"We don't make friends, we recognize them" (V.M.)

Abel was a good boy, for most things. He always did all of his homework. Well, almost always. He went to all of his classes, and paid attention to most of what the teacher said, just like any other little boy would. Abel also liked talking to all of his friends, or would, if he had many. Hi didn’t. It had no particular reason, nonetheless he was a little shy and had a different name, which people were always mispronouncing. What cause the problem was this unhelpful urge to correct them;

-          Can you solve this question, Abel? – would ask the teacher.

-          It’s not Abel, its Ah-bel. – would answer him.

As a matter of fact, most kids were merely polite or nice to him, no more. People took him for a fussy bastard, which wasn’t true, not at all, he only couldn’t handle people very well. There was only one he could truthfully call a friend.This is how he finds such a trustworthy friend.

As if it wasn’t enough, he was still small and skinny, and there was this big lad in his class, the kind of little boy that is little only in age, one who doesn’t pay any attention to what the teacher said, and who never ever finished his homework. He was called Korby, or at least, that was how everyone called him.

Every other day, he would be standing through Abel’s path, waiting for him to come in the morning, and thus take his money for lunch, or even he’s lunch itself, if it was the case. Also, Korby would make several mean names to call his school mates, and would steal other children toys on Fridays, the toy-bringing-day at school. But Abel wasn’t afraid of him, not anymore.

At first, he would simply stay there and do as Korby commanded. Later, his mother and father noticed the problem and talked to him:

-          You must not let this happened. He is big, but he is one. If you talk to the other children, and walk together, he won’t be big enough to take you all.

Although Abel did not have many friends, there were many children threatened by Korby and so went to talk to them. It was no good, everybody were afraid that after a group assault, Korby would come and take them individually, or perhaps he would call himself a group, and there would be no chance to scape.

Abel then went back to his parents, and thus they said:

-          Well, we must, them, talk to the school administration. But do not fear, son, do not surrender. Keep on looking for other children to whom might present a threat, and know, he is not unbeatable.

Abel truthfully  believed in his parents, and believing he should stand as an example to encourage the others, and thus he decided to act. Ever since, Korby would strike him down every single time he stood for his lunch, as for a little fellow threatened child. He never said nothing but “no” whenever the big one came to face him. He thus begun to arrive home, every afternoon, with bruises and marks, and so his parents became worried.

        They told him to stop, that without help, it was no use, it was not wise, or healthy, to face such a boy. They told him to look for the adults help at school. But Korby wasn’t allowed to be mean at school terrain anymore, it happened always outside. Abel didn’t wanted to be weak and let Korby do as he pleased. He felt that it was the right thing to do.

One day, while everyone left school to return to their homes, he saw Korby coming towards his direction, stopping right in front of him, and asking for his remote control car, it was a Friday.

Abel stood up there, on his feet, and said:

-          No.

-          Well – responded Korby – But I want to play whit it, if you brought it o school than it mean you must share it. – and thus pushed Abel to the ground.

-          But if the car remains with you only – said an strange voice – then it’s not sharing. And if you take it with you after, without his permission, then that’s stealing.

Nobody had ever talked to Korby in such way before. When he turned around the new boy was there, standing on his feet, with determination in his eyes. The new boy was from another country, and no one knew nothing about him.

-          So, you’re calling me a thief? – asked Korby.

-          Yes. I am. – That was something new. Even more than the previous words.

Thus being, Korby proceeded to punch the new boy, just as he did to everyone else. Abel saw it through, and puched the big one to the ground himself. They almost lose it all that day, but the survived nonetheless.

When Abel asked the new boy how was he called, he smiled:

-          My name is Paulo – he replied.

-          Thanks Paul – said Abel, and smiled back.

-          Oh, no! It’s not Paul, it’s Pau-LO!

It was a memorable day.