One day, the
teacher told her
students that
they had the
opportunity to
go on a day trip
to a nearby town
to visit a
school that was
holding an
exhibition of
their science
fair best works,
and added:
- I think it
will be
interesting for
you as they are
showing only the
best works which
display the
creativity of
the students. We
have to go
tomorrow because
the exhibition
is ending soon.
 |
The students
loved the idea!
For the rest of
the day they
made plans for
the trip. They
would bring a
snack and eat at
a pleasant city
park. The
teacher had
already arranged
a bus that would
be at the school
at 8am. The
students only
needed to bring
their snacks and
parental
permission to
travel with the
class.
Christina got
home excited.
She |
|
told her
mother
about
the trip
they
would
have the
next day
as she
jumped
up and
down. |
- Mom! All I
need is your
permission and a
very tasty
snack!
|
Her mother
hugged her. She
was happy to see
her daughter so
excited. Then
she looked
thoughtful.
- What is it,
mom? Don't you
like the idea?
- I think it is
great, dear. But
I just
remembered:
weren't you
keeping company
to Mr. Pietro
tomorrow?
- Ah! It's true!
What should I do
now? - she said,
putting her
hands to her
head, bummed
out.
|
 |
|
- You have to
decide what to
do: whether to
go for the trip
or take care of
Mr. Pietro. |
- Mom, is there
anyone that
could stay with
Mr. Pietro? I
"need" to go
with the class!
The mother
thought for a
moment and
considered:
- Christina, you
do not "need" to
go with the
touring class.
You promised to
take care of Mr.
Pietro before
this trip came
up.
- But someone
could stay with
him in my place!
Could you do
that for me?
- I can't. You
know I have to
work. As a
nurse, I can't
miss a shift at
the hospital.
But we can think
of someone who
will stay with
Mr. Pietro for
you.
They thought ...
thought ...
thought ... but
they could not
think of anyone.
All their
friends had
commitments for
the next day.
Christina
started crying,
complaining:
- It's not fair!
I can't go on
the trip because
I have to take
care of a sick
man?...
- My daughter,
each one of us
must meet the
duties that life
imposes on us.
It may be a
professional
duty, like mine;
it may be a
family duty,
like meeting
your obligations
at home or with
relatives; or it
may be a moral
duty, that is,
something that
we undertook and
therefore must
fulfil. When you
agreed to spend
the afternoon
with Mr. Pietro,
didn't you think
it was
important?
The girl agreed
with a nod but
said nothing.
However, her mom
reminded her
that until the
next day she
would have time
to find someone
who could stay
with him, since
the patient was
paralysed, bed
bound, had no
family and
depended on
friends.
So with high
hopes, Christina
spent the rest
of the day
calling or
talking to
people. But to
no avail.
The next morning
she resignedly
told her teacher
she would not go
and explained
the reason. Then
she went to Mr.
Pietro's house.
She entered the
poor house
holding a bag
full of food,
treats and a
thermos with
coffee that her
mom had sent.
The old man,
seeing his
little friend
had arrived, was
surprised with
her discouraged
expression and
asked her:
- Oh... my
little friend!
You seem sad
today! What
happened?
- Nothing, Mr.
Pietro. My class
went on a day
trip and I could
not go. That's
all...
The old man's
eyes widened,
staring at her
in surprise.
Then his
expression
softened with a
slight smile of
tenderness in
his dark face as
he said:
 |
- My dear, it
wasn't because
you had to keep
an the old black
man company, was
it? How generous
of you! ...
And as he spoke,
something
extraordinary
happened.
Christina began
to see that from
the old man's
chest a luminous
cloud began to
form and came to
meet her,
enveloping her
whole. A sense
|
|
of joy,
peace
and
contentment
invaded
her. She
had
never
felt
anything
like
that
emotion! |
The old man
opened his arms
and she let
herself be
embraced by him,
in a big and
loving hug.
Suddenly,
Christina
noticed that she
was free from
the
dissatisfaction
that she had
felt since the
day before. She
moved away from
the old man a
bit and said:
- Mr. Pietro, I
do not regret
that I missed
the trip.
Nothing can give
me more joy than
to be here with
you. Now, I'll
get your
medicine. Then
I'll bring you
the coffee and
snack that my
mom fixed us.
Then I will
continue the
reading of the
book we are
reading: The
Gospel According
to Spiritism.
Everything
happened as if
by magic. She
did not even
remember the
trip, her
friends partying
on the bus as
they would
probably be
doing anymore.
Nothing else
mattered. She
had fulfilled
her duty. She
felt at peace
with herself and
her conscience.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
11.02.2013.)
