See Also:
Beginning of a FAMOUS Hero: The Jackie Robinson Story.
Life Lesson #95 – Become a Leader.
Will and Charlie had been friends since before they could remember. In fact, it seemed like they had spent most of their lives together! Of course, they had other friends, too. As they got older, all the guys began developing their own special interests and talents. Some were more interested in sports; some were really into computers, and others spent a lot of time playing music, but they were all still friends.
Will was very good at music and he hoped to be a professional musician when he grew up. Charlie thought that was cool and liked to listen to Will play and talk about his plans. But the older they got, the more Will noticed that Charlie didn’t seem to have any particular interests. Charlie did work hard and made good grades, but he just liked staying at home with his family, and of course, he liked to be at Will’s house. Will also began to notice that the other guys were beginning to just ignore Charlie. One day, a boy even asked Will, “Why do you hang out with that Charlie guy? He’s such a nothing.”
That made Will really angry. He said, “Look, he’s my best friend. He’s cool and I like hanging out with him.” The other boy laughed. “He’s anything but cool, and you’re not cool either if you’re his friend.” Will knew there was no sense in continuing the conversation so he just turned and walked home. He was glad to find his mom in the kitchen, and he told her what the boy had said.
“Oh, Will, I’m so sorry” she said, “but that boy has just chosen to be a hurtful person. And hurtful people have been around forever. But you know what? I’m very proud of you because you stand up for Charlie, and you continue to be his friend. You,” said his mother, “have become Charlie’s HERO.”
– Jim Lord