Beth and Clara
were two girls
who although
being friends
were always
fighting for
silly things.
They liked each
other, but each
one of them was
very
self-involved
and wished their
will to be
satisfied and
that everything
they said was
accepted.
|
One day at
school their
teacher talked
about the
importance of
collaboration
between people
when reaching an
understanding
about something
or achieving a
common goal.
However, the
students did not
quite get what
the teacher
meant about
collaboration.
The teacher
smiled and
considered:
- Do not worry,
one day you will
understand what
collaboration
means! And you
will remember my
words.
|
 |
The bell rang
indicating the
end of classes
to which all
students
gathered their
materials and
said goodbye to
the teacher and
their
classmates.
Beth and Clara
did not
understand the
meaning of the
word and left
complaining and
talking about
it.
Some time later,
the two girls
were walking
down a derelict
road and saw a
big pile of
garbage, and
noticed two
brand new shoes
that someone had
thrown away,
certainly
because they did
not want them
anymore.
 |
As their
families were
poor, they
immediately ran
and took the
shoes.
- This is my
size! - Clara
shouted happily.
- And this one
is mine, and I'm
keeping it! -
Beth said,
pleased to have
found such
beautiful
footwear.
|
They celebrated
the finding and
played with the
shoes. Then they
realised
something and
looked at each
other with wide
eyes:
- But we will
have to look for
the other shoe!
After all, we
can't walk
around with only
one shoe, right?
- recalled
Clara.
- You're right!
- said Beth, now
less excited -
after all, what
good is only one
shoe? Let's look
for the other.
Whoever threw
these in the
trash must have
thrown the pair!
Then they set
about searching
for the other
shoes. They
ransacked the
place, walked
around the
neighbourhood,
looked
everywhere but
could not find
the shoes that
were missing.
Until Beth, the
most generous of
them, tired of
searching,
proposed:
- Clara, should
we draw straws
and see who will
get the two
shoes?
- OK, Beth!
Although they
are new and
beautiful we
could not find
their pairs! But
as their colours
are similar and
the models too,
no one will
notice that we
have different
shoes.
When they were
about to draw
straws to see
who would get
the shoes, Beth
saw a dog that
walked from one
side to the
other looking
around and
searching the
garbage for
something to
eat. Right then,
it showed up
happily with a
large bone in
its mouth!
The girls rushed
to grab the bone
from the mouth
of the dog, but
the animal ran
off and plunged
into the woods.
They went after
it and, what a
surprise: they
found another
large pile of
garbage. And
they saw more
abandoned shoes.
Very satisfied,
the girls ran
and going
through the
refuse, found
the other shoes
that were
missing. Only
that each one
had found the
other girl's
shoe.
They looked at
each other and
decided:
- Let's swap?
|
Very glad, as
the shoes were
the same size,
they immediately
got into an
agreement and
exchanged the
items. They put
on the shoes and
started dancing,
happy!
- Look! I love
my new shoes!...
How wonderful!
- I also love
mine, Beth! Look
how beautiful
they are on my
feet!
|
 |
Overjoyed, they
embraced each
other as they
understood that
if it were not
for their mutual
cooperation,
they would not
have a beautiful
new pair of
shoes.
Right then Beth
remembered that
the teacher had
talked about
collaboration
and said:
- Clara, our
teacher was
right! If we had
not gotten into
an agreement,
and cooperated
because we
wanted to help
each other, we
would not have
found our new
shoes!
Clara agreed
with Beth and
they exchanged a
warm embrace as
they
comprehended
that mutual
understanding
was critical to
get it right.
After that
experience, Beth
and Clara never
forgot that, in
life, they would
also need to
work in
collaboration
with people so
that everybody
could solve any
situation and
thus begin to
feel happier and
fulfilled.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
02/16/2015.)
