Eight year-old
Roger always
complained about
having to go to
school. On that
day, a Saturday,
he really wanted
to play in the
backyard, free
of any activity,
house chore or
homework.
While he played
with his dog,
watched TV or
was in the
street with his
neighbours,
everything was
okay but if his
mother called
him to help her
with the chores,
he complained:
- Why always me,
Mom? I want to
play!
- But honey,
you’ve been
playing for
hours! I'm late
with the chores
and your father
will arrive home
for lunch soon,
and it needs to
be ready. He has
to get back to
work fast! Help
me please!
Feeling obliged
to help her, he
went in crying
and
complaining:
- Always me,
mom! I can’t
even play a
little!
- You will go
back to play
soon. Now, sweep
the kitchen
floor and then
fix the table
for me, yes?
The boy nodded
grudgingly as he
took the broom
to begin
sweeping. But
there was so
much ill-will in
the way he did
the job that his
mother told
him:
- No need to
sweep anymore,
Roger. I’ll do
it myself.
- Ah, that's
great! May I go
back to play?
She nodded,
looking sad, but
Roger did not
even notice. He
opened the door
with a big smile
and shouted:
 |
- I'll be right
back, Mom!
When his father
arrived, the
wife was
finishing
preparing lunch
and setting the
table. He wanted
to call his son,
but his wife
said:
- No, darling.
Let him play, he
will have lunch
later.
They sat down,
said a prayer of
thanks to God
for the day and
for the lunch
they would
|
|
eat.
They
talked a
bit, but
soon her
husband
had to
return
to work.
When he
left, he
saw his
son
playing
in the
street
without
getting
tired,
all
happy. |
The mother
cleared the
table, tidied up
the kitchen and
sat down on the
sofa to watch
the news on
television.
Later, Roger
entered the
house running
and screaming:
- Mom! I'm
really hungry!
Shall we have
lunch?
- We already had
lunch, honey.
You’re the only
one who didn’t.
The boy was
surprised but
said nothing. He
ran to the
kitchen but
seeing
everything clean
and tidy,
asked:
- Why isn’t the
table set, Mom?
And looking on
the stove:
- And the food,
where is it?
His mother got
up from the
couch and coming
into the
kitchen,
explained:
|
- Sweetheart,
you certainly
saw it when your
father came home
for lunch but
did not stop
your game. I
thought you did
not want to have
lunch and put
everything away
in the
refrigerator.
Now, you will
have to get the
food and make
your plate.
- But it will
all be cold,
Mom!
- Heat it up.
|
 |
|
- But I don’t
know how to do
that! |
- Then eat
whatever you
want. There is
fruit in the
fridge and there
is bread and
crackers in the
cupboard for you
to eat.
Roger was upset
and began to cry
and complain:
- Mom, couldn’t
you have waited
until I stopped
playing?
- No. Here at
home we have a
schedule. Your
father has
obligations at
work and cannot
be late. And,
why didn’t you
come to have
lunch when your
father arrived?
- Because I was
playing!
- Do you mean
that your game
is more
important than
your father’s
job, who
supports the
house and
enables us to
live well?
Great! I'll tell
your father to
quit his job
because you will
support the
house with your
street games! -
his mother
replied.
The boy kept
silent,
thinking, then
considered:
- You were upset
with me today,
right Mom? I
know Dad's work
is important to
us, but I did
not think about
it. I just
wanted to play a
little more!
- A little more,
Roger? You
played the whole
morning and
afternoon!
Wasn’t it
enough? Your
father arrived,
we had lunch, he
left, I tidied
up the kitchen
and had been
watching the
news on TV when
you arrived! ...
Didn’t your
friends have
lunch today?
Embarrassed,
Roger hung his
head and
explained that
they had gone
home to have
lunch early and
he continued
playing while he
waited for them
to return.
- Why did not
you come home
when they went
to lunch?
- I do not know,
Mom! I now see I
was wrong. They
did not want
stop playing now
because they had
already eaten
lunch, while I
was still
hungry! What a
fool I am! When
they went to
lunch, why
didn’t I come
too? - He said
putting his hand
to his head.
His mother felt
sorry for him
but understood
that the lesson
had been
beneficial.
After all, now
her son knew he
had acted
wrong.
- All right,
Roger. Go have
lunch, honey!
The boy stood up
and asked her to
forgive him to
which she
answered:
- Of course,
darling. I just
wanted you to
understand how
to act. After
all, we are a
family and lunch
time is
important to us.
It is the only
time your father
has to be with
us during the
day.
Understood?
- Got it, Mom.
And I promise
that, starting
today, I will
help you
whenever I can.
I also want to
give my
cooperation!
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
21/09/2015.)
