When I was a kid there is this Japanese TV hit series made up of five super heroes called Bioman. Each member has their own identity; namely Red One, Green Two, Blue Three, Yellow Four and Pink Five. Red One being the leader of the group is mostly idolized by every kid especially me. As a kid, I even wonder how can I become a member of Bioman, if there was a school that can teach me what these heroes do, I might have beg to my parents for them to enroll me on that institution.
But even though I was still very young during those days, there is something that bothers me, I guess I'm starting to understand the difference between fantasy from reality. When me and my playmates are watching Bioman my playmates would designate themselves of the character that they like, one would say : "I will be Red One and will act as your leader", and the other kids would request "let me be Green Two or Blue Three" and so on and so forth. But I never volunteered to be Red One or any member of the Bioman in any games that we had. Of course I wanted to be Red One but I'm afraid that I might be ridiculed by some of the kids. At a very young age I am aware that I wouldn't fit to be a member of Bioman because I'm a handicapped who doesn't have legs. I need not to be told by my fellow kids about my physical deformity for I can clearly see that there is no Bioman that resembles to me.
Until one day, we were playing inside our neighbor's house and our game was the "Bioman Wanna Be". One of my playmate said : "I'll be Red One since I'm the biggest and strongest among us" which in no doubt that he really is, because his size doesn't fit his age. But one of the girls contested and said : "Why do you always have to be Red One, can't we have a new leader besides you? The big boy didn't like what he heard and before the commotion started my friends mom, Mrs Fernandez speak up to pacify the kids. She suggested : "Since most of you boys have been assigned as Red One why don't we make Billie your leader, for he will be the Red One for the day" and a complete silence echo in the entire house. My playmates stare at me, point blank, totally clueless of what to say. I know that if isn't for Mrs Fernandez some of the kids could have already contested it, but since it's the owner of the house who requested it, they couldn't say a word. No one objected it but no one also agreed to it. Mrs. Fernandez was the only one smiling as she tries to convince the other kids. As my heart pound so fast I decided to respond : "It's okay Mrs Fernandez, I don't want to be Red One. I just want to be an audience to them as they do the role play."
My playmate proceeded with their role play game as I watched them play around, Mrs Fernandez sit beside me and asked : "Billie why did you turn my proposal down?" But I didn't answered and just smiled back at her. But she continued : "Every kid wants to be Red One and I know you do too" Again I didn't respond and just smiled back at her. Again she asked but this time with a bit of a threat :"Billie if you're not going to reply a single word and if you're not going to tell me the truth, I will never let you enter my house again!" So I replied : "Mrs Fernandez, it is my dream to be Red One just like the other kids but I know I wouldn't fit, I'm a handicapped, I don't have legs how can I become a hero. The leader of the team should be big and strong but I can't even.... I can't even.... I paused since the words are starting to get jumbled and I couldn't utter the words that I want to say, as I try to control the water that starts to fill in my eyes. But Mrs Fernandez was very persistent and asked "You can't even what?" with a heavy heart and mumbling voice I continued "I can't even..... I can't even.... walk"
Mrs Fernandez smiled, embraced me and said "Billie my dear, you don't need special powers to be a hero and you don't need legs just to be a good leader. A hero was never in a physical form but measured in a persons courage and kindness. It doesn't matter if you can't walk, what matters is you walk on the Lords path. Always remember that you will always be our little hero and you and my son will always be my Red One"
I may have not understood her well during that time but I remembered clearly how I felt so blessed with her words. To all my readers please always grab the opportunity to uplift someones heart. I am grateful for what Mrs Fernandez did, I may never see her again but I will never forget her.
