The Power of Words and Deeds: There was a quaint town known for its parks and community spirit, and it was in one of these towns where the family gathering was full throttle. Children were playing while laughing, and the adults were chatting with one another. Among the members present in the family gathering was a boy named Ben who suffered from Down syndrome. Ben was bright and joyful, spending much of his time playing with his cousins, but he was sensitive. As people had already spoken ill of his appearance and condition, he was extremely susceptible to teasing.
It was afternoon, and the bright, warm light of the sun did help Ben enjoy his afternoon walks with his cousin. That cousin was a year older than Ben, yet now he was strolling behind him, admiring these flowers that were everywhere while watching families enjoying picnics. Ben animated him with stories about favorite cartoons and asked questions concerning all and sundry. Ben was happy, and this pleasure was reflected on the happy face of his smiling cousin.
They met a family acquaintance, whose name was Rob, on their way. One of those people who seems to enjoy being abrasive; he was infamous for being unkind in his remarks. Ben’s cousin shuddered at the mention of his name, but he smiled and tried his best to be nice, which is not what he wanted. Meanwhile, Rob had other ideas.
“Look at that!” Rob shouted loudly as he approached. “There’s something you don’t see every day! A pair of ugly retards walking together!”
Ben’s face dropped as tears he could not hold back took over his smile. The laughter in the air turned into a very heavy silence. Rob, being satisfied with what he had said, laughed and walked off, leaving Ben in his devastation. The young boy burst into tears, clinging to his cousin for comfort.
Feeling anger mixed with protectiveness, Ben’s cousin quickly reassured him. “Don’t hear him, Ben. He is just a nasty man, and what he is saying does not count. You have so many loving people for you, among them me.” They moved on, but the moment hung in the air as a dark cloud. The spirit of Ben was broken by a careless remark. His cousin could not brush away the anger that made him want to do away with Rob.
Soon, Ben and his cousin returned to the family gathering. It was boisterous, but Ben was silent. He was still hurt because of what Rob said to him. The heart of the cousin felt pain for Ben and wished that he could do something to make Rob understand what he could bring into other people’s lives.
As they approached the party, Ben’s cousin saw Rob once more, grilling at a neighbor’s barbecue with his wife and teenage daughter. Rob appears to be having the best time he ever had, completely oblivious to the damage he just caused moments earlier. The cousin was angry and thought he would go find some adult help for Jake.
His cousin said to him, “Jake, you won’t believe what just happened.” He related the story of his run-in with Rob, elaborating how hurtful the words from Rob had been for Ben. Jake listened carefully, as he was known to be a good sport with an inventive mind to devise new solutions.
“That’s awful, man,” said Jake, furrowing his brow in concern. “I can’t believe he’d say something like that.” “What do you want to do about it?
“I want to get back at him, but I don’t want him to know I was involved,” said a cousin, whose eyes glistened mischievously. “He should understand that his words have consequences.”
Jake nodded and started setting up his plan. “Okay, let’s see what we can do. What do you know about him?”
The cousin said that Rob has a taste for a particular locally brewed beer and goes to a particular bar, which he has told Rob he likes going to as his wife and daughter have gone out of town. He also recalls another offbeat detail: the woman went gaga over some fictional character—a little green creature they would call “Yaby Boda.” A stuffed version of Yaby Boda was apparently occupying a prominent place on their bed, something Rob had casually shared with him.
Equipped with this knowledge, Jake planned a scheme to confront Rob. He decided to approach him in a manner that would turn the tables to deliver a lesson in empathy by using surprise and even humor. The cousin was nervous yet thrilled. He yearned for some form of justice but feared how far Jake might go.
On the day of the cookout, Jake made his move. He spotted Rob having a beer with his family and walked up to him with a broad grin across his face. “Hey, Rob! Good to see you!” he declared, slapping an arm around Rob’s shoulders. The sudden familiarity took Rob by surprise.
“What are you doing?” Rob said, drawing back a bit.
Jake leaned in closer, his tone playful yet full of innuendo. “I just wanted to tell you how amazing Friday night was. You really know how to show a guy a good time!”
Rob’s face changed from confusion to incredulity. “What are you talking about?
“Oh, come on, don’t pretend you don’t remember! I know you were a bit tipsy after all those [local beer brands] at [local bar], but you seriously don’t recall what happened later.”
“Nothing happened later! Or ever! I don’t even know your name!” Rob stammered, his face reddening as he realized his family was listening in.
Jake was on a roll, with the performance building up. “Really? You were screaming my name, Rob! You were so passionate! I can’t believe you’re acting like this now!”
The wife of Rob noticed the tension and cut in. “Who are you, and what do you want? This is my husband.”.
“Oh, I’m not mistaken at all. We had the best time together on Friday night, right at your place on [Rob’s street]. How could I forget the bed right next to Yaby Boda?” Jake winked as he turned to walk away, leaving Rob’s wife stunned and Rob visibly shaken.
“What the hell, Rob? Is this true?” His wife demanded, her voice rising. “You’re gay now? Really?”
With Jake’s words, the atmosphere changed. Rob’s face turned red, and embarrassment mixed with anger. The people around them buzzed with curiosity, whispers spreading like wildfire. Ben’s cousin watched from afar, satisfaction growing inside him. He hadn’t wanted things to go this far, but Rob needed to face the consequences of his cruelty.
In the following weeks, Rob became the office’s hot gossip. Rumors about his supposed escapades were circulating. He complained about his home life by telling people how he missed his family and how difficult it was to adjust to living in a new place since his wife had filed for divorce. The man who used to thrive on putting others down was now being humiliated and isolated.
He could not even stop his mind from seeing his indirect actions as the reason why Rob had fallen. Each complaint related to his strained relationship made him remember the remarks he had made about Ben.
Time was passing, and Rob did nothing to change his situation. He kept complaining to everybody about how he missed his daughter and how everything in the world had changed for the worse. The cousin found that quite ironic; lack of empathy for Ben resulted in a loss for Rob himself.
Over time, the incident in the park disappeared from memory, but the lessons it taught were not forgotten. It reminded everyone present of the importance of kindness, compassion, and the weight of our words. Ben, who was once hurt by Rob’s cruelty, learned how to walk stronger with the supportive love of his family and friends. He learned to stand tall against unkindness, knowing he was cherished and valued.
Kindness really does matter, and there can be such a massive influence of our actions on others. The family turned out closer because Ben often became a beacon of positivity, reminding the family to lift each other up rather than tear each other down.
Ultimately, it was a lesson for the rest of the community, one that reminded everyone of the importance of compassion and respect for someone’s condition. And while he wanted to belittle everyone around him, in his own actions, he ended up getting his comeuppance, leaving his last mark on everyone there.
