A good-for-nothing makes good [short story]

Title

Creator

McAfee, Robert

Language

English

Year

1941

Subject

Short stories, Philippine (English)

Philippine fiction (English)

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

[All his young life, Pedro had been called a worthless good-for-nothing. He got inspired to write a story through a magazine advertisement and submit his own writings. Pedro won the said contest and was congratulated by his parents and teachers. Pedro has done something worth while - he was a successful writer.]

Fulltext

THE YOUNG CITIZEN APR.IL, 1941 A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING MAKES GOOD By ROBERT McAFEE • "Perhaps I could write a story," thought Pedro. ALL his young life Pedro had been called a worthless good-for-nothing. He had ·been told that so many times by his teachers that he took it seriously and actually believed it himself. Yes, Pedro really thought that he could not do anything worth while. His teachers had made it clear to him that he had passed his grades only by luck and not because he had the ability to get through. His mother had often asked him to do something to earn a few pesos to add to the slender income of the family, but her pleadings were useless, · since Pedro thought he did not have the ability to do anything. So, gradually his parents had lost all faith in him, and the boy . had lost all faith in himself. Occasionally, to be sure, he got a small job doing some -kind of work outside of school hours, but he always lost the job in a short time. • Student, Brent School, Bajiuio, Mountain Province. "It's just no use," he would say. "I'm only a .good-for-nothing, and so I can't make good." Pedro was not a bad boy; he w~s just a worthless boy-at least he and his teachers and his parents thought so . . About the only thing Pedro -really liked to do was to read stories; he enjoyed reading a good story very much. He liked to tell them, too. Sometimes at recess he would get a group of younger boys around him and would tell them something he had just read. Usually he told a story which he h~d read, but if none occurred to, him at the moment he ·made up one of his own. Pedro was a subscriber to several magazines for boys and young people. He liked to read the stories in Boys' Life or THE YOUNG CITIZEN or similar publications. He had a number of story books in his room, and often he read them instead of studying his lessons. One night he sat in his room reading · a thrilling story. Presently he finished the story. "I suppose I should work those problems assigned for tomorrow," he said to himself. "But what's the use? I couldn't get them right." So. he decided to go to bed. He took off his clothing and put on his pajamas. Pedro always said his prayers before he went to bed. On this particular night as he knelt down he happened to notice the crucifix which his mother had placed on the wall near his bed. An idea came to the boy. "Perhaps if I- ask God to help me, I might not be such a worthless, good-for-nothing boy," he thought. (Please turn to gage 149.) APRIL, 1941 NIGHT IN A HUT (Continued from page 147) THE YOUNG CITIZEN A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING (Continued from page I 38) GOUNOD {Continued from page 141) 149 sun, and then sell it to one So he added a little petition dramas, Wagner. (See THE of the farmer's wives. of his own to his prayer. YOUNG CITIZEN for NovThey offered us the skin, "Help me, God, to do some- ember, 1940.) but we thanked them and thing worth while, so I At seventy-five, crippled declined. We could not won't be a good-for-noth- and blinded by .a paralytic take the skin with us be- ing." stroke, Gounod composed cause we had no means of Just as he finished his a Requiem. He heard it· carrying it on our motor- prayer, he happened to played, and when it was cycle. notice the back cover of a finished, he fell over unWe cleaned the mud recent magazine for young conscious and died. This from our motorcycle, ·and people. "C.an you write a was in 1893. At the funeral waited until the hot sun had good story? Win a prize!" service hosts of his admirdried the road. Then we the advertisement read. He ers were present. said goodbye and climbed scanned the announcement Gounod's great operas onto our motorcycle which through. "I wonder. if I Faust, Rom(o and Juliette, took us to our farm in a could," he said, half aloud. and many of his sacred comshort time. He thought for a few mo- positions will always be We were glad that we ments. "Well;. I'll try." . heard and loved whenever had stayed with the natives He seated himself ~t his there is music. during the night, as th.is had study t~ble.. As he did so, given us the opportunity h~ agam said the words of REVIEW . of seeing their home life his prayer utter,~d a few I. What is Gounod d . . h . h . 1 moments before. Help me, ~n en1oymg t CI~ OS~lta - God, to do.something worth called? I!y.. But one night m a while, so I wonlt be a good- 2. What is his nationalnattv~ hut was enough, for-nothing." ity? especially when we had a Inspiration and strength 3. What are the dates of visit fro!TI an East African come to the boy. Soon he his life? . , leopard. was working away on a 4. What is Gounods short story to be sent in an- most famous opera? swer to the advertisement h.5. Tell of the success of t 1s opera. I. What can you tell he had read. Never before 6. What is an opera? about a leopard? (See the ha~ he had such an ea?er 7. Name some selections encyclopedia.) desire t~ do somethmg from Faust. · 2. Describe the skin of worth while. He wrot.e and 8. Name some other wrote. It was a simple compositions by Gounod. . story, and the plot unfolded 9. Tell of the disposition 3. Why do the natives naturally and easily. of Gounod not wish to make holes in "I think this is a pretty 11. Nam~ one contemQUESTIONS the leopard. the leopard's hide? good story," Pedro thought I porary. . 4. Find Kenya Colony when it was almost finished. 12. What was Gounod's on the map. Mount Elgon. (Please turn to page 151.) last composition? APRIL, 1941 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 151 A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING company. "Just like "every- himself. And from that (Continued from page 149) thing else I try to do-- time he was a changed boy. Presenily it was completed. worthless!" he thought. The boy read it over care- But one day he received ANSWER THESE fully, changing a sentence a letter-a letter in a long I. Did you like this here and there, or looking envelope with the name of story? Why? up a doubtful spelling in die publishing company in 2. What did Pedro's the dictionary. the upper left hand corner. parents and teachers think "When the story was He could hardly wait to about him? written to his satisfaction, open the envelope. 3. What did Pedro think he placed it in the drawer "Dear Pedro," the letter about himself?· · of his study table. "Tomor- ran. "We congratulate you 4. Was this true? row night I will copy it and upon th.e manuscript which 5. ·What did ·Pedro like send it in," he said to him- you entered in our recent to do? self. Then be went to bed. contest. We are pleased to 6. What changed PeMo's The next morning Pedro announce that your story opinion of himself? read his story before break- was awarded second place. 7. What did Pedro need fast. "It is really a good We enclose you ·our check in order to "make good"? story-better t ban I for one hundred pesos, the 8. Dp you ever doubt thought,'' be decided. How- amount offered as ·second your own ability? ever be felt it was best to prize. Your contribution 9. Do you think you say ~otbing to anyone about will soon appear in our would be more successful in bis attempt at story-writing. magazine for young people. doing things if. you tried That evening be made a If Y?U care to. send us more harder? neatcopyofhisstory,placed stones we will buy them 10. Is there any person. it in a large envelope, and fro.m you if they are as well who is really good for addressed it to the editor wntten as the one you sent nothing? Why do you think of the magazine. "I hope I us." so? · get at least a small prize,'' . Ped~o could hardly be- 11. Have you ever beard be said to himself. And heve his eyes. One hundred of an "inferiority comtben the words of bis player pesos! . He showed his let- plex"? again came to his mind. ter to his parents and teach- 12. What is an "inferior"Help me, God, to do some- ers. They were as astonished ity ~omplex"? (It is the thing worth wl\ile, so I as he was. . ~eehng in a person th.at be . w 0 n't ·be a good- for_ They all thought a mu- 1s unable to ·do anythmgnotbing." ~cle ha.d happened. And the feeling that be is good The story was mailed at mdeed it bad, for after that for nothing.) . th ffi b. p d nobody could persuade Pe- 13. Is it possible to dee post-a ce, ut e ro dro that b d f 1 "" f . . told no one of bis literar . e was a goo - or- ve op an . m ~nonty comT . Y nothmg. Heknewnowtbat plex" w1tb1n yourself? attempt. hen tbmgs went he could do something (Yes) on about as usual. h b"l b · · wort w 1 e-- e was a sue- 14. It 1s possible to destroy Weeks and weeks went cessful writer! an "inferiority complex" ~y, and the boy heard. no.th- "A good-far-not bing when you have developed mg from the pubhsbmg makes good,'' said Pedro to such a feeling?(Yes) How?

pages

138, 149,151

Media