The stupid boy: a story of a stupid boy who became a hero [short story]

Title

Creator

Reyes, Josefina V.

Language

English

Source

The Young Citizen. I (6) July 1935

Year

1935

Subject

Children’s stories

Stupidity in literature

Children's conduct of life

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

Pepe was called by his aunts and classmates a stupid boy because he doesn’t know anything. One day, while walking with her baby sister and Aunt Rosa, he saw a horse running very fast on their way. He pushed his baby sister’s carriage on the side and when he woke up, he was on his mother’s bed and everybody was staring at him and calling him beautiful names.

Fulltext

Jvty, 1935 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 14 l THE STUPID BOY A Story of a Stupid Boy Who Becart)e a Hero by Josefina V. Reyes "Y OU stupid boy!" cried Aunt.Rosa. And with that remark she closed the door with a mighty "bang'', while Pepe looked at her disappearing fat figure. She had already closed the door, but Pepe still looked and looked at the door with big, round eyes. Then suddenly l~e turned his back to the door and faced his mother. "Mother," he began. "Yes, Pepe?" answered his mother. "What did .... what· did Aunt Rosa say, Mother?" "She said that you are a stupid boy," said his mother. "A what .... Mother?" he asked again with a frown. "A stupid boy," said his mother again very slowly. "Stupid? What is 'stupid', Mother?" "Why, 'stupid' means .... 'stupid' means one who asks too many questions," his mother answered abruptly. "One who asks too many questions? Then . . . . then, Mother, I know one who is very very stupid." "Who is it?" his mother asked. "My teacher .... she asks too many questions. "Now, Pepe," and his mother grasped a broom, "go out and play before I lose my patience." "Your what, Mother?" "Go out," shouted his Mother. Pepe was a little boy who was called 'stupid' by Aunt Rosa and Aunt Maria. He had no friends. Cousin Lino would net play with him. His classmates, too, would run away whenever he approached them. And they often shouted, "Stupid! Stupid!" So he often watched the other children play while he sat on a big stone beside their door. He was sitting there one day when Aunt Maria came near him and said, "Come Pepe, I will tell you something. You know, you have now·a new sister. She is there in that room with your mother . . Don:t go there now. Your mother is not well. You can call your new sister Baby." "Baby? Why Baby?" asked Pepe. "Because she is very little. That is what we call little people." "But. ... bu·t why don't you call Uncle Kiko Baby? He is little also," Pepe asked again. "Oh!" Aunt Maria said and in a moment. she had run away . Days passed, and while Baby became prettier each day, Pepe became more stupid. Baby was called "Pet" by Aunt Maria, "Darling" by Mother, and other bea~ti ful names by Aunt Rosa and Uncle K1hl' and all their neighbors, while Pepe was known by only one name .... "Stupid Boy." One day Aunt Rosa was about to take the children for a walk. They had already gone out of their house when Pepe began talking. "Aunt Rosa, our lesson today is about the elephant. Do you know what an elephant is, Aunt Rosa?" 3 jqo?. "Why, don't you know, Pepe?''.ornorl ;frrf "No, Aunt Rosa, I don't kfR}l'·ni !,-AiW<atl)r seen one yet," he ex~l~iW~1<frr, oJeofr';3 ?.A "It is an anim11r"ri1i'~ ·1i'11h ~41-tsi!Y.ilPif)fJ . h ,, , rrnq , , . w1_t ... ·~9Bf¥!;t.,~·w,.,r\1;q,1!,)ii.l\;j' :1oriJd" 158 THE YOUNG CITIZEN July, 19.1.'i KIKO'S ADVENTURES - Caught in the Act by __g,ilmo b<'.lJdovino THE ORDER OF THE WHEN THEY WERE THE STUPID BOY (Contini•rcl from page, 1.46) (Co11fin11cd .from- J)age 145) (Continued from 1>age 143) "They " answered the as- Jnd then supervising teacher aml "Oh, I know. Aunt Rosa, sistant. q•ialified in the "senior teacher know now: A big, fat animal. It examination." One time h(' was of· "They what'. Come on. talk!" fcrcd the superintendent's positi0r:. is like "They tried to take off my in Zambales. He declined the oit~r Rosa?" Pepe asked earnestly. like you. is it not, Aunt pants The director could not help but laugh. He continued, co accept the pcns"ionad6ship to th(.! "Go back and tell Aunt M:iria United States to pursue courses in to take the two of you for a walk. education. stupid!" And with that she left While a teacher. he took the hig!1 a surprised Pepe standing beside "But why~" school course by corresponder:.ct. Baby's carriage. But suddenly "I tried lo cake back the cin can but could not cover the laboratory Pepe's eyes grew round and big. they stole from your table. Thcr subjects. He finished the five-ye.tr for he could sec a horse running jumped upon me-all seven of course leading to th.e master of Arts very very fast without anybody on them-and tried to undress me. degree in the Columbia Univer~ity its back. And before he could "Oh! I sec." in three years [aking at the same think another little thought the time a few high school subjects. horse was almost on Baby's carThe director sto)pcd for a whil~ A man of high principles and a riage. So he gave Baby's carriage and began to think. He then lofty sense of duty, he always sci.s a big. big push. and then everywhisp('rcd something to the car of a high standard of work for bis thing became black. his assistant. I-Ii> face brightened. They went to th('ir tent and begar1 to laugh. They were carcfol though not to w.1kc up the camp·· crs. Th~y finally fell asleep with smile still on th('ir faces. The ur · d('r of the Sho:·t Pants were left outside wondering why, after all. th'.? two were laughing so merrily. V cry early the next morning th~ bugle was sounded. The boys got up and fixed their beds. They then lined up for the morning asscmbl). As usual the director was at his post ready to begin tk morning warmup. Much to th~· surprise of Jll. sC'vcn leaders wcr~ missing. Finally they came out of their tents. subordinates. who have to keep µac1.' with him always, such is the tremendous influence of his personal ity. At all times firm. upright, anc! fearless. Florentino Cayce has won the respect of his colleagues. the ad .. miration or his subordinates. and the esteem of cv::rybody who know~ him. When he opened his eyes, be was on his Mother's bed wich Aunt Rosa. Aunt Maria, Mother, and many others around him. And all he could hear were the words "my d<1rling", "my brave pet''. "my dear" and many other beaucifo: nam~s by which he had never been cJlled before. He was waiting for "stupid boy"; but it never came. su What a sight! One was trying h..: gave them a sweet. sweet smile to hide his swollen lips. Another and closed hi~ big. round eyes. had his hands in his pockets. -1 h·~ others w~rc trying to cough oif something which seemed to be stuck in their throats. It turned out that the cake they -a reason why it was left on th<! rJ.ble unguarded. The Order of the Short P.rnt'i frastcd on was full of big red anl3 did not meet anymore.

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