JACQUES GAUVIN, RELIGION

The Unexpected Hero

Martin's father was a shoemaker. He sure did his job right. Everyone in his small town was satisfied. He was a good hearted man.

Although Martin loved his dad, he could not be happy about his father's posture. He just did not look good. He looked lean and frail almost ill. His back was bent thus he walked forever. There was just nothing to boast about. Martin's friends had fathers who were strapping. Peter could brag about his father who had stopped a horse who got frightened and ran wildly. Frank told everybody his dad had parted two large men from fighting. Just about everyone had his own impressive story to tell. Martin could not do this in turn. Chuck pushed around, "You haven't got a dad, he's just a sucker." Oh, would Martin ever get back at Chuck? Chuck was a perfect bully. Everyone respected him for his brute power. Martin tried to ignore him but with no result, he just couldn't get rid of him. Many times Chuck would tackle Martin. Many times Martin would come home with bruises. When anyone asked Martin would not tell where he got the bruises, he just said "Oh I fell."

The other day he met Chuck again and Chuck boasted that his dad had just helped a farmer rescue one of his cows who got half drowned in the muddy pond. Then he started saying, "Hey what have you got to say about your misfit, hunchback of a fart you call father?" " I bet I could keel him over with my little finger and he wouldn't stand a chance to get up, so what have you got to say, huh?" Oh how Martin disliked Chuck, he wished he never had seen him. Some boys sympathized with him but couldn't do much to help. If only his dad could shut him up. Sadly he went to bed unable to sleep. Under all this Martin started to loose respect for his father. Yet he remained to hide it for himself. It was not easy at all. It burned inside of him.

Coming home from school one day, he saw his dad resting in a chair. Martin couldn't stand to see his father this way. He asked him why he was just sitting there. His father replied, "my back is giving me terrible pains." He then asked Martin how his day went. Martin replied, "oh wonderful, couldn't have asked for a better day." "How is it that you're limping?" his father asked. "Oh we were just playing tackle" said Martin. His father looked at him but said nothing. Could it be, he knew?

Then there was that fire. It was at the house where Chuck lived. The house was hit by lightning. Chuck's mom was at a friend's place his dad at work. When people arrive at the scene, no one knew where Chuck was. Was Chuck still trapped in the house? It was too late to go in the house. The flames were raging and the house was starting to collapse. Before anyone realized, someone was running toward the burning house to rescue the young man inside. It wasn't Chuck's father. Who could it be? More of the house began to fall and creating wild leaping flames and thick black smoke. Frank's father remarked that neither of them would stand a chance.

Then the unbelievable occurred. The people couldn't believe their eyes. From the smoke something was moving. A small man with somebody slung over his shoulder became visible. When they moved into the clearing it was more apparent that it was Martin's father carrying Chuck. When he knew Chuck would be taken care of Martin's father collapsed losing consciousness. The fire department arrived and took both to the hospital. Days went by and Martin's father was doing poorly with little hope of recovery. Soon after he passed on. It was said that he used every last bit of strength he had to save Chuck. It didn't take long for Chuck to make a full recovery. Everyone was both amazed and grateful for Martin's father's heroic behavior. Martin's father had wiped out all of the hero stunts any of the other father's had done. His funeral was like that of a king. Chuck's father not only promised, but also worked out a schedule to take care of Martin and his mother.

Chuck had completely changed. So brassy mouthed he had been. So withdrawn he became. A week later Martin and Chuck had met. Martin was puzzled and almost fearful of the way Chuck approached him. Both did not say a word. They stood silently. Chuck did not look straight into Martin's eyes like he used to, but stared at the ground and stammered something. Martin could not make it out. Finally, Chuck said "Martin," "Mat, I killed your father, it was all my fault." Martin said "No Chuck, you're wrong, that's not true." Chuck added "yes, if wasn't in the house your father would still be alive today. I am an SOB, believe me."

Then Martin did something he thought he would never do. He put his arm around Chuck and held him. Chuck broke down and for a long time they stood in complete silence. Chuck broke the silence by asking Martin not to mention that Chuck had called himself a SOB. He also asked Martin to forgive everything he had said about his father before. Martin said "it would be my problem if I didn't, of course I will. From now on Chuck, you are my best friend." Chuck, being a large strong man seemed to shrivel at Martin's kind words. "I can't believe this Mat, you're so good to me. You know I have never really had a friend. They were all afraid of me, now I know that this didn't work either." "When I clobbered you Mat, you didn't do anything to defend yourself. You didn't even speak a nasty word to me. I felt remorse but I didn't want anyone to know it. I was angry with myself and came back over again to do the same thing to you. I thought I was crazy and never felt like a winner, but the loser instead. Your Dad saved my life and I didn't deserve that. I should have been burned up." "Hey Chuck, do you want to be my friend from now on?" "sure thing!" "Well then, stay alive, as I don't want to lose my best friend. If however you can't be my friend, I will have lost two friends." Chuck looked at Martin and said "you are right, you can count on me. From now on I'll do everything" ... "till the girlfriends come right?" "Oh you can have them too."

Time elapsed,

Martin and Chuck married and had families. Chuck immigrated to Vancouver Canada and Martin still lives in the Old country. As always they contact each other. More importantly, they became to understand God. Yes they will be friends for ever after.

Simon Post, 1998