Even without the torn jeans, he made a
scruffy-looking ten year old. His fifth
grade classmates had never seen anyone
as poorly dressed and unpolished as Marco.

This was his first day of elementary
school in a quaint New England town of
well-to-do families. Marco's parents were
migrant fruit pickers and his classmates
eyed him with suspicion forthe first part
of the day. Even though they whispered and
made comments about his clothes, he didn't
seem to notice.

Then came recess and the kickball game.
Marco led off the first inning with a home
run, earning him a bit of respect from his
wardrobe critics. Next up to kick was Richard,
the least athletic and most overweight child
in the class. After his second strike
(amid the groans of his classmates),
Marco edged up to Richard and quietly said,

"Forget them, kid. You can do it!"

Richard kicked a home run and at that precise moment, something began to change in Marco's
class.

Over the next few months, Marco was able toteach the class many new things. Things such
as how to tell when fruit was ripe, how to
call a wild turkey and,especially, how to
treat other people.

By the time Marco's parents finished their
work in the area, the class was preparing to
celebrate Christmas. While other students
brought the teacher fancy scarves, perfumes
and soap, Marco stepped up to the teacher's
desk with a special gift.

It was a rock that he delivered into the
teacher's hands, which was beautiful
and bright.

"I polished it up special," he said.

Years later, the teacher still had Marco's
rock on her desk. At the beginning of each
school year,she would tell her class about
the gentle boy who taught her and her class
not to judge a book by its cover. And that
it's what's on the inside of others that
truly counts.


From This Little Light of Mine
from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk