School
Very often when people find themselves in a tight corner they think that somebody is punishing them for their faults, and that the ‘black bar’ in their life will never come to an end. Nonetheless, each and every one of us should recall a saying “Every cloud has a silver lining”, which proves that even the worst misfortune either makes us stronger or gives us an invaluable experience, which does not but gives us strength to move on.
At first glance the story I am about to tell seems to be a jape, as the whole day, from the very beginning, went upside-down. Nevertheless, very soon it struck my mind that this very day is nothing but a good lesson to me – I have learnt a lesson of survival.
I met that very Saturday with great mood, as the sun was illuminating gloomy boring streets, making sleepy morning much brighter. As usually on Saturdays I woke up and headed for school. My road to school is very mundane, as I take the same bus which is leaving directly from my house and goes around 15 minutes through tedious streets of my city. However, that very day I decided to enjoy sunny weather and fresh air and walk to take another bus, which was passing a more leafy part of our city.
As soon as I reached the stop, I jumped into the bus, which was about to leave. I was happy to take it as I did not have to wait for another one. The sun was shining into my face through the window, so being overwhelmed with my dreams and thoughts I fell asleep. As it turned out later the bus was going in a completely wrong direction 15 miles from my city. But that was only the beginning of my adventure…
I was woken up by the driver, and when I looked around I understood that I was in a big trouble, as I was in a completely strange city. The fact that I found myself in another city was not actually the biggest misfortune, as I just had to take the same bus back home, however, when I searched my pocket, I realized that there was only a couple of dollars left. That sum was undoubtedly insufficient for a ticket home, and at first I was a bit baffled. Standing for 5 minutes as if rooted to the ground, I braced myself and started to think. Suddenly, I noticed a hobo playing the guitar. He was a middle-aged young man, wearing ripped jeans, old sneakers and a torn sweater. At the same time, he had so open and friendly eyes, that I could not help coming to him. When we got acquainted, he told me his story: he was left by his parents at the age of 7, and since then he is a hobo, playing in the streets and traveling around the US. He turned out to be a great guy, who had so many stories to tell, and I even did not notice, as the day passed. I spent with him the whole day, watching this guy, who is all alone in the whole world, earning his living. He was not scolding the destiny or his parents; he just took everything the way it was without any grief or regret.
At the end of the day I told him my story, and he gave me half of his daily income. Frankly speaking I was shocked, as I did not expect a person, who was earning his money so hard, having no shelter, give me half of his money. Hopefully, the sum I finally had was enough to buy a ticket back home.
That day, which at first seemed to be a complete disaster, turned out to be an invaluable experience, which I will never learn at school or in a book. This is a life experience, which opens eyes to the reality. Now I realize how hard it is to earn a living, especially if you have no support of your family or friends, remaining at the same time a human being, generous, open and friendly.
