Camille and her
friend Rob
always went
together to
school. They
were neighbours
and studied in
the same grade.
One early
morning, the sun
was just coming
out slowly into
the sky. It
could be seen
from behind the
houses.
The girl passed
through a square
and saw a pigeon
singing in the
bench of a tree.
Camille smiled.
She was so happy
to see the bird.
— Look at the
beautiful
pigeon, Rob! —
She said. She
|
|
|
pointed
to the
bird and
wanted
to share
that
moment
with her
friend.
The boy saw it
and quickly
looked for a
stone on the
floor. It then
found his
catapult on his
pocket and
placed the stone
into it.
Rob was so
quick; Camille
was not able to
stop him. She
was horrified
when she
realised his
intention. She
then jumped and
pushed the
catapult away
into the floor.
|
— Rob, what are
you doing? Did
you intend to
hurt the bird?
The boy was
really angry and
said:
— I didn’t want
to hurt the
bird, but kill
it.
Camille started
to cry.
— I can not
believe you
wanted to kill
that poor bird!
Are not you
aware we should
respect nature,
and specially,
every alive
animal? Animals
are our younger
brothers and
also sons of
God. They need
our protection
and care.
— Even a bird?
— Yes, even a
bird! How would
you feel if
someone shoots
someone from
your family?
What if they
shoot your mom,
for example?
Rob thought for
a while and then
said:
— I would feel
desperate. My
mother is the
person I love
the most in this
world!
— See? This bird
also has a
family. Look up,
to the bench of
the tree!
The boy then
looked and
agreed:
— Yes, there is
a family there!
There is a nest
with 2 cubs in
there!
— See? You were
about to destroy
a family. Those
cubs would be
orphans if you
killed the
mother.
Rob took a deep
breath, and
realised what he
was about to do.
— Thanks to you,
Camille, this
little family is
happy and at
peace.
They were late.
They needed to
hurry up or they
would arrive
late for school.
Once they got
into the room,
they got to know
what the class
would be about.
The topic for
the day was
“Ecology”.
Camille and Rob
looked at each
other, and
smiled. The
teacher saw it
and wanted to
know why.
Rob felt
ashamed, but
told everyone
what happened
this morning. It
would serve as
and example for
the other
students.
When he finished
telling them
what happened,
the teacher
said:
—
Congratulations,
Rob. You related
your experience
to us. You
showed courage
and humbleness
by doing it.
What about the
catapult?
— Oh,
teacher.... I
will never use
it again. I
promise.
After school,
they were on
their way back
home and
remembered the
pigeon once they
passed by the
square.
They looked up
to find her. She
sensed the
children’s
intention and
flew close to
them.
The bird sensed
no fear and
stayed looking
at them for a
little while. It
seems she knew
she was safe
there.
Camille found a
sandwich left
from snack
|
|
time and
gave it
to her.
The
pigeon
took it
and flew
back to
her
nest. |
It then gave the
food to her
cubs, which
anxiously waited
for their
mother.
Rob and Camille
smiled. They
felt so happy
and then
returned back to
their homes.
Aunt Celia
|