Please Don't Cheat!

        He tried and tried with his big blue eyes to take a look at his friend’s test. One glance: quick, objective and careful. Second glance: smooth and a bit slower. Third glance: he froze for the words he dreaded to hear came out of the professor’s mouth: Please don’t cheat.

Sweat started to roll down his forehead, he wasn’t sure whether the message had been for him or not. He had forgotten to keep an eye on the professor. Panic struck. He was stuck on the first question and he just had to know the answer otherwise he wouldn’t be able to move on. His mind had gone blank. He knew he should have at least taken a quick look at the subject the night before but he stayed up all night playing that video game.

He waited a while and noticed that the professor had started to grade some papers. Now was his chance. Once again his big blue eyes filled with fear glanced over at his friend’s test. All of a sudden all horror struck. “Billy, can you please sit here in this empty seat.” said the professor in a sweet and calm voice.

He couldn't believe his ears. His friend was moved to another seat far away from him. The professor had noticed what he was up to. But how could he? He was grading papers and wasn’t paying attention to the class.

Mr. Blue Eyes was deserted like an island with no other students nearby close enough for him to glance at their tests. He was doomed.

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(Written October 25, 2012)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

 

The Black Plastic Bag

As I was stopped at a traffic light under the by-pass, he turned the corner and I spotted him. He was wearing a torn button up shirt and torn jeans that were made to look like bermuda shorts except that one leg was longer than the other. He had grey hair and somewhat of a full grown beard which meant that he hadn´t groomed in a while. What called my attention as I observed him was that he had no shoes on his feet. It was cold and it had rained the night before and there he was walking on that sidewalk barefoot.

In his hands he was carrying a black plastic garbage bag. What called my attention was that he was carrying that bag with so much care. It seemed like he was protecting that bag with all his might, like he was carrying some kind of treasure, something very precious to him.

When he was somewhat closer to my car three younger boys approached him and grabbed his bag and ran throwing it to one another as if it were a basketball. They laughed and tossed the bag back and forth while running.

The old man panicked and started to scream. However, no one helped him. No one tried to stop the boys after all it was just a garbage bag. He tried to run after the boys but the boys were too fast. He gave up and sat on the curb and cried. So much sadness flowed through his tears.

The boys headed in the same direction that I was heading so I drove slowly after them. I didn´t know whether they were armed or not, so I didn´t want to take any chances.

The group of delinquents stopped near a gas station and looked into the bag to see what they had gotten. Since it was near a gas station, I also stopped and filled up the tank but always keeping an eye at them.

They opened the bag, looked in and tossed it into a bush nearby and left. Somewhat frustrated they walked away in hunt of their next victim.

I cautiously walked over to the bush and slowly picked up the bag. I took it to my car and placed on the passenger seat next to me. I didn´t dare look in the bag, it didn´t belong to me. I was already late for work, so I decided to go back to where I had last seen the old man and return his bag. I was in luck, he was still there sobbing away like a little boy. So much pain.

-      Excuse me sir. Is this your bag?

I showed him the bag. He rubbed his eyes and smiled.

-      Oh my goodness, it can´t be. Where did you find it?

He took the bag and looked in.

- I don´t know if everything is there. I saw what had happened to you and also saw when the boys tossed it. I didn´t look in it, though.

- Thank you. Thank you.( He looked in the bag.) It is still here. How can I repay you?

         - There is no need for that sir. But if you don´t mind my asking, what is in the bag that made you cry so much?

        -The best thing in the world.

He pulled out a worn-out black and white photo of a quite beautiful woman.

        -This is my mother. She passed away several years ago. When my house burned down it was the only thing that stayed intact and I carry it with me everywhere to remind me of the only person who really loved me. It sooths my heart and keeps me going. She was a very brave woman and taught me that even when the situation looks bad, there is hope and we must have faith that better days will come.

My eyes started to well up. There sitting on the curb in front of me was a man in torn worn-out clothing and no shoes who had nothing but a photograph of his deceased mother talking about hope and faith and love.

-      On second thought, there is one way you can repay me for returning your bag.

-      Yes, it would make me very happy.

-      Let me buy you some breakfast. Please get in my car.

He smiled got up, turned to me, placed his hand on my shoulder and said:

-      You see, mother was right.

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(Written October 22, 2012)

 

Can I have a fried egg too?

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A friend and I were doing some shopping downtown when on the way to the car park we were approached by a young boy who clearly lived off the streets.

-          Excuse me. I am not a robber and I am not going to hurt you. But I haven´t eat food in three days and I am very hungry.

I reached into my pocket to give him some change.

-          I do not want your money. I was wondering if you could buy me some food.

-          You want a sandwich? There is a bakery right there.

-          If you don´t mind, I like a plate of rice and beans.

-          Ok. Let´s go into that bakery. They also serve lunch and you can order whatever you want from the menu.

-          Really?

-          Aren´t you hungry?

-          Oh, yes!

-          Then yes, you can order whatever you want.

We went into the bakery and were approach by a waiter who turned to the boy and told him that he was not allowed in there. I immediately told that waiter that he was with me and asked for a menu.

-          Here you are. Look at the menu and order.

-          I´d like the rice, beans, fries and beef.

-          And to drink? I asked.

-          Orange juice.

-          You heard him. Please make sure that he is well served.

-          Oh, and if it is not too much to ask. Could I also have a friend egg with that?

-          Sure.  Waiter, please give him all of that. Thanks.

The waiter took down the order but with a despising look. I told the boy to take a seat at one of the tables and went to the cash register to pay. I asked the cashier to make sure that the boy was well served.

-          You know lady, he isn´t going to eat everything. He is a drug addict and always roams this part of town.

-          He said he was hungry. I am buying him the food. I am doing what I think is right. Now whether or not he eats it all, that is his problem. But I am not going to sit with him to see whether he does the same way that I am not going to stick around to make sure you serve him appropriately. I have faith in you and in him.

-          We will serve him.

With this being said, the cashier yelled out at the waiter to treat the boy very well.

      -Ok you lunch is paid for. Take your time to eat it and if you want to take the leftovers with you just ask the waiter. OK?

      -Thank you so much. God bless you.

My friend and I walked out of the bakery but still hung around a while to check on the waiter. We saw that he had taken some bread and butter to the boy´s table so we figured that they were going to hold up their end of the bargain. We walked over to the car park knowing that we had completed our task for the day.

( Written October 22, 2012)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

Just a thought....

Today in São Paulo, a man shot three people and then hid in his house for 8 hours until the Police finally convinced him to turn himself in.

What intrigued me about the whole story is that all two big stations, ‘Globo’ and ‘Record’, televised it from 8:30 to 1:00 pm. I kept imagining why they had canceled their programs to show a bunch of cops in front of a house while there were helicopters flying around and they did not know what exactly was going on. The shooter was no one famous or important and it was not like he’d be shooting anyone else.

It made me wonder what the truth behind the story was. They only stopped televising the story when the afternoon shows came on. The morning shows are live, perhaps that is why they could have done that, unlike the afternoon shows. However, couldn’t they have shown something more educational? Wasn’t there anything else going on in the country they could have focused on? Perhaps there was. I believe that people nowadays like to see tragic stories. They like to see blood and people getting hurt.  But then again, there is a lot of violence here in São Paulo and you think that people would get more pleasure out of watching other things other than violence and crime. Humans are strange and I wonder if I will ever figure them out.

What do you have to say about this?

(Written : October 18, 2012)
copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

Back and Forth

Yesterday when I looked out my bedroom window, I saw an elderly man crossing the street. He was well dressed and over his gray suit he was wearing a long dark blue overcoat.

When he reached the other side he simply turned around and crossed again. It intrigued me for he did this several times.

I wondered if he had temporarily lost his memory and couldn´t figure out where he was going or perhaps he was in trouble and needed help. I tried to call his attention so I could ask him if he needed anything. He did not notice me. He just kept on crossing the street, back and forth.

I ran down the stairs, threw on a jacket and flung the door open. When I finally reached the sidewalk he wasn´t there anymore. Puzzled I decided to go for a walk and see if he was around.

I went to the corner but I couldn´t spot him anywhere. He was nowhere to be seen.

On the next morning there he was again. Instead of running down to help him, I watched and counted how many times he was crossing the street; thirty-three.

Why was he doing that? What was wrong with this man?

This went on for a few more days when finally I decided to wait for him to appear.

He didn´t seem to notice me on the sidewalk. He just walked back and forth 33 times.

Then he walked past me.

-Good morning. Excuse me sir?

-Good morning young man.

-Could I ask you a question?

-Certainly, what can I do for you?

-I am very curious about something. Every morning for the past week you have come to this spot in front of my house, cross the street 33 times then leave. If you don't mind my asking? Why?

-Have you been spying on me?

-No sir, I am just curious and have noticed this. At first I thought that you needed help. Then, I just decided to ask.

-Well, you see. I was told that if I cross this street 33 times at 7am one day the portal to the other world will open and I will cross over.

-That´s crazy. What portal? What other world?

-You see young man, I have lived a long life and have seen and heard many things. Once I was in a country overseas and was stopped by a beautiful young woman who read my palm. She had some strange powers.

-She gave you this address?

-I know it is hard to believe, but she said “you will cross over at 7am at 367 Lincoln Road after you have crossed the street thirty-three times.”

-But that is insane.

-I thought so too  until my son put me in the resting home near here and I read the name of this street and when I saw that the number was the same one, I decided to give it a try.

-But a portal to where?

-I don´t know really but I am quite curious, just like you, so I come here every morning and try it.

-When did you say she had said this to you?

-I didn´t. But it happened in the 80´s, if I am not mistaken in the mid 80´s.

-Don´t you think it is odd that only now, twenty years later you have come across this street?

-Perhaps. But I´ve got nothing to lose. I am retired and need to do my daily exercise and to be frank; staying at the home with all those old folks is quite boring.

-Can I ask you another question? What do you think this other world is like?

-Ah, my boy, I imagine it to be a wonderful place filled with nature and only nice people; the opposite of this world. Yes, totally the opposite, of that I am sure.

-It sounds nice but I do not think that the information the woman gave you is true.

-We´ll see. Have a nice day my chap, I should be on my way.

-Have a good day sir.

With this I went home and thought about the talk I had just had with the old man, or better, crazy old man.

The next morning my alarm clock didn’t go off and I was awakened with a loud screeching noise that made me jump out of bed and look out the window.

As I looked out my bedroom window, I saw the elderly man stretched out in the middle of the street lifeless. He had almost been hit by a car. Unfortunately his heart couldn´t take the fright and it stopped beating. As I took a closer look, I could see there was a smile across his face. He looked happy. I guess that after all ,that young fortune teller was right. He must have crossed over to a better world at least that is what his peaceful face read.

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(Written: October 15, 2012)

copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.

Meanwhile in the Ladies Room...

Little Chester walks into the ladies room at a department store after his mom who was already in one of the bathroom stalls.

-          Mom. Mom. Are you in here? I also need to us the restroom.

-          Go ahead honey; just go into the empty stall over there.

-          Mom, I need your help to undo my button.

-          Come over here, Chester. I´ll open the door for you.

He walks over to his mom´s stall and then back to his.

-          Honey , who undoes your button at school

-          Nobody. I don´t need to go.

-          You don´t use the bathroom at school.

-          Not today.

-          Who will undo it for you if you wear those pants in the future

-          I don´t know.

-          I mean tomorrow or another day

-          I don´t know mom. I live now not in the future.

With this both come out of the stalls wash their hands and leave. Kids are wise. Too bad they grow up.

(Written: October 9, 2012)

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copyright ©2012 - Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.