Twelve year-old
Roger was a
smart and
intelligent boy
who got along
with everybody
because he was
very nice. But
he had a serious
problem: he did
not like bathing
and, as much as
his mother
tried, Roger
always managed
to avoid it.
His mother would
begin the day by
asking him
kindly:
- Son, it's time
to take a
shower! Do not
forget that you
have little time
to get ready to
go to school.
The boy would
respond,
agreeing:
 |
- I know, Mom.
But first, I
need to prepare
my backpack.
Then I'll take a
shower.
- So, hurry up
then! Otherwise
you will be late
for school.
But the boy
would spend his
time in his room
and when he left
it, he was
always in a
hurry:
- Mom, I will
not have time to
shower now. I'm
late. I will
take a shower
when I come
back, okay?
The mother,
disgusted, would
reply: |
- Roger, but are
you going to
school dirty?
Your teachers
and classmates
will notice,
dear!
The boy would
laugh, amused:
- Nah, mom! No
one will notice.
My uniform is
not dirty and I
sprayed a bit of
perfume on,
check it out! -
And he
approached his
mother so she
could smell the
pleasant smell
it spread in the
air.
His mother was
unhappy, but
could do
nothing.
- All right,
dear. Godspeed!
But before
lunch, you will
have to take a
shower, do not
forget it.
Returning from
school, Roger
would get home,
throw his
backpack on the
couch and run to
the table, where
everything was
prepared for the
family lunch.
His mother would
put the food
platters on the
table and say:
- Roger, you're
forgetting to
shower.
- Oh, mom! Not
now. I'm
starving. I have
not eaten at
school!
The mother
agreed, at the
father's
request, and
Roger had lunch,
satisfied. His
sister, sitting
next to him,
could smell the
stench coming
from him and
complained:
|
- Roger, your
clothes are
dirty and you
stink!
- Even you,
Lucy? You are
all on my case!
Has everyone
decided to nag
at me now? - he
complained.
The father, who
until that time
had not said
anything, gave
his opinion:
- Roger, bathing
is a basic rule
of health and
wellness in
life. Why do you
run away from
the water?
|
 |
- Dad, I'm not
running. It is
just that today
I have not had
time to shower,
that's it!
- Very well.
Then, after
lunch you are
going straight
to the shower,
got it?
Roger looked
sad, but soon
remembered
something and
said,
- After lunch
will not do. My
teacher said
it's bad to
shower
immediately
after meals!
- So, after a
while, you'll
finally take
your shower,
right? - said
his father.
The boy agreed
and, after
finishing the
meal, went to
his room. He
stayed there for
several hours
playing video
games until his
mother came in
to bring some
clean and ironed
clothes. Roger
saw the clothes
and perked up:
- Yay! Clean
clothes. I need
them! ...
His mother
nodded in
agreement and
added:
- It is true.
But before you
change clothes
you have to
shower first, do
not forget.
- Mom, but you
are really on my
case! Everyone
only talks about
it!
- Of course,
dear. Everyone
here at home
notices that you
flee from
personal
hygiene. I
imagine that at
school it should
be the same.
Aren’t you
ashamed, Roger?
Why do you
refuse to shower
so much?
Mentally the boy
thought of a
reply. Suddenly
remembering the
lessons they
read in their
weekly meeting
of the Gospel at
home, he
answered, full
of himself:
- It is just
that we have
read the other
day that the
important thing
is the Spirit
who is immortal,
isn’t it? So I
thought that
bathing is not
so necessary!
...
His mother found
her child’s
excuse funny but
stated:
- Roger, nowhere
in the Gospel we
read that
bathing is not
important. On
the contrary! We
have to take
care of body and
spirit, for the
body is the
vehicle with
which the Spirit
works here on
Earth: with it
we move, work,
study, progress.
If the body gets
sick, the Spirit
is prevented
from carrying
out its actions.
And lack of
cleanliness,
son, is good
only for viruses
and bacteria
that will take
over the body
and can lead to
physical death.
Get it? Would
you like to get
sick because of
it?
Roger opened his
eyes really
wide, as he
listened scared
to what his
mother said.
- I never
thought it was
so serious,
mom!...
The mother left
the room,
letting her son
think about all
she had said.
Before long,
Roger showed up
in the living
room clean and
fresh. He had
his hair wet and
neatly combed,
he wore clean
clothes and a
good smell of
soap emanated
from him.
The whole family
was happy. And
Roger was too
because, as a
matter of fact,
after the shower
he felt a great
feeling of
well-being and
joy.
MEIMEI
(Psycographed by
Celia X. de
Camargo on
27/10/2014.)
