Roger was a
smart kid but
thought the
worst of
everything he
saw. People's
actions, for him,
were always evil
and to harm
others.
So he was always
watching
everybody, like
his schoolmates,
neighbours,
friends or
adults; even
those his family
considered
friends.
His mother
warned him of
his behavior,
telling him that
evil was an
exception in
people, that
most wished
others well.
One day, going
into the woods
near his house,
Roger noticed in
his friend Jonas
a strange
attitude. They
were friends,
but with his
thoughts turned
to thinking of
everything as
evil, Roger
thought Jonas
was up to
something wrong,
and as he
approached,
Roger noticed
his friend was
startled, hid
something and
smiled.
 |
- What are you
doing, Jonas? -
Roger asked.
- Nothing! I was
just stirring
the soil,
looking for a
marble I lost
the other day! -
Jonas replied
with a
mischievous
smile.
- OK!... Let's
play?
|
|
- I can’t now,
Roger. I have to
help my mother. |
Worried, Roger
left, but noted
that Jonas
continued in the
same place,
crouched, and
thought, "He
thinks he fools
me! But I'm very
smart. Jonas
will see! I'll
find out what he's
doing."
Roger went home,
but could not
forget what he
had seen.
Running into
another
neighbour, he
told him:
- Carlos, Jonas
is doing
something wrong.
I think we can
no longer trust
him.
- Do you really
think so, Roger?
- I do. I caught
him in a
suspicious
attitude. He is
no longer fit to
be our friend.
Before long, the
entire block
knew about it...
that is, that
Jonas was not
reliable and was
doing wrong
things. But
someone asked:
- What wrong
thing is he
doing? Jonas has
always been a
good friend!
- I do not know
what Jonas is
doing, but it is
wrong! So we
must stay away
from him.
In turn, upset,
Jonas noticed
that no one else
called him. He
would see the
kids playing
ball in the
street, but when
he approached
them, they would
stop playing and
go away.
Whenever he saw
one of the
neighbors, they
would give an
excuse and walk
away. This
attitude of
rejection from
his friends, for
no reason, left
him very sad and
discouraged.
As Roger’s
birthday was
fast approaching,
he thought that
the party would
be the ideal
time for him to
get closer to
his friends.
So he waited
confidently.
On the day of
the party, he
was expecting a
invitation from
the birthday
boy, but Roger
said nothing.
Upset, but still
really liking
Roger, Jonas
wrapped his
present and when
he saw that
people were
coming to the
party, he got
ready and went
there.
He saw Roger
happy, in new
clothes and neat
hairstyle,
laughing with
his friends.
Then Jonas went
over, smiling.
But as he saw
him, Roger
frowned and
said:
- What are you
doing here? I do
not remember
inviting you,
Jonas.
Surprised with
the welcome from
the boy he
considered his
friend, Jonas
stammered:
- I came to...
wish you...
Happy Birthday
... Roger. I do
not understand
why are you
treating me like
this. We were
always friends!
I brought you a
gift that I made
myself!
Something you
really
wanted!...
- Present? It
was you who made
it? - Roger
asked,
interested, his
eyes widening to
hear about this
and seeing the
package in
Jonas’s hands.
|
- Yup! Remember
that you really
wanted a toy
house that I
built? So I made
one for you! You
almost saw it
when I was
making it. Do
you remember
that day you
showed up out of
nowhere? I was
gathering sticks
for the roof and
had to hide them
quickly, so you
would not find
out about your
birthday
surprise.
The other kids,
not quite
understanding
what was
happening,
looked at each
other, and
|
 |
|
noticed that
Roger flushed,
and became upset: |
- So it was my
birthday present
you were making,
Jonas?
- Yup! I made
sure that you
did not know,
because it was a
surprise.
With tears in
his eyes, Roger
approached his
friend and
hugged him:
- And I judged
that you were
doing something
wrong! I do not
know how to
apologize,
Jonas. I beg
your forgiveness
for having
misjudged you.
Hearing this,
the other kids
noticed that
everything had
been a
misunderstanding
and got closer
Jonas to hug him
too.
- We are also
sorry, Jonas. We
thought you were
doing something
wrong. That is
why we stayed
away from you.
Can you forgive
us?
- Of course I
can! Thank God
that this
misunderstanding
was explained. I
couldn’t stand
to be alone any
longer. After
all, I lost all
my friends at
once!
- This will
never happen
again, Jonas. My
mom has always
warned me not to
judge and not to
think ill of
anyone. It was
my fault and all
of you must be
angry with me -
said Roger,
knowing that had
made a mistake.
- Do not worry,
Roger. We are
your friends and
you just made a
mistake, which
can happen to
anyone. And I do
not even
remember it
anymore! - said
Jonas, with
greatness of
spirit.
They made a
circle and
embraced,
reaffirming the
friendship that
united them,
pleased to have
again the
friendship of
Jonas, whom they
liked very much.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
05/01/2015.)
