Control Your Tongue : Speak Kindly
Story about Two Strangers Vijay and Henry
Vijay was a new boy in school. He was short and wore glasses which were too big for his face. He was dark and had thick dark hair. The kids in his school were all fair so he stood out in the crowd.
“Hey Vijay, four eyes, out of our way!” the kids would push him around and call him names.
As the bell rang for recess, everyone dashed outside. Vijay stood in the corridor all alone. “We don’t play with dark people!” the other kids would snide at him.
During lunch hour, “Are you having curry for lunch, smells horrible move away from our table!” said the other students disgustingly.
The kids would stick notes on his backpack when he wasn’t looking, “#1 Nerd” or some insulting remarks.
Vijay returned home from school every evening very sad.
“Vijay, wake up, it is time for school!” his mother would call from the kitchen on mornings.
“How I wish the sun would not show its face, then I would not have to go to school!” thought Vijay covering his face with a pillow.
But his mother would lovingly make him a nice breakfast and pack his lunch. His father helped him with his homework so he did not want to disappoint his parents by quitting school.
After about eight weeks, things had not improved in school. Vijay did not have any friends and was not included in any group activity.
One Friday afternoon, Vijay cleared out his locker and was heading home. His bag was on his back and his arms were full of books.
Henry was a very popular boy in school. He was a member of the football team, he helped with the school newsletter and he and a group of friends would hang out and play music and video games.
Henry noticed Vijay walking a few steps in front of him and thought, “What a nerd! Is he going to study all weekend?” Henry already had plans to play football with his friend and other fun weekend activities.
As these thoughts were running through Henry’s mind, some kids ran past him and knocked Vijay to the ground. His books fell from his hands and his glasses were thrown onto the grass on the sidewalk. He was trying to find his glasses. Henry came by and picked up the spectacles. “Those kids are real jerks, idiots.” He said as he handed Vijay his spectacles.
“Are you trying to build muscles? Why are you carrying so many books? Let me help you, we are going the same way.” Vijay looked at him very gratefully and allowed him to help with the books.
As they walked along, Henry started talking with Vijay and liked him, “Hey, I am meeting up with my friends in the football field later today, I will pass by and you can go with me for practice.”
Henry passed by Vijay’s home and they went for football practice. Vijay was actually quite good and Henry’s friend liked him too. On Saturday they met and played video games. Vijay was a natural and won many of the games easily. Everyone wanted to compete with him to try and win him. Vijay had lots of fun that weekend with his newly found friends.
At lunch on Monday, Henry saw Vijay eating by himself. He and his friends joined him for lunch. “Wow, what is that delicious smell? What has your mom cooked for you Vijay?”
Vijay replied, “It is a special biryani rice and she also made some masala dosas. Would you like to try some, she always packs too much and I cannot finish it all?”
“It is “more-ish”. Can I have another dosa?” laughed Henry. Vijay smiled and gave Henry another of his mom's special masala dosa.
Vijay now had friends to hang out with at school and on weekends. He was beginning to feel much better about going to school. Sometimes his friends would come over and his mom would make special indian treats for them.
One of the Vijay’s friends, Sam, lived alone with his mom. He used to work on afternoons to help pay the bills. Sam was struggling with some subjects. He did not have extra time to study as he worked after school. Vijay would invite Sam and the others to study with him and his dad would give them some extra lessons.
Vijay and Henry became best friends with time. As the years passed, Vijay grew into a tall, dark, handsome lad and his spectacles even looked classy on his face. He became very popular with the young ladies too.
It was graduation and Vijay was selected as the class valedictorian. He was very nervous to go on stage and speak. Henry saw that he was nervous and patted him on the back, “Don’t worry, you will be great!”
Vijay started his speech, “I would like to express my gratitude to my teachers and parents for the support and guidance they had given me. It was with their help that I could excel in school. But most of all I want to say thank you to a special friend without whom I would not be here on the stage speaking today.
When I started the school I was an outcast. My class mates mocked and laughed at me because I was different, I behaved differently and my skin was a different colour. I was called names, pushed around and left to fend for myself. After a few weeks I decided it was too much and I would not return to school or live with such abuse anymore. I decided to end my life!”
There was a gasp from the audience as Vijay one of the most popular boys in the school told of his weakest moments.
“That day I cleaned out my locker and was heading home when I met a stranger, someone who helped me, spoke to me with kindness and made me part of his group of friends. From that day my school life became enjoyable. A few kind words and acts of kindness from a stranger who became a friend made the difference between living and dying.
Today I wish to say thanks and encourage everyone to try and be a special friend to someone or even as we move on, take the time to say a kind word and encourage others. It is a special gift that you give to yourself and someone else.”
Vijay and his parents looked at Henry with eyes full of gratitude for being such a special friend. Only then did Henry realize how a few kind words that day had changed both of their lives for the better.
MORAL :
A student should learn to speak kindly to others.
A few kind words of encouragement will help others to have a brighter day.
Strangers can become friends with a few words of kindness.
