You cant go on living like this! Its just not right! Robert dashed into his fathers study.
What on earth are you talking about? Why do you think that? Who put these ideas in your head? His father looked at him in surprise.
Our school counsellor said so today.
Go on, tell me more. What did they actually say?
Let me show you. Im going to bed, and you pretend to wake me up like its morning.
And why exactly are we doing this? Youll see. Just play along.
Alright, alright… Robert, time to get up. We need to get ready for school now, dont sleep in.
See, thats it! I hear the same thing every morning. Parents should wake their children up gently, with warmth, so we feel their love. And they should smile at us!
Oh, let your mum do the smiling, I havent got time for that.
Dont you love me, Dad?
What are you wittering on about now? His father started to look annoyed.
It isnt nonsense. If you dont want me to treat you badly when youre old, you should show your feelings now. Try again, just once more.
Fine. You cheeky monkey, up you get. Youll be late for school.
Im tired!
Sweetheart, wake up his father gently stroked his hair and kissed him on the forehead.
Hooray! Thats it, I really felt your love!
Alright, thats quite enough of this lark. Lets see your marks.
Not now, Dad. Youll be late for work.
Its all right. Lets have a lookGoodness, a C. Both in English and maths.
But I got an A* in psychology.
Are you planning on becoming a psychologist, my boy? Listen, my clever lad unless you bring up those grades, therell be no more phone calls for you. Sit down and study until your mum is home.
Robert started to cry softly, so his father put an arm around him: You said I should smile, so give us a smile, will you?
Sometimes the biggest lessons come wrapped in the smallest gestures; a little warmth can go a very long way.
