“Special Helper,” Friend, July 1993, 28–29
Special Helper
Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will (D&C 58:27).
Ramon ran, skipped, and jogged on the way to school. All at once he slowed to a walk.
Today was Monday. New helpers would be chosen in his class at school.
Ramon wanted very much to be a classroom helper. Every changeover day he smiled hopefully at his teacher, Mrs. Martin. Mrs. Martin always smiled back at him, but she had never chosen him to be a classroom helper.
The warning bell was ringing as Ramon hurried into the school building. He had almost reached his classroom when he saw a little girl sitting on the floor, crying as she tried to pick up crayons she had dropped.
Ramon bent down beside her. “I’ll help you.”
Soon all the crayons were picked up, and the little girl hurried on her way.
Mrs. Martin stood at the door of the classroom. Ramon smiled at her. “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said. He sat at his desk and waited for Mrs. Martin to announce this week’s helpers.
She chose Alise to keep the library books put away, Matt to pass out the seatwork, Maria to take care of the art supplies, and Robert to feed the fish.
Ramon was sad that he was not chosen for any of the jobs. He took his pencil out of his desk and got ready to start work. Just then Matt, who was passing out the seatwork pages, dropped the whole pile.
Ramon jumped up. He helped Matt pick up the papers. Matt didn’t say thank you, but Ramon smiled at him anyway.
The classroom door opened, and the principal walked in. With him was a boy Ramon had never seen before. Mrs. Martin spoke to them for a moment.
When the principal left, Mrs. Martin said, “Class, this is Steven, who will now be in our class. I want you to welcome him.”
Then Mrs. Martin said, “Ramon, you are always friendly and smiling and helpful. Will you be my very special helper today and show Steven all around our school? He needs to know where the gym, the cafeteria, and the washrooms are.”
Ramon smiled at his teacher and nodded. He smiled at Steven too.
On the way home from school that day, Ramon ran and skipped and jogged. He was too happy to walk.
“This was a very special day,” he told his mother, “because I got to be a very special helper.”
Illustrated by Taia Morley