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STORY TIME: To be proud of...
“I hate this car!” 10-year-old Brian looked out of the window into the rain gloomily. They were standing in the side lane for about half an hour now. Dad had called the service guys for help, and they hadn’t turned up yet. Brian silently prayed they could arrive soon; he didn’t want to lose this football match.
It was his sad fate, Brian had told himself time and time again that this junk box which was their car, was a painful punishment from nature for them. He had to bear this car for as long as he could remember. This tiny, miniature, sick car was the only shortcoming of life for Brian. If only Dad would buy another ... Just like Matt’s, Brian’s best friend and next-door-neighbour. How Brian had always envied Matt’s shining red car, with an elegant look all around it. And how smooth it went. Not like Brian’s old, bumpy, yellow car.
It took another 30 minutes after the service guys arrived and fixed their car and gave a thumbs-up to Brian’s Dad, which showed that their poor car was yet once again ready to bump along. Brian had to bitterly pray that this time the interval between their ‘fixed-car’ and their ‘broken-car’ may be a little longer. It was going to break again, Brian knew, he only hoped it happened a little later.
At school, Brian listened in shock as Matt proudly told everyone that they were going to sell their car. But why?
“Oh, we are tired of that old one, it’s an old model; we are going to buy a new one.” Matt was certainly enjoying the awe on his friends’ faces.
“But you just bought it last year,” a boy sitting next to him asked.
“That was last year, man!” Matt rolled his eyes. “We are going to buy a newer model.”
Everyone awed and took their seats as the teacher had arrived. But Brian’s mind was stuck in Matt’s new car. Wasn’t that cool? A brand new car! Even when they already had a great one. Brian shifted uneasily in his chair as he felt his growing craze for new and expensive cars.
He went straight to his Dad when he was home. “Dad, can’t we buy a new car?”
“What?” Dad stared in his face. “I want to have a new car,” Brian declared.
“But why, son? We already have one.”
Oh, how could he make Dad understand? “That’s an old one; I want a new one, glowing, fast, beautiful, something not so bumpy, something that the kids can envy!” Without meaning, he had let the words slip out of his mouth at the end of his sentence.
Dad looked at him closely; this was not what he had taught his son, “So you want a new car so that you can show it off to the kids on the streets?” His voice was grim.
Now that Brian had said it, he had to defend his case. “What’s wrong with that? All the kids do it. And I feel so let down when they make fun of our old car.”
Dad took a deep breath and started carefully. “That’s very wrong of them to do so. I feel very sorry that they don’t do as their parents tell them and say things that they shouldn’t. But I’m more sorry that my son wants do something as naughty as that. We shouldn’t wish others envying us because of our new car or house or clothes. What is better, young man, is to have others praise us for our good manners, polite ways, and kindness. I do hope no one out there envies my son, but instead praises him and tries to follow his good ways, learning nice lessons.”
As Dad looked at his bent head he reached out and kissed Brian gently on his head. That night, Brian lay awake in his bed, unable to sleep. He knew his Dad was right, but it was just a simple wish, just to have a new car, and be proud of it. Dad couldn’t understand how it’s like to be a boy and have nothing pompous when all the other kids are proudly showing off. If only he could make Dad understand!
The next morning, waking up after sleeping late was a tough job. Brian had to get ready in little time, and as he hurried off to the school bus, he didn’t notice the police car outside Matt’s house.
When he arrived at school, he found all his friends standing together whispering in a serious tone. “What happened,” he asked.
“Don’t you know? You’re Matt’s next-door-neighbour!” One of the boys exclaimed. Amazed, Brian admitted his ignorance.
What came next was a huge shock: there had been a burglary at Matt’s house, and after stealing a good lot of stuff, the burglars had fled in Matt’s new car! Brian was still overcoming this startling news when he heard one of the boys say, “Poor Matt! He didn’t even get enough time to show off his new car.”
Matt’s brand new car was found the third day after it was stolen. Brian watched with interest through the window as he saw a group of policemen bringing it in the driveway, To get a closer look, Brian went outside the house, just to have an amazing view: Matt’s new car didn’t look “new” anymore. It was shattered everywhere, looking like an ugly bag of squeezed, black cotton. Brian heard the policemen telling Matt’s Dad that the burglars had a joyride and had left it in a corner in this broken shape. They had even taken all the detachable items away: CD player, air conditioner, clock, even the tyres! Brian caught a glimpse of Matt: he was staring at his “new car” in horror. Brian almost thought he had turned into a statue!
Just then Brian heard his Mum calling from the kitchen. As he was turning, he heard Matt’s Dad exclaim, “We hadn’t got it insured yet, so we wouldn’t get any money from the insurance people!”
Brian was sitting quietly in his sitting room when Dad came in. They sat together silently before Brian began, “I’m sorry, Dad”.
Dad laughed gently and held him closer. “And you know what, my son? I’m glad.”
Brian looked at him with a quizzical look on his face. Dad replied, “I’m glad that my son has learnt a good lesson through this unhappy event. You see, son, people try to show off in front of others at such things that can be destroyed any moment. They tease others, and have pride. You sure have something better than others can. But that’s what you have to gain through hard work, and which will never ever leave you in times when you need it most.” He stopped and smiled, “and you don’t have to get it insured either!”
Just then Brian’s mum called them to help set the dinner table. And while working happily with his family, eating the deliciously cooked dinner, chatting with his siblings and sharing the smile with them all, Brian found the most precious belonging to feel proud of: ‘love’. Something that no burglars could steal or destroy.
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