Returning home
after school,
Caio kept
thinking about
what he would
say to his
mother. It was
Friday. A
classmate had
invited him to
go out with some
friends. As soon
as he arrived
home, he asked:
- Mom, can I go
out tonight?
Surprised, she
asked him with
whom he was
going out.
 |
- Why would you
like to know
that, Mom? - the
boy replied,
aggravated:
- I'm your
mother, Caio,
and responsible
for you, and you
are only twelve.
He threw his
backpack on the
chair, angry:
- Why do you
have to be like
that? The other
mothers are cool
and let their
children do what
they want.
- Well, I do
not, period! Now
go take a
shower.
Caio left the
room angry and
went to his
room.
|
|
When he
arrived home his
father soon
noticed the
boy's long face. |
- What is it,
Caio?
- It's just that
I want to go out
tonight and Mom
won't let me.
It's nothing but
a stroll with my
friends, Dad.
There's nothing
to it! Please,
can I go?
His father
thought for a
moment and
wondered:
- Who are these
kids? Do we know
their families?
- No, Dad. But
they're good
people. Believe
me.
- I'm sorry,
son. We cannot
allow you, who
still are a
child, to hang
out with people
we do not know.
We must be
careful. We are
responsible for
you.
Caio left the
table and went
to cry in his
room.
Soon, he heard a
discreet knock.
It was his
mother who came
to see how he
was.
- Try to
understand,
honey. There is
a lot of
violence out
there these days
and we should be
careful. We do
this because we
love you.
Although angry,
Caio said:
- Do not worry,
Mom. I'm fine. I
am going to bed
early.
- So sleep well,
dear. May Jesus
bless you. Let's
say a prayer?
She said a
prayer with him
and then gave
him a kiss on
the forehead.
Then she left
the room,
closing the door
behind her.
 |
Caio, however,
had other plans.
He changed his
clothes, opened
the window and
jumped out,
falling in the
garden. From
there to the
street it was
easy.
Soon, he was
happily going to
meet his
friends.
They went to a
snack bar,
ordered a snack
and enjoyed
themselves a lot.
Then, one of the
boys started a
fight and they
had to leave the
place.
They walked
through the
deserted streets
talking loudly
and messing with
the rare people
that passed by.
|
Caio did not
like any of it
but could not do
anything. One of
the boys lit a
match stick and
set fire to some
dried plants.
Another threw a
stone at a
window, breaking
the glass. A
third punctured
the tires of a
car, and a
fourth broke a
traffic sign.
Everyone laughed
finding those
things greatly
amusing. Caio
tried to stop
them, but they
did not pay him
attention.
|
Suddenly, a
police car
showed up and
they were taken
to the Guardian
Council and had
to give
explanations.
After being
contacted,
Caio's parents
arrived promptly
to fetch the
child. They were
perplexed.
|
 |
|
- We thought
that our son was
asleep! - they
justified. |
The counselor
explained what
had happened.
- And the
parents of the
other boys, why
are they not
here? - Caio's
mother asked.
- They were not
found. Anyway,
there is no one
to take
responsibility
for them. They
will stay here
until someone
comes for them.
Caio and his
parents returned
home. In the
car, they were
all silent. Once
they entered the
house, Caio said
to his parents:
- Dad! Mom! I
know you have
every reason to
be ashamed of
what I did. I am
too. I'm sorry I
sneaked out.
- It could have
been much worse,
dear. Thank God
the boys
confessed - said
his mother.
- I know, Mom.
Now I understand
that you were
right. I did not
know them
really. When I
saw how they
acted, I was
afraid. I tried
to stop them but
they did not
listen to me.
- May this night
serve as a
lesson to you,
son - said his
father.
- You can be
sure that it was
a lesson, Dad. I
was greatly
afraid and never
again I would
like to have
another
experience like
this. Now I
understand the
blessing of
having
responsible
parents like
you.
Then Caio looked
at his parents
with teary eyes
and pleaded:
- Can you
forgive me?
His parents,
relieved,
enveloped him in
a warm hug,
showing all the
love they felt
for him and how
pleased they
were to have him
at home, safe.
A few days later,
it was Mother's
Day.
Caio bought a
beautiful
bouquet of
flowers and gave
it to his mother,
smiling.
- Mom, I love
you. And now I
understand why
parents have to
be careful with
their children.
It shows the
great love they
feel for them.
The boy gave his
mom a tight hug.
Then he said:
- Thank you, Mom.
For everything.
Aunt
Celia
