This is a story of two brothers not in the Bible, not Cain who was angry with Abel over his offering and slew him, not Esau who might have done the same to Jacob save for their mother’s intervention (after her part in the division), but of two little boys in the current millenia, carrying school breakfast trays, as the older begins shouting at the younger and a teacher steps in.

What’s the matter? Why are you shouting at him? The rest of us do not appreciate hearing those kinds of words, says the teacher.

The smaller boy stops in front of the teacher. His bright face is utterly untroubled. It’s okay. You see, I am his brother.

The teacher pauses. You are used to this.

The bigger brother turns back, face like a thundercloud, voice blasting: And I dropped my freakin’ biscuit!

You can get another one, begins the teacher, when the younger boy takes off running, calling his brother’s name. The teacher follows in case intercession is needed.

Here, says the little one. You can have my biscuit.

The teacher blinks back tears. You don’t want your biscuit?

The little boy shakes his head. He places the proffered bread on his brother’s tray.

The older brother’s face eases. Anger abates; tentative calm settles in.

Thank you, he says, his voice low.

You owe your brother an apology, says the teacher, after the way you have just been shouting at him.

I’m sorry, he says. He turns away, but not before the teacher sees deep sadness in his eyes.

Wait! calls his little brother. You can have my jelly, too. You like jelly on your biscuit.

The teacher bends down to whisper in his ear: That is a beautiful thing you just did.

The brothers go off together in peace. The teacher watches, awed and humbled. The morning is still new, the day has only just begun, an unholy moment has been transfomed by a child’s purehearted act of sacrifical love, in his offering of bread and grape jelly.

The teacher thinks: If the world ended right now, I’d die having witnessed one of life’s greatest acts. Oh, to be so selfless, to learn the unforced rhythms of grace, to follow that child’s lead!

The bell rings.

Work awaits

Biscuit. Joshua Heyer. CC BY-SA

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with thanks to Two Writing Teachers for the Tuesday Slice of Life Challenge