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Augustus was a
good boy, but he
had one flaw...
he always
complained about
everything: the
lesson that was
boring, the food
he did not like,
the toy that was
broken, his
sister who was
always meddling
in his life.
However, what
most bothered
his mother, dona
Meire1, was that
one of her
brothers,
because of
health problems,
had come to live
with them and
had been there
for some time,
with no prospect
of being able to
return to his
own residence.
And Augustus, as
the months
passed, became
increasingly
irritated by the
presence of his
uncle.
He could not
stand having
someone changing
the family
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routine. |
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One day, when he
was especially
annoying, his
mother called
him to talk:
- Gus, what is
happening to
you? You are
always angry,
aggravated...
- It's nothing,
mom. It will
pass.
The mother
thought for a
moment and
considered:
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- When we have a
problem, my son,
it does not help
denying it. We
have to face it!
Tell me what's
bothering
you...
Then, the boy
confessed:
- Oh, mom! I'm
tired of the
presence of
Uncle Felix here
at home! It
seems that we
have no freedom
at all! As he
cannot go for a
walk, so can't
we! ... My
sister is always
bothering me!
And now, thank
God
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my
classes
are
over,
because
I could
not
stand
having
to study
every
day!
... |
And seizing the
opportunity, he
complained about
everything and
everyone. When
he was finished,
his mother
smiled and
said:
- Gus! You
complained about
everything! It
seems like
nothing pleases
you! By the way,
what do you
like? ... What
makes you
happy?
Given his
mother's words,
the boy's eyes
widened in
amazement. He
had never
realized that he
did not like
anything. Then
he searched his
brain trying to
find something
he liked.
- I'm not that
bad, mom. I want
to change, but I
can't. For
example, I love
to run! ...
The mother
thought for a
moment and
considered:
- Interesting!
... Gus, how do
you prepare to
run?
- I exercise my
legs.
- Before that.
Regarding
clothes, what do
you do?
- Ah! I get rid
of everything
that might weigh
me down. The
teacher says
that our clothes
should be very
light. For
running, the
less clothing
the better!
- That's right.
So as you get
the maximum
weight off
possible to be
able to run
better, in life
we also need to
be lighter when
we want to
improve our
behaviour. It's
just that it's
some other kind
of weight we
should take off
instead:
selfishness,
jealousy, envy,
anger, the usual
complaining
about everything
and everyone.
Got it?
The boy lowered
his head and
acknowledged:
- Got it, Mom. I
think you're
right. I often
feel envious and
jealous of other
people when they
get more
attention than
me.
The mother
hugged her son
kindly,
explaining:
- Gus, when Mom
or Dad seem to
pay more
attention to
your sister or
your uncle
Felix, is that
they are needing
it more at that
moment. Do not
forget that you
are our dear son
and we love you
very much.
- I know, Mom.
It is
selfishness!
I'll try to act
differently -
the boy
promised,
relieved.
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From that moment
on, Augustus
sought to
change. He
entered his
uncle's room
wondering how he
had spent the
night and if he
was feeling
better.
Surprised by the
sudden attention
he got from his
nephew, the
uncle replied
and they began
to talk. Gus
spent hours
listening to his
uncle talk about
his hometown and
tell funny
stories. Time
passed and he
did not even
notice. Before
leaving the
room, his uncle
said:
- Gus, I know
I'm bothering
you guys. All
these
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months
here at
your
home!
... I'm
sorry. I
noticed
that you
do not
like it
very
much,
but rest
assured,
I'll be
gone
soon. |
- No, uncle
Felix! ... You
can stay as long
as you want.
Sometimes I'm
kind of cranky,
but I like you.
- So come on and
give me a hug,
boy!
When his mother
and sister
entered the room
with the
patient's lunch,
they found both
them laughing
and hugging.
Leaving the tray
on the table,
the two went up
and joined that
big hug.
At that time,
Augustus felt as
if tons of
weight had been
taken from his
frail shoulders.
With tears in
his eyes, once
that special
moment was over,
he said to his
mother while he
wiped his face:
- Mom, I think
I'm ready to
run!
His sister and
uncle exchanged
a surprised
look, not
understanding
it. But Augustus
knew his mother
had understood,
and that was
what really
mattered.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia Xavier
de Camargo on
17/12/2012.)
1 In Brazilian
society, Dona is
a term of
respect that is
used with the
woman's first
name.
