
happening? Why
are you
fighting?
It was Charlie.
The other boy,
Joey, also tried
to separate
them:
- What is it,
father? How
embarrassing!
...What are you
fighting for?
The parents
stopped
fighting, they
looked to the
children and
then exchanged a
look, as if they
could not
understand.
- But what are
you two doing
together? -
Asked Oswald.
- That's right!
Weren't you
estranged? -
Asked Alfred.
Joey Charlie and
smiled.
- It's true. But
we made peace a
few days ago!
And you, why are
you fighting? -
Charlie asked.
Oswald and
Alfred exchanged
another look,
amazed. They did
not know why
they were
fighting! … At
that time, they
understood the
mistake they had
made. Two
adults, who
should set an
example to the
children, became
so involved with
the children's
little quarrel
that they
themselves also
ended up locking
horns.
They exchanged
an awkward
smile,
recognizing the
absurdity of the
situation.
Oswald
explained:
- It was
nothing. Just a
misunderstanding
we can solve
easily, isn't it
right, Alfred?
 |
- Sure. I'll
wait for you in
the company,
after lunch, to
talk.
The kids were
happy. Charlie
told his father:
- Daddy, I
invited Joey for
lunch at our
house. Is it
okay?
- Of course, my
son!
And, taking the
opportunity to
fix the error,
Alfred
continued: |
- My son, if
Joey will have
lunch at our
house, why not
the whole
family? I'm sure
your mother will
like it.
Then he turned
to the neighbour
and said:
- Oswald,
please, tell
your wife that
she'll go out
for lunch today!
The other
smiled, grateful
and excited, and
they hugged each
other right
there on the
street. Half an
hour later, they
were all sitting
around the
table.
Alfred invited
them to a
prayer,
explaining to
the visitors:
- We have the
habit of praying
before meals.
Charlie, say a
prayer for us,
please.
Charlie shut his
eyes and prayed:
- I thank Jesus
for today and
for being so
good. Thank you
also for our
friends who are
here and are so
important in our
lives, for our
lunch and the
peace we feel.
Thank you, Lord.
The mood was of
understanding
and
reconciliation.
Finally, that
uneasiness
caused by the
boys' fight was
over and
everything was
in order again.
And the adults,
ashamed, deeply
committed
themselves to no
more mistakes,
not letting
themselves get
carried away by
the emotions of
the moment.
Meimei
(Psycographed by
Celia Xavier de
Camargo on
10/01/2011.)
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