Ten-year-old
Paulie had a
loving family,
lived in a nice
house, had toys
and everything
he wanted. At
school he made
friends easily.
There was only
one thing about
him that people
disliked: he
complained about
everything.
On one occasion,
Paulie was
playing in his
neighbour
Mario's backyard
and they decided
to pick up
mangoes. The
mangoes were so
ripe that their
mouth watered.
They climbed on
the mango tree
and began to
pluck the
mangoes. They
had picked up
enough, but
Paulie decided
to get one last
mango which was
at the tip of a
branch. Mario
warned his
friend:
- Paulie, don't!
It's dangerous!
The branch may
break! ...
He hadn't still
finished
speaking when
Paulie plummeted
from above with
a cry:
- Help! Help!
... - Paulie
screamed, but it
was too late. He
was on the
ground.
Mario's mother,
on hearing the
noise, ran to
help the boy who
cried on ground.
She soon
realized that he
had broken his
leg. As Paulie's
mother was out,
she picked him
up in her arms
and took him to
the nearest
hospital. The
doctor, after
examining it
carefully put a
cast on the
broken leg.
Paulie returned
home weeping and
lamenting his
luck. From that
day on, he would
only complain
about that fall
and his broken
leg, which
bothered him
greatly.
 |
One day he went
out for a stroll
and on a street
he saw an
overjoyed boy
sitting in a
chair and
selling candy
from a tray.
- Who wants to
buy coconut
candy? They are
delicious! Taste
it! ...
Passing by the
small stall,
Paulie stopped,
interested. The
seller, seeing
the boy,
offered:
- Would you like
to try a piece?
Try it! It is
delicious! - and
he got a plate
with pieces of
coconut candy so
that Paulie
could help
himself.
|
The boy picked
up one piece,
put it in his
mouth and was
delighted.
- You are right!
It is delicious
indeed! And
there are many
flavours! ...
- Yes! There is
the traditional
white coconut
candy. But I
also have
toasted coconut
candy, or with
passion fruit,
or
strawberries.
They began to
talk, introduced
themselves to
each other, and
the coconut
candy salesman,
noting that
Paulie was in a
cast asked what
had happened.
What a mistake!
Paulie began to
moan about his
luck, telling
how he had
fallen from the
mango tree.
The boy, whose
name was Bernard
and was fourteen
years old,
smiled and
considered:
- That was
nothing, Paulie.
Soon you will be
fine again.
The boy, who
considered
himself the
unhappiest
person in the
world, replied:
- You say that,
Bernard, because
it isn't you!
For two months
I'll be carrying
the weight of
this cast and
needing these
crutches. Do you
know what it is
not to be able
to walk
properly?
|
- No. I don't
know because I
could never walk
- Bernard
replied,
smiling.
Paulie,
surprised with
the boy's words,
asked:
- What do you
mean? You can't
walk? ...
Bernard took a
deep breath and
said:
- No. I don't
know what it is
like to walk.
While still a
baby I had a
disease that
left me with no
movement in my
legs. So I live
always on this
|
 |
|
wheelchair. |
|
Surprised,
Paulie realized
that by only
thinking of
himself, he
hadn't noticed
that the boy was
in a
wheelchair.
Embarrassed, he
apologized to
Bernard, who
laughed:
- Don't worry! I
live very well
this way! I have
a normal life. I
study and in my
spare time I
help my mother
by selling the
candy she makes.
We are poor and
it is from them
that we make a
living. Working
makes me feel
good. I feel
useful. Besides,
I like talking
to people. I
have many
friends! ...
Seeing that
Paulie had his
eyes moist, he
consoled him:
- As for your
problem, don't
worry. Time
passes quickly
and soon you
will be fine to
do everything
you did before.
The boy nodded
his head in
agreement. He
walked around
the stall and
said:
- My problem no
longer exists,
Bernard. You
gave me a great
lesson today.
Would you like
to be my friend?
Can I give you a
hug?
Opening his
arms, the young
man snuggled the
boy to his
chest, moved:
- Paulie, I'll
be very glad to
have you as a
friend.
They said
goodbye and the
boy returned
home. His mother
noticed that he
was different,
not complaining
about anything,
and asked:
- You must be
tired, for sure.
What happened,
dear?
- No, mom, I
have never been
so well. It
happened that
today I met the
most
extraordinary
person I have
ever known.
You'll like him.
After Jesus,
he's my best
friend!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
01.07.2013.)
