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Nicky was a very
spoiled child
who was always
causing problems
for his
colleagues.
He never wanted
to be contested
because he
thought his will
needed to be
followed. When
this didn’t
happen, he would
feel irritated
and avoid
talking to
everyone.
Spring was
coming, and then
one day his
teacher decided
to take all
students to a
garden located
at the back of
the school.
— As you all
know, winter is
coming to an end
and spring is
coming soon.
That’s why today
we will have a
gardening class.
You have learned
already that
plants need to
germinate,
develop and then
produce flowers
and/or fruits.
Now you will
plant seeds that
you have brought
from home.
The students
felt very
excited about
it, and chose
each a different
type of flower
to plant. One of
the students
said:
— Teacher, I
brought seeds of
Wild daffodil.
My mom said they
grow quickly and
the flowers are
really beautiful.
— Well done,
Johnny.
— I brought
Pampas grass,
teacher —
Richard said.
— I have seeds
of
Osteospermum! —
Brent shouted.
Each of them
started to show
the seeds they
brought from
home: roses,
violets, Indian
shot plants and
many more. Nicky
remembered he
left home
earlier in a
rush and grabbed
the first plant
he was able to
find on his way
to school. He
then realised
what his friends
brought and felt
embarrased for
his plant.
Nicky kept
quiet, and then
the teacher
asked:
— Nicky, what
did you bring?
He showed it to
the teacher and
said:
— I don’t know
the name of this
plant, Mrs.
Backer.
— Does anyone
know? — he asked
the class.
Rafael, who was
a very clever
boy but who
Nicky didn’t get
along with,
said:
— I know,
teacher. It’s
Hawaiian lei.
It’s a very
sensitive type.
One of the boys
sarcastically
said:
— Nicky reminds
us of this
flower: no one
can get close to
him!
The others
started to laugh.
Nicky felt
irritated with
the situation
and then said:
— What about you,
Rafael? Have you
brought this
yellow flower
for what? You
are such an
attention seeker.
Rafael didn’t
understand his
colleague’s
reaction. He
then looked at
Nicky and said
calmly:
— You are
mistaken, my
friend. I chose
the sunflower
because I really
admire this
plant. It is
always looking
for sun. A lot
of people might
be looking for
darkness but I
am also looking
for the light.
Nicky felt weird.
Rafael was
always
surrounded by
friends, but he
wasn’t. No one
liked him. He
felt he needed
to change his
behaviour if he
wanted to make
new friends.
That morning,
all the kids
were entertained
in the garden
with the plants.
When the sign
went on, they
all went to
different parts
of the school.
On the way home,
Nicky noticed
Rafael walking
behind him. He
then waited for
Rafael who
decided to walk
next to him.
— Nicky, I know
you don’t like
me, but I want
to be your
friend. I am
sorry if I have
done something
you didn’t like.
If I did, please
accept my
apologies. I
never meant to
hurt you.
Nicky noticed
how sincere his
colleague was
and then said:
— No, Rafael,
you have never
done anything
wrong. It’s my
fault.
For the first
time he felt the
need to be truth,
and recognise
his mistakes.
From then on
they started to
talk about
football, school,
their likes and
dislikes. They
seemed like old
friends. When
Nicky got home,
he invited
Rafael to meet
his mom. He then
introduced his
colleague to his
mom by saying:
— Mom, this is
my friend
Rafael. I want
to be a
sunflower, just
like him!
Aunt Celia
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