The Power of Smile on Adversity

Dinner

- We are hungry! And Dad is not coming yet. said the little ones.

Augusto, distressed by the question, comforted them by embracing them with him, began to tell them astonishing stories of dad as he walked through Spain, how far that country was, and the myriad of adventures there.

Almost 09:00 p.m. the rain did not stop, the light of lightning drew shadows from the trees on the walls of the house the sad looks invaded that place. Suddenly there is a whistle in the door; it was Mr. Rafael who was all wet and could scarcely see by the jets of water coming from his forehead. Immediately the children ran to embrace him, no matter how wet the eyes of some were filled with tears, it seemed that Mr. Rafael had come from a long journey.

Augustus, seeing Mr. Rafael, looks at him and says:

- Thank God you're here, Dad! I did not know what to tell you.

After a few minutes Mr. Rafael sat with his family at the table telling them he needed to tell them something that had happened to him during the day, the children running immediately go out to sit at the table to listen to Dad. Rafael embraced Doña Estefania at that moment.

- Today I got nothing but a loaf of bread to eat, I'm ashamed to you all are difficult times for us. Whispers in his ear.

Smiling Mr. Rafael sits at the table as usual and Doña Estefania carries the glasses with only water; sitting on the right side of Mr. Rafael was his eldest son and the other at the next end of the table.

"Children make a little silence," Dad said.

Everyone knows how much I love you and I adore you for how special each of you is for me, and everyone has seen me ride my bike to go out and sell the condiments that I fondly manufacture and with your help; Everyone knows it's to bring the food to the house. Son today the day was very spectacular I met many people along the way.

- Put my bike next to the bench of the square where I rest midday, where there is the giant and crystal clear source that I always tell you; it was quite a spectacle to see how many were wetting them, "smiled Mr. Rafael.

He sprayed the breeze over my face; was fascinating, I also watched as the birds bathed one after another inside the fountain.

-Children! Lowering his head and in a soft voice and a little broken.

- Today's sale was a little less than the day before yesterday, I could only buy a loaf of bread, said Mr. Rafael.

Surprised all those who were sitting there, and looking at each other, overwhelmed by the news suddenly someone gets up, it is the smallest sees his father.

- Dad do not be sad, do not hide your eyes to tell us that you did not sell today, and tomorrow will be another day we all love you, says the child.

Mr. Rafael astonished by what his younger son had answered that way and without words he took the loaf of bread and taking his knife he shared it in 11 pieces, giving them all a few pieces, then took the bottle to serve the water put on the table, his hands were trembling; Doña Estefania, seeing that, I helped him not to notice what was happening.

-"Tonight is the happiest of them all", he said.

The children began to talk one after the other telling their father how some of them were running out of the thunderous sound of thunder; the adventures narrated by Augusto, and how Estefania had fallen asleep in the rocking chair.

After having lived the greatest lesson that life could give Mr. Rafael was taking the children one by one, I told Augusto and Alejandro that they were the elders to help them with the most restless.

Already lying down, Mr. Rafael, about to wrap himself in his shrouded blanket over the years, looks at Doña Estefania.

- Life has rewarded me, giving children so intelligent and so considerate. I comment.

"I only ask life to allow me to continue to watch them grow up and see them with their children and wives running around the house," he repeated."

-Rafael is sleeping now.

"You look like you're not tired of the hectic day you had."
Mr. Rafael looked at her, and turned to the right side of it.
That night was the coldest of all so much that it seemed that the doors of a refrigerator had remained open; some children would not stop coughing. Augusto worries Alejandro

- Get up! I exclaim softly.

-"I'm worried they will not stop coughing the kids," I say.

The night continued its course, becoming so slow that it seemed eternal the clock in the room sounded as mysterious as ever, the chimes of every hour sounded sad, seemed another dimension that place.