What did you do that moved someone so deeply?
Something I did unintentionally meant a lot to someone.
We were in high school at the time. Monday assembly was perhaps the most boring 45 minutes of our lives. To ease our pain, I along with my friend snuck in a few sweet balls that melt in your mouth. We popped it in just before the assembly.
A timid looking boy in line next to us stared at our 'daring' gesture, which in the real world translates as a crime deserving a life sentence.
"It's my birthday," I whispered, hoping to garner some sympathy.
The boy's face sagged in sorrow. I sensed a gloomy shroud covering his expressions.
"What's the matter, you all right?"
We asked, as we caught up with him after the assembly.
"I never had a birthday, never celebrated, and never received sweets."
It felt like a needle in my heart, and my friend felt it even worse.
.
My friend met me at the school gate the next day with a pack of sweet balls similar to the ones we had the day before. He didn't have to explain to me what was going on.
I fetched the kid to the school court yard, where my friend was waiting for him. We showed him the sweets as we sat on the wooden planks.
"Who's birthday is it now?" he wondered.
"It's yours"
His face brightened like a sunny day after a rainstorm.
We were all laughing as we savored the sweet treat. It felt like liquid happiness flowing down my heart. A weight seemed to be lifted off our chest.
It has now been 20 years. Last I heard, he is doing well in his life, having settled abroad and successfully running his own firm.
That's why I was surprised when he called last week. He had returned home and wanted to invite me to a party.
"It's my birthday, remember?
"Should I?" I didn't get it.
"It's the day we celebrated my birthday for the first time, on the wooden planks of our school court yard, with a pack of sweet balls."
His joyful words brought back memories.
He recalled how, for the first time in his life, he felt important that day. Since then, he had been celebrating his birthday on that day, even if it had been only him.
"Then let's celebrate again," I said, promising to be there.
By the end of the call, I felt full of joy.
Life is a collection of moments, right?
Some moments make life beautiful. Some memories make it shine.
PS: He was married on this day, his 'birthday,' which shows how important it was to him.
We were in high school at the time. Monday assembly was perhaps the most boring 45 minutes of our lives. To ease our pain, I along with my friend snuck in a few sweet balls that melt in your mouth. We popped it in just before the assembly.
A timid looking boy in line next to us stared at our 'daring' gesture, which in the real world translates as a crime deserving a life sentence.
"It's my birthday," I whispered, hoping to garner some sympathy.
The boy's face sagged in sorrow. I sensed a gloomy shroud covering his expressions.
"What's the matter, you all right?"
We asked, as we caught up with him after the assembly.
"I never had a birthday, never celebrated, and never received sweets."
It felt like a needle in my heart, and my friend felt it even worse.
.
My friend met me at the school gate the next day with a pack of sweet balls similar to the ones we had the day before. He didn't have to explain to me what was going on.
I fetched the kid to the school court yard, where my friend was waiting for him. We showed him the sweets as we sat on the wooden planks.
"Who's birthday is it now?" he wondered.
"It's yours"
His face brightened like a sunny day after a rainstorm.
We were all laughing as we savored the sweet treat. It felt like liquid happiness flowing down my heart. A weight seemed to be lifted off our chest.
It has now been 20 years. Last I heard, he is doing well in his life, having settled abroad and successfully running his own firm.
That's why I was surprised when he called last week. He had returned home and wanted to invite me to a party.
"It's my birthday, remember?
"Should I?" I didn't get it.
"It's the day we celebrated my birthday for the first time, on the wooden planks of our school court yard, with a pack of sweet balls."
His joyful words brought back memories.
He recalled how, for the first time in his life, he felt important that day. Since then, he had been celebrating his birthday on that day, even if it had been only him.
"Then let's celebrate again," I said, promising to be there.
By the end of the call, I felt full of joy.
Life is a collection of moments, right?
Some moments make life beautiful. Some memories make it shine.
PS: He was married on this day, his 'birthday,' which shows how important it was to him.
