The Blowhard's Blunder

When Bobby was just nine years old, folks loved his winning ways. He was a little gentleman deserving of their praise. His helpful nature and big smile were natural, they knew. His family was proud of him. Life bore a rosy hue. At school and on the baseball field, on Boy Scout projects too, though Bobby was a shining star, his ego never grew. Then Bobby changed dramatically when he became a teen. Out came a taunting arrogance no one had ever seen. The center of attention still-- at his insistence then-- he bragged on his accomplishments, how great he'd always been. He ridiculed some other teens, "The losers," in his words, "the clumsy oafs who stink at sports, the dummies, and the nerds." He soon was sharing center stage with others who, like him, enjoyed attention--good or bad-- and acting out on whim. Then one day his comeuppance came when his school's team had won the championship and he was high on praise and having fun. He took the credit--no surprise! But soon the tongues would wag. He meant to say, "No brag; just fact!" He said, "No fact; just brag"! The "oafs" and "nerds" laughed in his face. The "dummies" yelled, "That's right!" His dumbstruck fans just stared at him, now a pathetic sight! ******************* May centers of attention learn that positive is best-- which honest, humble people earn, eschewing all the rest. July 6, 2017