|
Getting to
school that
morning, Vera
knew something
had happened.
Everyone seemed
upset and were
chatting here
and there, in
little groups.
However, as Vera
had arrived
right on time,
she went
straight to
class. As she
entered the
classroom, she
heard the
teacher telling
the students:
- Poor Roger!
Surprised, Vera
sat down and
asked:
- Teacher, is
Roger sick?
And the teacher
replied, full of
sorrow:
- No, Vera. Last
night, Roger's
house caught on
fire and as it
was made of
wood, there's
nothing left.
The family is
poor and do not
know what will
happen next!
They only had
time to leave
the house,
saving their own
lives. As for
the rest, their
home, furniture,
clothes,
everything was
burned by the
fire.
The kids were
busy commenting
about the news
and all talked
at once. The
teacher asked
for silence,
getting order in
the classroom:
- Enough,
everybody! Let's
begin class!
The children
were silent,
copying what the
teacher was
writing on the
blackboard.
|
Vera, however,
could not stop
thinking about
her friend. She
and Roger had
never been very
good friends and
now she was sad
about it and
decided that,
upon finishing
the class, she
would go to his
house. She
wanted to see
him, see how he
was.
When the bell
rang, Vera
rushed to go to
Roger's house,
but could not
take long or her
mother would be
worried.
|
 |
|
From far
away,
she
could
already
smell
the
smoke.
Getting
closer,
her eyes
were
filled
with
tears:
there
was only
a bunch
of
burnt,
black
things,
from
which
she
could
still
see a
whiff of
dark
smoke. |
The street was
full of curious
people passing
by and making
comments.
Looking around,
Vera saw, across
the street, some
people sitting
on the ground
under a tree.
Between them,
was her friend.
She crossed the
street and
approached him.
- Roger! How are
you?
The boy stood up
and, with a sad
expression,
said:
- Thank God
we're fine,
Vera. But I do
not know what
will become of
us. We lost
everything! I do
not know where
we will go or
what we will
make of our
lives!
Vera thought for
a moment, trying
to put herself
in his place:
What if that
happened with me
and my family?
Now, for
example, it's
lunchtime and
I'm hungry. I am
sure they are,
too.
Determined, Vera
invited:
- Roger, come
have lunch with
your family in
my house.
The boy's eyes
shone with
satisfaction:
- Really, Vera?
Well ..
Accepted! Sure,
we're hungry!
The boy
introduced Vera
to his parents,
Maria and
Manuel. He told
them about her
friend's
invitation.
Roger's parents
were very happy
and, with
another cheer,
they all went to
Vera's home.
Once there,
happy, the girl
told her mother:
- Mom, I brought
some friends to
have lunch with
us!
The lady was
surprised to see
so many people!
They were a
couple and three
children!
Perplexed,
Estella did not
know what to do.
She opened her
arms, and
stuttering,
explained:
- Excuse me! I
was not
expecting! …
Daughter, why
didn't you tell
me in advance?
- Mom, I did not
warn you because
it was just a
few minutes ago
that I thought
of bringing them
here.
And Vera
explained to her
mother what had
happened,
adding:
- So, Mom,
because of the
situation that
this family is
going through, I
remembered our
Gospel at home
last week, when
we read that
passage where
Jesus said that
if
we were to give
a banquet, we
should invite to
our home, not
those who can
not pay us back,
but the most
needy. Today I
could not eat
lunch knowing
that my friend
Roger and his
family had
nothing to eat!
...
Embarrassed and
with moist eyes,
the mother
acknowledged:
- You are
absolutely
right, my dear
daughter. You
have done well
to have brought
them to our
house. Actually,
I wasn't
expecting this,
but we will sort
it out. Our meal
might be a
little late, but
we will all have
something to
eat. If they
wish, they could
even take a
bath. I imagine
they should want
to change their
clothes, which
are still
smelling of
smoke! We will
get clothes for
everyone!
Estella got a
change of her
own clothes for
Mary, one of her
husband's for
Manuel, and one
of her son's,
which would
serve to Roger
and asked Vera
to go to
neighbour to get
clothes for the
two younger
children.
While the mother
took care of
lunch, Vera
showed them the
bathroom and
each one took a
bath, which
brought them
great
disposition.
In the kitchen,
Estella was
thinking what
could she make
for so many
people.
Suddenly, she
opened the
closet and
decided: - I
know! ...
Some time after,
lunch was ready
and a delicious
smell of food
filled the air.
The owner of the
house, Walter,
had arrived and
was introduced
to the visitors
by Vera, who
explained the
reason for all
of them being
there. He was
satisfied.
- Estella, how
did you prepare
lunch so fast? -
Mary asked,
surprised.
- It was easy! I
made pasta. It's
quick to make
and everyone
loves it!
They all sat
down for the
meal, and
Estella started
to say a prayer:
- Lord! Today we
have much to
thank You,
because thanks
to our daughter
Vera, we have
the presence of
dear guests, and
we ask You for
Your blessings
so that their
situation will
be resolved in
the best way.
May we have a
good lunch and
Your peace!
 |
Everyone ate
with
satisfaction the
generous and
delicious pasta
Estella
prepared.
Gathered there,
they experienced
more joy and
well-being,
feeling the mood
light and
enjoyable.
Roger's family
did because,
despite having
lost material
things, they
preserved their
greatest gift:
Life! And Vera's
family, because
they could
practice the
teachings from
the gospel of
Jesus, doing
good.
|
But that was not
all. They
organized a
campaign to help
that family in
need, and the
whole town
helped. There
came things
non-stop:
building
materials,
furniture,
appliances,
clothes,
everything they
would need to
restart their
lives.
Walter was keen
to have them
remain living
there with them,
as long as
necessary. And
he also got
Manuel a better
job, so that he
could raise his
children with
more
tranquillity.
 |
The two families
got along so
well that they
became friends
for life.
And Roger, when
someone
remembered the
fire, would say:
- I do not
regret what
happened. It was
thanks to the
generosity of
Vera that our
lives changed
for the better!
I could never
thank her
enough. Thanks,
friend!
|
|
And he
would
give her
a hug
full of
affection. |
Meimei
(Message
psychographed by
Celia Xavier de
Camargo on May
9, 2011.)
|
