Two friends were walking alongside the road, talking and enjoying the sunny, but cool weather when an obviously neglected mutt walked around the corner and stopped.

They decided they wanted to help the hungry animal, but they would first need to get the dog in their car.

“I’ll get the dog, you get the car,” said Friend 1. At this point, Friend 1 started walking toward the dog and the dog backed up. He stopped and started talking to the dog. The dog didn’t move. He then decided he would have to run to the dog quickly and catch it. At this point the dog started running away.

“Why don’t you go get the car and let me worry about the dog,” said Friend 2.

Friend 2 sat on the ground, leaned back and propped himself up with his elbows, and closed his eyes enjoying the sun. Within a few minutes, the mutt became curious and walked over to Friend 2 to sniff him out. Friend 2 pet and spoke to the mutt, and then the mutt followed him to the car.

Moral: Persuasion can be more effective than force.

Adapted from Aesop’s Fable: The Wind and the Sun

Scene: mom and daughter in car. Daughter was just picked up from gymnastics and is complaining to mom about Sarah and how she always gets the praise from the coaches and they don’t pay attention to her.

“If you want that, then you have to work for it.” - Mom

MOM

Why didn’t anyone tell me this when I was younger? I felt as though I was just left alone and because of this, did not achieve much of anything. I could have done so much when I was younger if my parents would have guided me and shown an interest in my interests. I will not be that parent. I will always show an interest in what my children are doing and I will mentor them the way I never was. She needs to know that in order to accomplish her goal, she has to put effort into it, even when she doesn’t feel like it. If I had learned that early on, I would be a much better adult. Why is she offended that I care and I’m helping?

DAUGHTER

Ugh. Once again my judgemental mother has to cut me down. I’ve never been good enough for her. I’m not smart enough, fast enough, skilled enough, or skinny enough. I tell her I want to be the best at something and instead of positively encouraging me, she just tells me I don’t work hard enough and it’ll never happen. Why doesn’t she believe in me? I guess I’m really not capable of being good at much of anything. I’m just going to quit.

His mom walked in with 28 bottles of Gatorade and 28 cupcakes. A smile immediately lit up Mrs. Kelley’s face and she stopped our math lesson. It’s hard to say who was more excited about the free and unexpected food verses the early end to anything math, but I’m certain there were 27 smiling faces - Mrs. Kelley’s and 26 students.

Immediately, my throat started hurting, my face got hot, and my eyes watery, just to the point of not spilling down my face. I couldn’t even look at Akira. How is it that my very best friend since kindergarten was moving to another country? I always knew he was moving back, but in my younger brain, I didn’t really understand what that would mean for me, being left behind.

Mrs. Kelley started passing out drinks and cupcakes- still smiling, but I know her. It’s the kind of smile she has when she knows she’s supposed to smile, but really, she just wants to erase the last 5 minutes and go back to her math lesson.

Nonchalantly, she leaned over to me and said, “If you want to pull up a chair next to Akira’s desk, I’ll allow it.”

Obviously that’s exactly what I wanted to do. But why couldn’t I be doing this for any other occasion? I didn’t know his mom was going to try to make a party out of their moving. Rude. Doesn’t she think of anyone but herself?

I pulled my chair up to Akira, and he smiled the smile I’ve seen on so many occasions. When he and I met the first day of kindergarten and I nervously sat down next to him. When we planned to both be baseball players for book character dress-up day, using some random book from the library neither of us had read. When we both made the 3rd grade basketball team. When we found out we were going to be in the same 4th grade class. That’s the smile he’s always had next to my consistent frown.

I know it’s time for him to go, but it just seems so unfair. How am I going to enjoy anything without him here? Tomorrow I have to walk in this classroom and look at his empty desk. I hate this and there is nothing I can do about it. I can’t wait to get home, shut my door, and cry.

When the party was over, Mrs. Kelley had us take a group photo. It’s the same photo I still have tucked in my Guinness Book of World Records: 2020 edition. In this photo I see the 26 smiles of people who were only excited about food, or a break from learning and the one smile by my teacher who is just a master at smiling. Then I see two “smiles” in the center. My sad frown/smile that I reserve for photos when I’m not feeling it and Akira’s genuine big smile.

He lingered as his mom was standing at the door saying goodbye to our teacher. They hugged, we did not. He said “bye” and I responded the same. Then he walked out the door and my life was supposed to continue as if he were never here.

Memory breathes as a living being It ebbs and flows like waves in the ocean Can we see it all at once?

Inhale the good Exhale the bad If only it were that easy

Should we only want the happy memories Like selecting the perfect produce for a meal

Should we forget the bad? Or is that denial?