Alittleboyinvitedhismothertoattendhiselementaryschool’sfirstteacher-parentconference.Tothelittleboysdismay,shesaidshewouldgo.Thiswouldbethefirsttimethathisclassmatesandteachermethismotherandhewasembarrassedbyherappearance.Althoughshewasabeautifulwoman,therewasaseverescarthatcoverednearlytheentirecentersideofherface.Theboyneverwantedtotalkaboutwhyorhowshegotthescar.Attheconference,thepeoplewereimpressedbythekindnessandnaturalbeautyofhismotherdespitethescar,butthelittleboywasstillembarrassedandhidhimselffromeveryone.Hedid,however,getwithinearshotofaconversationbetweenhismotherandhisteacher,andheardthemspeaking.Howdidyougetthescaronyourface?theteacherasked.Themotherreplied,Whenmysonwasababy,hewasinaroomthatcaughtonfire.Everyonewastooafraidtogoinbecausethefirewasoutofcontrol,soIwentin.AsIwasrunningtowardhiscrib,IsawabeamcomingdownandIplacedmyselfoverhimtryingtoprotecthim.Iwasknockedunconsciousbutfortunately,afiremancameinandsavedbothofus.Shetouchedtheburnedsideofherface.Thisscarwillbepermanent8,buttothisday,IhaveneverregretteddoingwhatIdid.Atthispoint,thelittleboycameoutrunningtowardshismotherwithtearsinhiseyes.Hehuggedherandfeltanoverwhelmingsenseofthesacrificethathismotherhadmadeforhim.Heheldherhandtightlyfortherestoftheday.
