Last Holy Week, my Second Son has been very busy. He serves as an acolyte in our parish and has gained a number of friends. Sometimes, his friends would go to the house to fetch him so they could go to church practices and meetings together.
My mother used to warn me of Second Son’s two new found friends. She described the two as “someone you should not trust.” They unlawfully occupy an unused land and claimed it as theirs. Their father has no decent job as well.
Last Thursday during the Washing of the Feet play at our parish, I noticed that Second Son’s two friends weren’t there. Then I learned from my mother that the two boys were kicked out from being sacristan. Their father went to the church one day and made a scene. Our parish priest did not like what happened and ordered the two not to attend anymore.
Second Son and his two friends
This reminded me of an incident before. Second son came from a church practice, and instead of going home, he went with his two friends to play basketball near their place. After the game, they let my boy go home alone without even giving him some water to quench his thirst. My son walked real far.
Two Friends and The Bear
A friend in need is a friend indeed
Vijay and Raju were friends. On a holiday they went into a forest. They were enjoying the beauty of nature. Suddenly they saw a bear coming at them. They were frightened.
Raju who knew climbing trees ran up to a tree and climbed quickly. He did not think of Vijay. Vijay did not know tree climbing.
Vijay thought for a second. He had heard animals do not prefer dead bodies. He fell to the ground and held his breath. The bear sniffed him and thought he was dead. So, he went away.
Raju asked Vijay,” What did the bear whisper into your ears?”
Vijay replied, “The bear asked me to keep away from friends like you” and went on his way.
Moral of the Story
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
The friend from the fable and my son’s two friends are perhaps the same. They love to call individuals their friends but in times of need, they would leave them alone. Raju left Vijay when the bear arrived, same with the two former acolyte boys who left my boy to go home alone thirsty. They urged my son to play basketball near their place and did not bother to think of the long distance my kid would walk just to go home. Worst, they did not even invited my son to their house to offer a drink when before, they were always welcome inside our house. I would even cook merienda for them. Or perhaps I am just being blinded by anger.
Let it not be the case.
Did second son tell his two friends that he was really thirsty and badly needed to drink?