Dewey was a very
insecure boy. He
always wanted to
please and
needed the
approval of
everybody. He
wanted to be
accepted by the
group and feel
that all had him
in high esteem.
So he was always
in doubt about
what to do, how
to behave and
even which
clothes he
should wear.
He really felt
at ease when
wearing a pair
of faded "jeans"
that had a hole
in the knee, an
orange shirt
with purple
letters, a very
worn out pair of
shoes and a red
and black plaid
cap on his head.
|
One day,
out for
a walk
dressed
like
that, he
ran into
his
friend
Margaret
on the
street.
She
looked
at him
disapprovingly,
and did
not miss
the
chance:
- How
terrible,
Dewey! Your
clothes
suck! Nothing
goes
with
anything!
I think
you
should
get rid
of that
cap and
wear
your
blue
|
 |
|
shirt. It
would be
much
better! Bye! |
|
Dewey said
goodbye to his
friend and could
not continue the
walk.
He rushed home,
put on the blue
shirt, took off
his cap,
changing it for
a green and
yellow one. He
went out again
happily, sure he
was well dressed
and would please
people.
 |
He ran
into
Marc. who
invited
him to
play
ball.
- Shall
we go,
Dewey?
It's
just
that
your
clothes
are
pretty
lame.
Wow,
dude,
where
did you
get that
the blue
shirt? The
cap is
cool,
but that
shirt...!
Dewey
was
playing
ball
feeling
very
bad. He
|
|
could
not wait
to go
home and
change
clothes. He
had the
impression
that
everyone
was
staring
at him. |
Later on, his
friends invited
him to go to get
some ice cream.
Dewey went into
full production
mode. He
showered, put on
his new black
pants, chose a
mustard shirt
and put on his
glossy brown
leather shoes.
When he left the
house, his
friends were
waiting. One of
them looked at
Dewey with an
air of
criticism:
|
- It
looks
like you
just
came out
of a
store!
Carla
analysed
him
conceitedly
and gave
her
opinion:
- The
clothes
are
good,
but the
shoes do
not
match
the
rest.
|
 |
|
Then a
boy
suggested: |
|
- Why don't you
change your
clothes to match
the shoes?
- No! - said
another - I
think you should
change your
shoes to match
the outfit.
 |
Dewey
was all
confused. He
returned
to his
room but
did not
know
what to
do.
As he
was
taking
too long
and his
friends
were
showing
impatience,
his
mother
went to
see what
was
happening.
She
entered
the
child's
room and
stalled,
|
|
amazed.
It was a
complete
mess! |
She found Dewey
sitting up in
bed, undecided,
discouraged,
lost amidst the
clothes and
shoes that he
had taken out of
the closet.
Seeing his
mother, he asked
for help:
- Mom, I do not
know what to
do! What should
I
wear? Everything
that I put on,
my friends do
not like and
criticize!
The mother
looked at her
son with love,
understanding
his problem.
|
- My
son, we
cannot
try to
please
everyone. Not
even
Jesus,
the
Master
of
Masters,
managed
to do
so! So,
do what
you
think is
best.
Your
friends
- if
they're
really
your
friends
– will
like you
as you
are, not
because
of the
clothes
you
wear.
She
paused
and
concluded: |
 |
- The important
thing is to
please
yourself. Be
yourself! Your
friends act this
way because they
realized that
you are
insecure. Be
firm, show them
what you like,
what you think,
and they will
respect you.
Now, let's see:
How do you feel
really good?
What would YOU
like to wear?
 |
Dewey
thought
for a
moment,
and with
a smile
from ear
to ear,
rummaged
a pile
of
clothes
until he
found
what he
wanted.
After a
few
minutes
he left
home
happily. He
had put
on the
purple
shirt
with
orange
letters,
his
faded
"jeans"
with a
hole in
the
knee, a
pair of
old
shoes
and
plaid
red and
black
cap on
his
|
|
head. |
|
The boys stared
in surprise. But
Dewey, safe and
happy, did not
even give them
time to say
anything.
- Now I'm
feeling
great! Shall we
go, guys?
Aunt Celia
Illustrations:
Kátia RRR
