Twelve year-old Olav was always causing trouble among his classmates because of his harsh and hurtful words.

Everyone was afraid of him and when he said something, they all kept quiet or complied. To not agree with Olav meant getting into trouble because he would immediately start a fight. So, everyone feared his reactions.
 

One day, they were playing football and Olav committed a foul, but the ball went straight into the goal. He then jumped and shouted, celebrating: - Gooooal ... Gooooal ... Hurray! I am the greatest!...

However, Nellie, the captain of the opposing team, did not accepted it and shouted to the referee:

- He committed a foul, referee. His goal was not valid!...

The referee had seen the foul and had whistled away, but the ball went straight into the goal right as he blew the whistle for the foul and Olav started celebrating the goal.

Confusion was set in the field.

Dissatisfied and red with rage, Olav began to shout curse words. Not being able to go against the authority of the referee, he went after his classmates because they were weaker.

The angry Olav grabbed Nellie by the throat, threatening to give him a beating:

- Now I'll get you, brat! You'll see what's good! - and he raised his arm to hit his classmate.

However, Nellie, even though he was smaller, faced him calmly:

- Olav, those who are right do not need violence. You committed a foul and everyone saw it! So much so that the referee whistled the foul!

As Nellie spoke serenely, Olav became more furious because he felt insulted. He knocked Nellie down on the field and was ready to give him a punch when the referee came running and showed him the red card, sending Olav out of the game.

Revolted, the player only left the field after threatening to get Nellie later. The game continued, Olav's team won and the players celebrated satisfied.

Leaving the field, Nellie took his shirt off and reached for his backpack. However, with his pride wounded, Olav had not forgiven his classmate. Seeing him angry, Nellie smiled and held out his hand:

- Congratulations, Olav! Your team deservedly won. You guys played much better than us!

- Are you kidding me, shorty? Aren't you afraid of what I might do to you? - Olav said, red with anger.

- I'm not kidding, Olav. What I said is how I feel. I do not want to fight with you. Instead, I would like us to be friends! I see no reason to fight. Winning or losing is part of life, as my father always says - Nellie replied without losing his cool.

Olav looked at his classmate thinking he was kidding him. However, he noticed sincerity in his serious face; he felt like Nellie spoke from his heart. Confused, Olav picked up his backpack and went home. Nellie's friends breathed out, relieved. They feared that their friend would get beat up, which would also force them to join the fight.

A week later, they were still not talking. Nellie noticed that Olav watched him from a distance, but never approached. One day after class, Nellie saw Olav sitting on a bench in the square in front school. As that was his way home, he would have to pass by him. So, calmly, he got to the square and seeing Olav he smiled. The other rose from the bench and said:

- I would like to talk to you, Nellie.

- Sure, Olav. You are my friend! - Nellie agreed, sitting down.

Olav also sat down and said:

- This is exactly what I do not understand, Nellie. I did everything to fight with you, without reason. I do not understand your ways! Why are you so different?

- I am not different, Olav. I'm like everyone else, it is only that I learned with my parents that fights do not solve anything. They only make the problem worse. I also learned, with Jesus, that we have to love each other, because only then we will be happy. And that those who are well and at peace with themselves do not fight with anyone. So I was never mad at you. I feel that you are unhappy, Olav.

Hearing those words spoken from the heart, Olav covered his face with his hands, while his eyes filled with tears. Nellie gave him a hug, and said:

- Olav, we are born to be happy. If something is not right, you can count on me. I really like you and want you to consider me your friend!

- Thanks, Nellie. I would like to meet your parents, who made you so special!

Nellie smiled and invited him to lunch at his home. On the way, Olav told his friend that they were very rich but that his parents had no time for him. When he asked for attention, his father would stick his hand in his pocket and give him money. His mother was never at home either, because she was always in meetings with her friends. He concluded by saying:

- Thus, I grew up feeling very alone and abandoned, but thinking it was normal in all families!...

At home, Nellie's parents were waiting for him for lunch. He introduced Olav to his parents, and they received him with joy, inviting him to sit at the table with them.
 

	Before the meal, they had the habit of praying. Nellie asked to do the prayer that day. - Dear friend Jesus, we thank you for all the blessings we have, for our family, for our home, for our food. But today we thank you for the presence of my friend Olav and ask
Your blessings to his house too. So be it!

At that moment Olav felt valued and happy. He was touched by the prayer and thought he'd be pleased if, one day, his parents took this habit at his home. But he knew that if they spent time with Nellie parents they could perhaps start to value love and family more.

And he decided that, from that day on, he would do anything to bring the two families close. He also decided that, like Nellie, he would become a more peaceful person.
 

MEIMEI
 

(Psychographed by Celia X. de Camargo on 16/12/2013.)