AS the eye doctor prescribed Danny spectacles he advised, “Mind you, whenever you remove your spectacles, use both your hands, without twisting the frame. Keep them in the protective case and avoid putting them face down on any surface.”

The eight-year-old listened in silence, his brows knitted in a frown — he was suddenly feeling bitter and angry with the whole world. “I don’t want those glasses!” he grumbled to his mum when they stepped out of the examination room.

Mother sighed, “Danny dear, the doctor said you need them for better vision.”

“I won’t wear them. No way!” the boy shook the head stubbornly.

Next morning, when leaving the house, Danny took off his glasses and tossed them into his schoolbag. But his mother noted it — she peeked from the window and loudly called: “Danny! Where are your glasses? Put them on right now!”

Danny reluctantly fished out the case from the bag. “I am not going to school in these stupid glasses!” So instead of school, he headed to the park near his house.

But the green park was empty as it was still early morning. The boy sat on the bench near a small pond and started to watch the ducks.

“How lucky they are!” he thought with envy. “They don’t need glasses!”

He was so absorbed in his sad thoughts that he didn’t notice when someone approached his bench. It was an old man, clad in a waistcoat, checked shirt and blue scarf around his neck. He was also wearing a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles, the sight of which made Danny cringe.

“Hello,” the old man sat down next to Danny.

“Good morning.”

“Shouldn’t you be at school, kid?” the man nodded at the school pack which was shoved under the bench.

Danny sniffled and wiped away an unwanted tear. “I won’t go there, never!”

“What happened, may I ask?” there was such genuine concern in the voice and shiny kind eyes behind thick glasses of the stranger that the boy couldn’t hold it more:

“I… I was prescribed glasses, yesterday…” The grief twisted his handsome features. “And now… I won’t attend the school … wearing them….”

“But why?” the old man was astonished.

“The kids will mock me … call me funny names … ‘four-eyes’… and others ....”

“Hmm...” the old man adjusted the glasses on his straight nose. “Strange, but no one teases or calls me names although I wear glasses too.”

Danny scowled at his slow-witted confidant. “You are old; the glasses are a must for you. But I am only a second-grader. And I do not want to wear them!”

“Well, so that’s the issue…” the old man pondered for a moment. “But do you know that the glasses are in fact a very useful thing? And at times one can do nothing without them. They are our valuable helpers.”

“How is that?” Danny didn’t understand.

“They help us note the things that others might not be able to see. For example, to recognise good people; take me — I looked at you through my glasses and immediately got to know that you are a nice and obedient boy. Aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” Danny said hesitantly.

“You are, no doubt! I see it. Besides, glasses help us see the beauty of the world, note every shade and detail, which otherwise is so easy to miss. Believe me, kid, everything you’ll see through the glasses, will bring you a great joy.”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

Danny smiled.

“Now, will you go to school?” the old man asked.

“I will.”

“And remember, glasses are your helpers!”

Danny thought for a while and then said: “You know, my mum told me the same thing and dad too.”

“They are right. You should always listen to your parents, because they wish you nothing but the best.”