Randerup 40
|
|
Quotation of the week
|
The Magic Boy VII
What A Saturday!!
By
Per Jespersen
It was Saturday morning, and Sharon was still fast asleep. She normally did that on Saturdays, as she and Sebastian spent Friday evening at school, where they had a club. Here they could do some sport or take part in discussions about anything they wanted. One of the teachers had started it, because he knew that children in their age very often had severe problems, mostly because they had very few adults to talk to. Sometimes Sebastian and Sharon played tennis, but sometimes they took part in some of the discussions. They had done that last night, and they did not come home until two in the morning. Sharon’s parents were a little bit worried, and Dad had decided to talk with Sharon about the problem, as she had promised not to come later than midnight. But they let her sleep this morning. They had no suspicion that she was involved in something illegal, but an agreement is an agreement. Her mom and dad talked it over at breakfast. Mom was really worried, but dad said, that he trusted her. “She never does anything wrong. She’s a good girl.” “But she has this friend Sebastian – isn’t it a little bit early,” mom said. “Oh, they’re just friends. I did the same when I was that age.” “Of course you did. But you were a boy. It’s much more serious with girls.” “So you always say. It’s not right. Boys can do bad things, too.” “Yes, to girls.” “Oh no, not that story again. Listen, I have the suspicion that you did something wrong when you were young.” “Never.” “No of course not.” He laughed. Then the phone rang, and dad answered it. It was Sebastian. “Is Sharon there?” “No, she’s sleeping. You were late last night.” “Oh yes sir, I know that. But we took part in an interesting discussion at school.” “That long?” “Yes, sir. That was a good evening. Can I talk to Sharon?” “As I told you: she’s asleep.” “Sir, would you do me a favour?” “Sure, if I can.” “You can, sir. Tell her to come to the park at noon.” “I will. Certainly, Sebastian.” “Thank you, sir! I do appreciate that.” He hang up. “He’s IS a nice guy.” “So you say. But I must admit that there’s something around him, I can’t figure out.” “I know that. He has carisma.” “That’s the word.” Now Sharon came down the stairs. “What are you talking about?” “Well, you see, we were --- .” “So you were talking about Sebastian. I can see it on your faces. Are you blowing the whistle, or are you talking about something, you don’t know a thing about?” “That’s the same isn’t it?” “Exactly,” Sharon said. “He’s my best friend. He has given me so much.” “Mom is a little worried, when you come home so late.” “I know it was late, but we had such a good discussion. I don’t do things you don’t want me to.” “Right. But do try to come home before midnight. By the way. There was a message on the phone for you. Sebastian wants you to come to the park at noon.” Sharon sat down and took her late breakfast. “I’ll be there.” “What are you going to do to day,” dad asked. “That depends on Sebastian. He must have something on is mind. Don’t worry!” “OK, Sharon. But you do have a home here. Wasn’t it a good idea to spend some time here sometimes?” Sharon laughed. “I do that every night, and I sleep so wonderfully exactly here.” They could not help laughing, and deep down Sharon’s parents trusted her, and she trusted them. “What about inviting Sebastian for dinner to night,” Sharon said. “We’d be glad to, but some businessmen are coming,” mom said. “See, you don’t have time for me.” “Maybe some other time.” “We’ll see,” Sharon said.
An hour later she was sitting on the bench with Sebastian. She told him about the small dispute she had had with her parents. “My parents said exactly the same. That’s the way parents are. We’ll do the same, when our children come home late.” “What?” “Yes, you heard. We’re sharing our destiny, aren’t we?” “That has nothing to do with marriage.” “I didn’t say that word,” Sebastian laughed. “You said it. That’s a good sign.” “Oh boy!” “Yeah, that’s what I am. And not a man. I don’t want to. I want to be a child my whole lifetime. I want to be free, always.” “Are you saying, that adults are not free?” “That’s what I’m saying. They might think they are, I don’t know; but they are not. I remember what my little brother said the other day. He said: ”Babies cannot do anything evil, because they are totally free. But the first time they are scolded by their parents or somebody else, they can – and a little bit of the freedom is taken away.” “How old is he?” “Seven. But he’s right, isn’t he?” “I guess so. So we are not totally free?” “No.” “Can’t you get your freedom back?” “Well, I don’t think so. Just to make a society work, you have to take some freedom away from the citizens. It’s strange.” “And dictatorships take all the freedom away.” “So does democracy. It shouldn’t. I’m dreaming of another world order. But I can’t figure it out. There was a man in the middle aged Italy, who did some new thinking on this area, and recently there was a Brazilian philosopher who wanted to give freedom back to children in school.” “Yes, I have read about him. But Sebastian, tell me, are we talking politics here?” “No, not at all. We are talking humanity. Politics always destroys the free will of the people. Humanity does not. Oh God, I have a headache now. This thinking is too heavy a task for my small mind.” “You don’t have a small mind, Sebastian. You have a very rich mind.” “Thank you so much.” “ I mean it. But you talked about freedom and this man from Brazil. My grandma was talking about him as well.” “Your grandma! How come?” “Well, she was the leader of a children’s home, and there was a picture of this man everywhere.”
“She WAS a leader?” “Well, she had an accident. She was fabulous, and the children liked her so much. But she fell from the stairs in the children’s home and broke something, which could not be cured. So she’s in a wheel chair now.” “You never told me.” “You didn’t ask. I don’t know all your family, do I?” “Well, no. But – it’s terrible. A woman, I guess in her best age, falling down the stairs, and her tremendous work has stopped. How is the children’s home now?” “Not too well, I’m afraid.” “Does she live in this city?” “Oh yes, quite close to us actually.” “Let’s go visit her. I want to have that person’s name. I’m so young and don’t remember that name!” “Well, she knows. Let’s go.” They walked down the main street and went up the stairs to a small apartment on the third floor. “But she can’t possibly come out, when she lives on the third floor.” “No, she can’t. A lady comes here once a week and takes a walk with her.” “Frustrating.” They rang the bell and heard a voice, “Who’s there?” “It’s me, Sharon.” “Come in, my girl.” They went in, and Sebastian found a woman with completely white hair and two wise and blue eyes. “Good afternoon.” “Oh, you have brought guests, Sharon. Who is he?” “My best friend, grandma.” “He’s welcome.” “We were talking about some Brazilian philosopher, but none of us could recall his name.” “Oh, you discussed freedom, right?” “Sure. Tell us his name.” “Pablo .... .” “Freire,” Sebastian said. “Of course. How could I forget?” ”He was a good man,” grandma said. “We know that. And the children’s home you were the leader of?” “Oh, Sharon told you.” She wept a little, and Sebastian pitied her. “Grandma was a perfect leader,” Sharon said. “She built all she did on love and freedom.” Now the woman really wept. And was simultaneously proud of her granddaughter. “Love and freedom,” Sebastian said. “Key words, Sharon.” There was a terrible noise from the traffic in the street, and grandma would like Sharon to close the window. But Sebastian took her hand, fell on his knees, stroking the woman’s legs and hip. The noise from the traffic stopped, as if the whole world was not there. Sharon wept, because she knew, what was going to happen. Then she heard Sebastian’s words, “Leave your wheel chair, rise and walk up to me!” Sharon was close to fainting, but she saw her grandma walk up to Sebastian, kissing him. She wept and wept and whispered, “Thank you! That’s all I can say.” Sharon gave Sebastian a hug and said, “There’re no limits to what a magic boy can do.” “What did I do,” Sebastian asked. “Look out of the window, grandma,” Sharon said happily. She walked up to her window, and there: The street was full of children from grandma’s children’s home. They stood with flags in their hands, waving at her. “Mama, Mama, come back to us!” “Do it, Mama,” Sebastian said. “They miss you, and I bless you.” “Mama, Mama, come back to us!” This could be heard all over the city. And Sharon said, “How do you do it, Sebastian?” “I don’t know. Seriously, I don’t know. But your grandma is so valuable, that I feel she should go back to work with the children. But Sharon, honest, I don’t know what happened.” “You cured my grandma.” “Did I really! That’s because I ... “ “I love you, too, Sebastian.” And even the photo of Pablo Freire wept. What a Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!
Skole-forum
|
