It was a
beautiful sunny
day, after a
week of rain and
fog. Ten
year-old Julia
could not wait
to go play with
her friends,
enjoying the
pleasant
weather.
So, as it was
Saturday and she
did not have to
go to school to
study, Julia
would usually
meet with her
friends to play
on a small
square on their
street.
Gradually they
started to
arrive, all
smiley. It was a
moment of joy
for all of them.
Soon they were
all in the
square. Roberto
had brought his
ball; Helena, a
new game and
Carlos, his
skates. Finally,
each one had
come bringing
what they
enjoyed most,
even a football.
Entering an
agreement, they
decided that
they would play
football because
even the girls
loved that game.
They divided in
two teams, chose
each one's
position and
were about to
start the game,
when Julia
remembered
something and
made a sign with
her hand.
- Oh, Julia!
Just as we were
starting! What
happened? -
Roberto yelled
from across the
field.
The girl left
her position and
went over to
talk to the
others:
- Guys, I am
sorry, but...
- But what?
Speak soon
because we're
wasting time,
Julia! - shouted
Carlos,
flustered.
Sad, the girl
explained:
- I've been
thinking of
Andrea. She is
always with us
but today could
not come because
she fell down
and hurt
herself, and
even broke a
leg. She is in
the hospital.
Shouldn't we go
visit her?
- Are you
serious? Give up
football to
visit an injured
person? - Helena
replied, angry
at Julia.
The girl heard
the complaints
from her friends
and looking at
each one of
them, said with
tears in her
eyes:
- I know that
all of you would
rather play ball
or do anything
else, but I've
been thinking:
What if it was
one of us who
were in the
hospital, in
pain, sad for
not being able
to leave, taking
bitter medicines
and doing
nothing!
Wouldn't you be
happy if your
friends visited
you? Jesus
taught us to do
to others what
we would like
them to do to
us, isn't it?
Each one of them
took Julia's
words to heart
and, even
unwittingly,
began to imagine
themselves in
the hospital,
stuck in a bed,
unable to go out
and have fun...
and what would
be worse, unable
to see their
friends! They
exchanged an
indecisive look,
and then agreed
with Julia:
- All right,
Julia. You win.
She really must
be in need of
friends. But it
would not be
good to go
empty-handed.
What do you
suggest? - asked
Roberto.
All became
silent as they
thought about
it. Until
someone
suggested that
they brought a
chocolate bar.
- That's right.
But now let's go
home and later
we will meet
here with what
we managed to
get to cheer her
up. After all,
tomorrow is
Children's Day!
So they arranged
to meet up in
half an hour and
each one went
home. When they
returned,
satisfied, they
went to the
hospital, which
was not far
away. Each one
brought a
different thing.
Upon arriving,
they asked for
the room number
and went there.
They knocked
gently and
entered.
|
Seeing her
friends there,
their faces
anxious and
worried, Andrea
smiled full of
joy:
- You came to
visit me! I
missed you and
our school, but
for now I still
have to stay
here! I really
wanted to be
playing in the
square. Early on
today, I
remembered that
it's Saturday
and you should
be there. I
missed our group
so much!... I
even cried...
Julia stepped
forward, holding
and comforting
her:
|
 |
- Soon you will
be with us,
Andrea. Look, I
brought you a
book. I hope you
enjoy it!
- I love it,
Julia. I love
reading and here
I have nothing.
As I am in the
orthopaedics
wing and needed
to have surgery,
I miss having
something to
read.
Then each one
approached her
and gave her
what they had
brought: a game,
packet of
cookies,
crossword
puzzles book,
candies,
chocolates.
Anyway, seeing
so many gifts,
the patient
laughed, happy
with her life:
- Guys, you
shouldn't have!
Only your
presence is
enough. In fact,
I missed talking
to you since I
can't play.
Thank you! You
gave me proof of
your friendship.
After all, you
gave up playing
to come visit
me.
The visitors
looked at each
other and
Roberto
acknowledged:
- Andrea, it was
Julia who had
the idea of
coming to visit
you. At first I
did not like it
too much, as we
were about to
play football.
But she made us
understand the
importance of
coming here to
see you. After
all, you are our
friend!
- Thank you. But
if you do not
mind, I'll share
what you brought
me with my other
friends, the
patients in this
room. Some live
in other cities
and their
families can't
visit them much.
Only then they
looked around
and saw that
three other
faces followed
their
conversation and
their eyes
gleamed before
all the goodies
that Andrea had
received.
At that moment
they were moved
with the
generosity of
Andrea, who
wanted to share
with them what
she had gotten.
They spent an
hour of joy,
getting to know
the other
patients and
their problems,
which, despite
being
hospitalized,
did not show
sadness and were
happy to have
people to talk
to.
Returning home,
they felt so
happy with that
experience that
they decided
that every week
they would spend
some of their
time in the
hospital
visiting
patients and
cheering them
up.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
10/08/15.)
