reproduce in this post a wonderful story of the Argentine writer Carlos Joaquín Durán, in his book Tales for stomach ache. We sent him our colleague Manuela Fernández Mayo, Professor, Department of Geography and History. The story tells a moving story about a school teacher in northwestern Argentina, to make us think about the competitiveness and the skills that each of us and sometimes we do not know or can not see.
VIRTUES Choique
by Carlos Joaquín Duran
was once a school in the middle of the mountains. The guys who went to that place to study, to horse, donkey, mule and foot.
As often happens in these schools lost, the place had only one teacher-one alone, to knead the bread, worked a quintita, rang the bell and did the cleaning.
I forgot: the teacher of that school was called Virtues Choique. It was a most beautiful brunette on 25 May. And another thing I forgot: Virtues Choique milked four goats, and on top was a masterpiece full of inventions, stories and expeditions. (As you can see, there are teachers and teachers). This tale, lived in the school. At the end of the row of benches, had a cot and a kitchenette. Lived there, singing with the guitar, and knew there to hit the snare and bass drum.
And now comes the part of boys.
The guys did not miss a single day of class. Mainly, because Miss Virtues was time for them. Moreover, mime could do, and occasionally played soccer with them. Last mate was the goat milk, which Virtues served each morning. The issue is that one day Apolinario Sosa returned to the ranch and told his parents:
- Look, look ... ! Look what the teacher has put me in the pocketbook!
The father and mother looked, and saw a red letters. As they could not read, asked the child to tell them, then Apolinario read:
- "Dear parents, informing them that their son Apolinario is the best student."
Apolinario's parents embraced the child, because if the teacher had written it, they felt blessed by God.
However, the next day, another girl took home something. This girl named Juanita Chuspas, and flew with his mule to the ranch to show what the teacher had written:
-
"Dear parents, informing them that their daughter Juanita is the best student."
And here I was not going to finish the thing. The next day Melchorcito Guare came to his ranch screaming like mad with joy:
- Look Mommy, ... ! Look, Tata ... ! The teacher has made me a red-colored cards, here. See: "Dear parents, informing them that their son Melchor is the best student."
So at fifty-six students from the school led to his ranch a note that claimed: "Your son is the best student."
And had been all, if the apothecary's son had not taken his congratulations. Because, I tell them: the pharmacist, Don Pantaleon Minoguye, just learned that her son was the best student, said:
- Let's have a party. My son is the best in the region! Oh yes a barbecue with dancing. Minoguye Pantaleon's son honored his father, so I will celebrate as God intended.
The chemist wrote a letter to Miss Virtues. The letter said:
- "My dear, very distinguished and beautiful masterpiece,
The next Saturday I will make a roast in honor of my son. You are the first guest. I ask him to warn other students to come to the barbecue with his parents. Thank you very much. Kiss his feet, Pantaleon Minoguye; apothecary.
Imagine the uproar that ensued. That day every guy flew home to warn of the treat.
always happen among the common people, no one missed the party. Well you know how much value the poor have to meet, celebrate, laugh a little, sing, greet, eat toast and a barbecue of lamb.
So that Saturday around the world dropped to the house of the apothecary, who was the most decorated. And was the grill, the kettle with the material, several sources with cupcakes, and three tables set next to each other. Then all hell broke party.
While Miss Choique sang a baguala Virtues, the mate went hand in hand, and lamb meat was browning.
Finally, Don Pantaleon, the apothecary, clapped her hands and asked for silence. All listened. Was sure to communicate important news, as the treat was a celebration.
Don Pantaleon took a stool, put it in the yard and climbed. Then he uh, ahem, and taking a piece of paper read the following speech:
- "Ladies and gentlemen, neighbors, children. Dear guests! I have gathered to eat the barbecue here, to celebrate news that fills me with pride. My son, my boy, has been named by the teacher, Mrs. Choique Virtues, the best student. So. Nothing more, nothing less ...
apothecary's son approached the father, and gave him a glass of wine. Then the chemist up the cup, and continued: So, ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to raise a glass and toast this son who honored his father, his name, and country. I said. "
Against expectations, no one raised his glass. No one applauded. Nobody said or mu. On the contrary. Parents began to see each other, quite serious.
The first protest was the father of Apolinario Sosa:
- I do not toast anything. Here the only thing better is my boy, Apolinario.
There is just red with anger ahead of the father of Juanita Chuspas to retort: \u200b\u200b
- What are they saying, then! Here the only the very best of all is Jane, my little girl.
But the cries of others, because each one contradicted the other saying no, the best student was his son. And that was stopped around saying lies.
A point that Don Sixto Cop grabbed the Dona Dominga braids Llanos, and everything is out for the hand of the devil, when he could hear the firm voice of Miss Choique Virtues.
- Stand ... ! Be careful what you are about to do ... ! This is a party!
People lowered his hands and stood still.
All the teacher looked fierce. Finally, one said:
- Teacher: you said a lie. You everyone says the same thing.
Then something remarkable. Choique virtues began to laugh over the moon.
Finally he said:
- Well. I see that I can not stop teaching here. Listen well, and open ears. But also open heart. Because if you do not understand, goodbye party. I'll be the first to go.
were all sitting down.
Then the lady spoke thus:
- I have not lied. I told the truth. True that few see, and therefore do not believe. Let me give an example that I speak the truth:
"When I say that Melchor Guare is best not to lie. Melchorcito not know the multiplication tables, but it is the best goalkeeper in school, when we play
football ...
"When I say that Juanita Chuspas is the best no lie. Because while walking loose
in History, is the most loving of all ...
"And when I say that Apolinario Sosa is not my best student growth. And God is my witness, although messy, is the most willing to help in whatever ...
"not lying when I say that this is the best at math ... but I remain silent if not helpful.
"and that other one is the most verbose. But I'll shut up if it costs to provide some useful peers.
" And that other one is a fighter, but he writes a beautiful poetry.
"And he, which is awkward playing ball, my best student in drawing.
" And it's my worst student in spelling, but is the best of all when it comes to manual labor!
"Should I keep explaining? Do not you understand?" I'm the teacher and I build the world with these guys. Well then, what will raise the country? "With the best or worst ?
All had been looking down. Parents were rather serious. Happy smiling children.
Gradually everyone was looking for his boy. And I looked with new eyes. Mainly because they had always seen the flaws, and now beginning to suspect that every defect is a virtue that makes counterweight. And that is a matter of stress, stimulate and reward the best.
Because with that is better constructed. The story goes that the chemist broke the long silence. Said
- A food ... ! The meat is already ready, and the celebration must be multiplied by fifty-six ... !
ate happier than ever. Provided. Played the tobacco. The trick. A Broom of fifteen. And danced until four in the afternoon.
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