ed-drugs-nay
DESCRIPTION
The objective of the book “Ed-Drugs-Nay” is to incorporate the issue of drug addiction in the child-youth education. Its main feature is using sensitivity and emotion as a reflective tool, marking a point of focus on the experience as it unfolds. The play tells the story of a very imaginative and sensitive boy who escapes his problems by breathing the magical perfume flower “Ed-Drugs-Nay”. Its author, Jorge Parada (author of “One Winged Angel”, a play for children to learn about disabilities) argues that the formative and reflective capacity of the emotions makes the most efficient tool for education, because it evokes in the reader a virtuous form of awareness on deeper issues.TRANSCRIPT
Jorge Parada
EDdrugs NAY
The objective of the book “Ed-Drugs-Nay”
is to incorporate the issue of drug addiction in
the child-youth education. Its main feature is
using sensitivity and emotion as a reflective
tool, marking a point of focus on the experience
as it unfolds. The play tells the story of a very
imaginative and sensitive boy who escapes his
problems by breathing the magical perfume
flower “Ed-Drugs-Nay”. Its author, Jorge
Parada (author of “One Winged Angel”, a play
for children to learn about disabilities) argues
that the formative and reflective capacity of
the emotions makes the most efficient tool for
education, because it evokes in the reader a
virtuous form of awareness on deeper issues.
9 788494 195426
ISBN 978-84-941954-2-6
Author
Jorge Parada
Illustration
Jorge Parada
Translator
María Bach Rubio
ISBN: 978-84-941954-2-6
2ª Edition– 2014
1ª Editión – 1994
© Jorge Parada
© Inlibris Editorial - 2014
All rights reserved
Inlibris EditorialPintor Sorolla 2246002 – Valencia – Spaininlibris.es
Ed-Drugs-Nay
Jorge Parada
This is not
just a book.
This is a gift
from destiny
for you
Este
no es un libro,
es un regalo
del destino
Este
no es un libro,
es un regalo
del destino
4
5
SUMMARY
Prólogue 7
Acknowledgement 9
Introduction 10
Getting to know what life is about 15
The villain 22
Deceit and pain 28
When darkness blocks our sight 34
When night is all you can see 46
A second chance 49
The end 60
Educational work 62
Letter to the educator 63
Work proposition 67
Educational suggestions 71
6
Proposals for community work 73
Final suggestions 74
Curriculum vitae 76
7
PRÓLOGUE
—I need to free my soul from this
overwhelming grief!
I wish for everlasting happiness.
—I can answer your plea. It will be quite
simple!
Ed-Drugs-Nay flower
8
9
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To all those good persons that strive each
day for the well-being of our children
10
INTRODUCTION
Where did the flowers go?
You can find this one. All others are dead.
Ed was looking for happiness (such as
immortality), but he found death.
His Garden turned into a bush of black,
ugly and badly smelling flowers.
Why?
On any other day, when pain knocked on
his door, he dealt with it in love, the necessary
force for continuing his growth process.
The scene took place in a forest with
delicate flowers that carried a marvelous
perfume and made his days more pleasant and
happy.
11
He felt protected, covered like a boy with
a bright look, and he was himself.
But when misfortune overthrew the fragile
walls of this adolescent childhood, he went
looking desperately, as before, for the flower to
save him.
And he found it...
It came from a hand of an intruder who
was only interested in the speculation, which
prevented Ed’s internal strength (firmness
before the enemy), to face him and he fell…
And he fell again…and again, and in a
circle without a way out, he discovered that this
reality was the supposed happiness from which
he won’t be able to get out; happiness which he
will never again be able to get back.
Because he was a human. Because he was
mortal...
12
And he got lost; and he hid himself, he
attacked and was attacked. He did not listen; he
did not know how to listen. And he did not listen
to anybody, except the shadow that changed his
fear into a world without problems.
Without knowing it, he found the
“without” sense of pain, the “without” sense
of world. And he accepted it. And he played
according to its rules, and he lost. He slept. And
slept. And slept…
The answer to this dream that always
ties with the shadow of love snatched him and
returned him a life different from the chosen
one. He did not know the consequences and he
bared them, knowing unconsciously, that they
were part of the game rules.
And how does the story of Ed end?
He discovered the finite, the limits and
13
other possibilities that he did not know he
could possess and he was liberated (almost
paradoxically) of the temporary pain and in this
way, he reached happiness.
In the last moment of life, one neither loses
nor wins. One lives.
As readers, we lovingly maintain in
our hearts the soul of a writer who projects
universally, through his literary work, the
interior evolution of the human being in peace
and harmony globalized in truth above the
narrow interests of people.
Lic. Liliana Inés Pettinati
14
15
Chapter l
GETTING TO KNOW
WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT
A village by a thick green forest which
lodges colorful birds and musical water springs
is where Ed´s family -Mother, Father and six
more children- has chosen to live in. Ed is the
third child, the most rebellious and restless one.
He is always picking a fight as a daily ritual.
When he plays ball games he usually ends up
beating fiercely one of his rivals. This violent
personality has rendered him very few friends,
and even his brothers are not keen on asking
him to participate in their games.
Ed´s father, a devoted and hardworking
16
railway employee, invests most of his time,
strength and sweat in making a living. When he
is at home he is always busy trying to repair the
wrecked house. So many chores wear him out
and keep him apart from his loving family.
Ed´s mother spends her days peeling
potatoes and hidden behind pots and washing
soap, facts that go completely unnoticed by her
children.
There is nothing extraordinary about this
family, maybe because it is very much alike any
other family. The difference lies on the story I
will now tell you.
Ed, as most adolescents do, felt he did
not belong to his family anymore. Growing up
so fast, having to quit his careless and full-of-
benefits childhood and taking up so many new
responsibilities were matters that upset him.
17
The effort that was required from him in order
to help his family plus his parents constant and
usually contradictory reproaches were more
than enough to make him feel discouraged. He
had the humiliating feeling that he was treated
as a child but demanded to behave as an adult
and that his parents were against him. In his
idealistic mind, he could not find the answer that
would make him understand why his parents
treated him that way and this kind of thoughts
drove him apart from their love and their home.
Most of the time, he not only ran away
from his home, but from school too. He headed
for the busy streets in town or he hid in the
woods. While he was in town, he wandered
the streets among the crowd and went as far as
where his legs led him. He watched the people
going by and sought for a glimpse of happiness
18
on their faces, but all of them seemed sad and
depressed in Ed´s eyes.
When his getaway place was the woods,
he looked for a hidden spot and spent the
afternoon in complete isolation. Sometimes, he
sat by the river bank and tossed stones at any
object that went floating by just for the sake of
releasing his anger.
Loneliness was his friend, maybe because
there was no one else who could understand
him.
On a spring afternoon, Ed, who was
wandering through the woods, made a stop to
smell the perfume given out from some flowers
that grew among the shrubs. In amazement, he
discovered that the wrapping smell provided
him with comfort and shelter. The luring perfume
brought invigorating spring winds into his soul
19
while his breath felt like aromatic music. He was
in complete harmony. In this state of feelings
he thought of his attitude towards people, he
recognized his faults and determined to change
in order to regain his friends and parents´love.
He spent the entire afternoon kneeling on the
grass embracing the flowered shrubs as if he
were a parishioner worshipping the religious
image that gives him comfort.
Joyfully he went back home and told his
parents about the beautiful flower he had found.
He described its shape and color and explained
about the feelings and good intentions it had
awaken in him. His mother, who had been
listening with great attention, exclaimed:
— I´m so happy that you´ve found my
favorite flower! It is a wild jasmine that only
grows in our forest. I used to smell its sweet
20
perfume when I was pregnant as it gave me
comfort. I remember quite clearly that on the
day before you were born, I filled the house
with bouquets of them.
Ed´s father joined in and said:
— When I smell its perfume I can picture
myself fondling your mother´s round and
restless womb. You´ve always been a restless
boy, even before you were born! ”
His parents´ words made Ed remember
their love and care. Sometimes these feelings
and memories, if we do not value them enough,
fade away in the mist of our everyday problems.
The perfume of the flower of wild jasmine
awoke in Ed these sleeping feelings and he
regained the integrity that strengthened his
malleable soul.
As time went by, Ed turned into a
21
remarkable boy. He learnt how to be more
patient and a good friend to his brothers and
sisters. Life was peaceful until a sad winter
night.
Ed´s father was getting off the bus after
a long day at work, when he got ran over by a
wrecking drunk who tithed his life in exchange
for a few drinks. As a result, he was forced to
quit his job which implied more problems. And,
after a long painful year, he died leaving his
family without his love, care and protection.
22
Chapter II
THE VILLAIN
Ed´s mother had to get a job and part of the
family had to help her in making a living. They
all suffered greatly from this unexpected turn in
their lives. But Ed, being the most sentimental
one, could not find any comfort to help him
understand their misfortune.
Many bitter days went by and, on a sunny
afternoon, he went back to the forest to find the
wild flower that had once provided him with
the peace he was seeking for.
Lying down on the green pasture he
smelled the sweet fragrance, but this time the
peace and joy he had once experienced were
not enough to calm down his deep grief. The
23
youngster, as a bee does, went over the woods
smelling every flower, but none of them had the
power to soothe his pain. He was not able to
understand that only time, tears and memories
of the good times were able to do this job.
He persisted on being alone, and some
other sunny afternoon while lying down on
the grass and trying to smell the perfume of a
new flower to his eyes, he was scared away by a
black shadow.
— What are you doing, young boy?
— Nothing, sir. I´m just smelling the
perfume of these flowers. They give me some
comfort.
— Ha, Ha! — Said the man who was
without a doubt a villain as his intentions
showed.
— The only flower that can bring you
24
peace and joy is the Ed-Drugs-Nay flower.
Puzzled, Ed replied:
— I don´t know that flower.
— It´s the most beautiful one. Its perfume
leads you to heaven and you may even
feel as you were a king.
Ed exclaimed in excitement:
— If I can be a king, I´ll be able to help my
mom!
— Of course! – Said the Villain.
— What shall I do so that you show me the
way to where this flower grows?
— Nothing! What are friends for?
Come on, follow me.
They plodded through the shrubs for quite
a while until they reached a huge and aged tree.
— Wait here…
The man went behind the tree and drew
25
out of his pocket a small bag containing a
substance that he spread on his hands. He then
told the boy:
— Come closer, but cover your eyes. I´ll
decide when it´s the right time for you to see it.
With his hands covering his eyes, Ed
stumbled until he ran against the body of the
ominous man.
— Don´t open your eyes until I say so. Just
breathe deeply from its delicate petals.
The man held his hands bearing the
substance, as if they were petals and placed
them under Ed´s nostrils. Ed took a deep breath
and the substance went up his nose and filled
his mouth and lungs. After some sneezes and
faces of disgust, he opened up his eyes.
— Its perfume is not very nice! Why can´t I
see it?
26
— Not yet. You must earn that possibility.
Next, Ed felt a deep pain in his stomach, his
sight blurred and everything went black for an
instant. After a short time, he was overwhelmed
with a joyful strength and even the grief that
had tormented him seemed to have vanished.
— I haven´t lied to you, have I?
— I feel so strange… Thank you, sir, for
helping me! But, when shall I see the flower?
— You´re not ready yet. First, you will
have to pay me back: a favor for a favor… But,
don´t worry. We´ll talk about this some other
time. Go spend your strength in helping your
family and come back tomorrow for more. The
effect dies soon. Oh! And something else: don´t
tell anyone in your family about it. They won´t
understand. You must keep our secret well or I
won´t be able to help you anymore.
— Of course, sir. I won´t tell anyone.
27
— Good. Come back tomorrow at the
same time.
I´ll be waiting for you.
Ed ran home carrying the renewed joy
with him, but he could not share it as this
happiness was not real, it was not the result of
some good deed. The day went by: his brothers
and sisters carried out their chores as they used
to and by the time his mother got home from
work, Ed was already asleep in his bed probably
dreaming that the next day would come soon
and with the dawn light he would be able to
see the flower that had given him such a great
comfort.
28
Chapter III
DECEIT AND PAIN
The following day, Ed went back to the
meeting spot in the woods. The Villain was
already there, waiting for him.
— Good afternoon, Ed.
— Hello, sir.
— How did you like the magical effect of
my flower?
— I ´m comforted, my worries have
vanished and I´m very happy. It´s only that … it
seems as if my sight had grown weaker.
— It happens quite often, but only at first.
You´ll see, it´ll soon wear off.
— Will you show me the flower today?
29
— We´ll see. First you´ll have to pay back
my favor.
— I´ll do it with pleasure. – said Ed a little
confused.
— Your first task will be to go about the
forest and pick the nicest bouquet.
— Sure…
Ed set off to complete his task. He went
through the forest feeling happy, for it was a
simple job, and picked a beautiful and colorful
bouquet. “ Could any of these flowers be an
Ed-Drugs-Nay flower?” – he asked himself and
wondered what the flowers could be for.
He returned to the meeting spot where
the Villain was now waiting for him dressed in
the most elegant and expensive outfit.
— What a lovely bouquet! Congratulations!
We´ll now go to the cemetery and put these
30
flowers on your father´s grave.
Ed found it hard to believe that the man
could be so kind and he felt he was already his
friend.
They visited the grave where his father
was resting in eternal peace and Ed´s eyes filled
with tears. He remembered when his father
stroke his back with his loving hands and patted
him to congratulate him on a good deed. He
remembered too, that he used to arrive home
loaded with groceries and sweets for everyone.
The Villain too shed a few faked tears in a small
handkerchief.
— I´ve also lost my father and these scenes
move my heart deeply.
The boy felt the man close to him as they
both shared the same feelings.
31
After a while, they went back to the forest
where the aged tree was. Ed eagerly wished to
see the flower, his instinct told him that its beauty
was in concord to the comfort it rendered.
— I´m sure it´s purple – he exclaimed.
— We´ll see. But, it won´t be today! So,
cover your eyes and I´ll give you a bit more of
its lovely perfume.
Ed´s curiosity was becoming unbearable,
but deep inside he knew that his new friend´s
kindness would soon allow him to set eyes on
the delicate petals.
Ed inhaled from the so called flower that
with dirty tricks the Villain had faked with his
hands, and felt the same disgust he had felt the
day he smoked one of his grandfather´s cigars.
Then, he held his stomach tight and
everything went spinning around him. His sight
32
lost a bit more of its light.
— It seems as if it´s getting darker –
Thought Ed. But, the joy that the faked flower
brought him made him lose interest in anything
else.
— Well, off you go now. Go help your
mom and come back tomorrow.
Ed went home in a state of slight euphoria
and he noticed that the rest of his family showed
nothing but sorrow. “ They weren´t happy
as he was! ” He tried to share the chores and
his mom sent him to repair the roof as a storm
was coming up and there was a leak. Once on
top of the roof, he got lost in the sight of the
approaching clouds. After a long time, a few
raindrops splashed on his face. Ed came out
of his state of ecstasy and realized that he was
supposed to be fixing the hole on the roof, but it
was too late. He was soaking wet and he had to
33
come down as quick as he could.
— How long has it taken you!
Ed could not say a word. Soon after, rain
was dripping into the bedroom from the leak in
the roof. His mother left her chores and ran to
place a bucket below the leak while she yelled
and blamed him for such a bad job, but her bed
was already wet.
— What kind of repairs have you done!
I will have to sleep in your brother´s bed and
tomorrow wash and dry all these soaking sheets.
Ed locked himself up in his room feeling
a bit sorry as the effect of his wonderful flower
began to wear off.
34
Chapter IV
WHEN DARKNESS
BLOCKS OUR SIGHT
Once again a sunny afternoon and its
everlasting warmth keep company to Ed´s steps
into the woods.
— Hello Ed, my friend! Tell me how
you´ve been doing.
— Well, a bit sad you know. I can´t get
along
with my family. Everything seems to be
wrong and I don´t know what to do.
— Don´t worry! You just need to get a
whiff of my flower´s perfume and you´ll feel
alright once more.
Ed has no friends to talk about the things
35
that trouble him. The state of hallucination
rendered by the flower plus the lack of
communication with his family and his need of
honest friends that could help him go through
that critical moment of his life leaves him no
other way but that of the Villain´s, the despicable
opportunist whom he now relies on.
Days go by fenced in by the Villain while
Ed´s sight grows gloomer and gloomer.
One afternoon Ed shows up in great
anxiety and eagerly demanding the comfort
rendered by the mysterious flower.
— You´re late – says the Villain who is
now showing his other face – What´s
happened? I can´t wait forever, you know!
— Sorry, Sir. But it seems as if I´m slower
each day.
The Villain moves some steps back and in
an authoritarian and violent tone of voice puts
36
up an unexpected dramatic act.
— I´m very angry. You never ask me if I
need anything, or how I feel or anything else
that might concern me. I´m always giving you
comfort!
A deep anguish lodges in Ed´s stomach.
He feels guilty and selfish.
The Villain sits on the grass and wails:
— I want you to know that I´m having
financial problems. I have more expenses than I
can handle so I need you to get me some money.
In surprise, Ed asks:
— Where can I get you this money from?
I don´t work and my mother barely makes
enough to support us all.
— I don´t care! – Says the Villain in fury-
You won´t get the right to smell the flower today
and certainly you won´t see it! First, you´ll have
to get me money.
37
Gloomily, Ed goes back home. It is not
going to be easy.
Once there, he feels great excitement
followed by a sudden void that fills his body.
His brother tries to talk to him, but they end up
arguing and fist-fighting. Their mom, very upset,
tries to clear up things. Ed cannot understand
his mother´s suggestions and leaves the house.
He admits to himself that what he needs is
peace and happiness but nothing can fulfill these
yearnings. He has an only idea in his mind, to
smell the perfume of the unknown flower.
Urged by the need of money, he thinks
of selling some valuable objects among which
there is a gold medal of the Virgin of Guadalupe
that was given to him by his godfather. But the
real problem would be how to negotiate the
38
sale as he is under age. He decides to find out
who could be a possible buyer in the town flea
market. He talks with a few stall keepers and
sees that his task is not an easy one. No one
wants to buy his things as they think they are
stolen.
A man, after the young boy has left, says:
— Poor boy! What could his problems be?
— Have you noticed how nervous he
seemed? - replied a second man.
— Yes, I have. I´m sure he´s up to
something!
A young man - the kind of those who live
in the streets- has been watching him. He stops
Ed and says:
— What are you selling, my friend?
— A few objects and a gold medal.
— Where have you stolen them?
39
— I haven´t. They are mine. It´s only that
I´ve decided to get rid of them.
The young man, who has seen these type
of situations many times before and has made a
profit out of them too, gives a look to the objects
and says:
— How much do you want for all this
junk?
— This isn´t junk! They´re things I no
longer
need.
— I only care for the golden medal…
— It isn´t golden, it´s made of solid gold!
— What do you know! How much for it?
— …. Twenty-five.
— Ha! Ha! … It isn´t worth it. I´ll give you
five.
40
— No, that´s not a fair price! – Ed tries to
be
cunning – If you give me ten, I´ll sell you
the other medals I have.
— Deal! Here´s your ten…- and pretending
to be kind, but with very mean intentions, the
young man adds, - I´ll buy anything
you´ve got to sell and I´ll pay a good price for it
too! Remember!
Ed and the young man walk together to
Ed´s house. The man says goodbye and leaves.
Ed gets into his humble home, he quickly
changes his clothes and goes to the forest to
meet the Villain.
When he arrives…
— Ed, my friend! How are you? Have you
brought the money?
— Yes, I have! Ten pesos!
41
A deep silence.
— That´s all? It´s not enough to solve my
problems.
Ed is tormented.
— I couldn´t get more! But, I promise I´ll
do!
— O.K. I´m sorry. But you don´t know
about the urgent problems that I have to solve!
The Villain puts back on his friendly face.
— Come, my friend. I´ll let you take a
whiff of my wonderful flower.
— Shall I see it today?
— No, maybe some other day when you
get
more money.
Ed closes his eyes and inhales the perfume
of the faked flower. He switches from the nasty
feeling to the wonderful one.
42
— I´ve other things to do – Says the Villain
and he leaves the place.
Ed, whose sight is growing poorer by the
minute, stumbles back home through the woods
feeling the exhilarating sensation that the flower
provides.
When he gets home he finds his mother
crying in despair. The whole family has been
struck by misfortune once more.
— What´s wrong, mom?
— Oh, my darling! I´m glad you weren´t
here.
You could have got beaten.
— But… What’s going on?
— Some street bumps have broken in and
we´ve been robbed. They´ve taken all my
savings, those I kept in case of an
43
emergency.
— But, how did it happen?
— They broke a window. They said they
were looking for some gold medals or jewels…
But, you know, all I had were our wedding rings
– my dearest memory of your father´s! – And
now, I will never get them back!
Her tears caused great affliction to Ed´s
brothers and sisters who were shivering from
the shock. She could find no comfort and kept
crying while she pressed a moist handkerchief
against her bruised eyebrow.
It did not take long for Ed to realize who
was responsible for the breaking in. However,
the faked happiness he was feeling minimized
the facts and he went to his room and lay on his
bed so as to enjoy the only feeling that could
make him happy.
44
It was only on the following day, that
he got fully aware of what had happened
the day before. But, this time as the effects of
the mysterious flower had worn off, the facts
seemed worse than what they were.
Ed´s mother was worried about him and
could not understand his detachment.
Ed´s sight was growing dimmer and
dimmer. He spent all day thinking of his
problems: the only one that tormented him was
how to get money.
As time went by, his body began to shake
and his eyes received the blurred images of his
sorrow.
Not knowing what else to do he went to
the flea market, where honest people make their
living, and pretending to be looking around he
took advantage of an unaware stall keeper and
45
snatched his money without being caught by
the persecutors that would not forget his face.
The stolen money provided several weeks
of faked happiness. The Villain was becoming
richer and was already thinking of asking Ed to
get another friend so as to expand his business.
But, as all evil deeds have no good ending,
this will not be the exception.
46
Chapter V
WHEN NIGHT IS ALL
YOU CAN SEE
Once again the beautiful sunny summer
afternoon, which seems gray in Ed´s eyes, will
witness the horror that is about to end.
Once again Ed inhales the flower´s
perfume.
— How do you feel? – Says the Villain.
Ed, deliriously lying on the grass whispers:
— I feel great! Extremely happy! But, I
don´t
know what´s wrong with my eyes.
The Villain comes closer and moves his
hands in front of Ed´s eyes just to check that Ed
47
is blind.
— Ed, you´ve proved to be a good boy.
Come and see the flower now.
The Villain improvises some hand moves.
— So, what do you think?
Ed makes an effort to focus. He rubs his
eyes, but he cannot see a thing.
The Villain moves backwards and, without
caring for Ed´s terrible state, says:
— Ha! Ha! If you can´t see the flower
you´re
no longer useful. I´ll look for someone else!
Ed was still lying deliriously while the
bitter effects of the Ed-Drugs-Nay flower wore
off. Next, a chill hit his bones and when he tried
to stand up, his legs bent down weakly. He
dragged himself along the grass, feeling with
his fingers every inch of it for he had now gone
48
completely blind.
— Sir, please! Help me! – He pleaded.
But, the mean Villain was no longer there.
And Ed realized that he had been left alone and
lost in the middle of the dark and thick forest.
49
Chapter VI
A SECOND CHANCE
Without notice, the sun left. But, Ed was
not alone. The night was already with him.
In his creeping, his clothes got entangled
in the bushes and branches. He felt as if the nails
of greedy zombies escaped from their graves
were trying to tear up his flesh. Each noise
seemed to be a roar, the sound of the crickets
were heart-breaking screams that joined his.
When a small animal or a squirrel brushed him,
he felt as if fierce rats were nibbling at his face
and thousands of insects were crawling up his
nose.
Every feeling was a deadly vehicle that
drove him to his doom.
50
His journey was a living hell, and he could
not find his way back home. His heart was
beating so wildly that he felt it as a lump in his
throat which choked him.
But a sweet perfumed fragrance brought
him closer to his mother. It was the wild jasmine
of the forest! He fondled it and after a long
needed weeping, he knew where he was and
which was the way back home.
— I want to be home! – Said Ed with his
body covered in sweat and tears.
He travelled for long, difficult hours until
he reached the door to his home. There he yelled
for help, and his family rescued him.
— What´s wrong, love?
Ed could only weep and hold his mother
tight.
— Forgive me, mom. I´ve been sniffing
51
a strange substance that a stranger had been
giving me. I thought that it could solve my
problems but it´s only caused you problems.
The breaking in was my fault. I´ve even robbed!
Ed goes on and on.
— Oh, mom! It´s so painful! My body is
torn and I´m blind!
The afflicted mother was relieved to see
her son back for she has been awake all night
fearing the worst. His brothers and sisters held
him tight, they kissed him and took him to his
room while waiting for the doctor to come.
The mother twists her handkerchief in her
hands.
— Don´t you worry, my love. You will be
alright.
After the doctor´s examination, Ed is sent
to a hospital where he is given hope and told
52
that, with patience and sacrifice, he will get
better.
The doctor tells the mother:
— The following months are going to be
quite difficult, especially because his body has
lost many of its functions and the drug has
caused great damage in his nervous system. He
might even suffer permanently from some of
the effects.
The slow recovery treatment begins:
tubes, catheters, serum and special medication
that causes nauseous effects.
One afternoon, while waiting in the hall to
visit their brother …
— Mum, how much longer do we have to
wait?
— Don´t be impatient. We´ll be able to see
him in five minutes.
53
A boy, Ed´s aged approaches.
— Hello. Is this Ed´s room?
— Yes, it is. Who are you?
— I´m Anthony. Ed´s classmate. I would
like to see Ed. I know what he´s going through.
They enter the room. Ed has been waiting
anxiously to see his family. They tell him about
the unexpected visitor.
— Hello, Anthony. You´ve come to see me!
— Yes. I wanted to know how you were
doing and I brought a book to help you think
about what´s happened to you.
Ed covers his eyes and cries.
Anthony apologizes for he did not know
about Ed’s blindness.
After a short and wet interval, they calm
him down and they continue talking for a long
time. Finally they all leave after loving hugs and
54
farewell kisses.
Anthony, a very sensible and reflective
boy keeps visiting Ed.
— I´ve never imagined that you could
come to visit me, Anthony. I´ve always criticized
you behind your back. I thought that as you
were quiet and friendly you were weak and
afraid of everything. But, I was wrong. As I was
about almost everything.
— Don´t feel bad, Ed. Think about the
future.
Real friends are those who stay with
you when times are bad. Besides, I´ve always
admired you. You´re so quick and skillful with
your hands! And you draw so well!
— How do you know?
— Martina has shown me some drawings
you threw away some time ago when you went
55
camping. She picked them up and kept them.
Once more, Ed discovers that there is
someone else who cares about him. How many
more of them are out there?
Sometimes, lost in our own misty thoughts,
we are not able to see what reality is and that it
always has a positive side.
In time, Ed partially recovered from his
addiction and was moved to a rehabilitation
center.
When he arrived, some boys who suffered
from the same illness greeted him.
— Hello, Ed. We are your welcome
reception.
— How do you know my name?
— There is nothing that we don´t know
here.
They meet in a room and after telling him
56
their names and nicknames, they start taking it
in turns to tell about the experiences they have
had and they all reflect upon them.
When Ed´s turn comes, he feels quite
embarrassed, but he speaks about the flower
and everything related to it.
The psychologist that coordinates the
session, thoughtfully reminds them of this
usual trick drug dealers use to introduce drugs
to young boys: they try to find out what the
boys´needs are and use them in their own profit.
He next says:
— Young boys, don’t you think you have
been too innocent. To satisfy your needs, to
achieve your goals and to solve up problems, that
are most of the time difficult and many, requires
time and effort. The passage from child to adult
is so quick! So brief! That you mistakenly think
57
so is the way you must go through in order to
achieve your goals.
Drugs give us illness and take away the
love, the happiness and the energy. They take
our lives in exchange as well as the lives of those
that we love.
What we must do when we feel a great
affliction is to seek for someone in our family,
for a friend, a religious guide, a teacher… We
should not seek for strangers!
— That´s alright. But, what if we don´t get
along with our parents and with no one else?
— Not getting along with our parents
doesn´t mean that we cannot tell them about our
problems. We should leave our pride behind
and speak! You are good and powerful people!
There must be someone to whom you could tell
your problems.
58
— What if we are grieving a loved one? –
Ed joined in timidly.
— If we have loved that person very
much it is because that person had great moral
standards in our eyes. And, if we were lucky
enough to have had someone like that by our
side, it’s because we’re privileged. So, we must
learn to accept their death by finding comfort in
the beautiful things they’ve left behind.
Let´s be the first ones to love someone.
If we all expect someone else to be first… who
would love whom?
Let´s give our love. And, in return, we´ll
receive the magical action of love itself.
While in rehabilitation treatment, Ed
met many other young boys who had his
same problem. It was from the sharing of their
experiences that he was able to learn about his
59
own limitations.
He was very lucky, because his family and
his friends backed him up with all their love and
support. His great will and strength also helped
him out.
Time went by, and thanks to his family,
to the doctors and to the rehabilitation center,
Ed was able to overcome the crisis. Even though
he has only recovered part of his sight and he
sometimes shakes for no reason, we can say:
Ed- Hurray!
60
THE END
This afternoon, while I was walking my
dog Foxi, I ran into Ed and we gave each other
an immense hug! He told me that he works, has
a girlfriend, and continues with the physical
rehabilitation with some very good results, as
he was able to get his sight back and his right
leg no longer trembles like before…
As a writer I can tell you that this story
about Ed had a happy ending and honestly, it
is so because I was the one who wrote it. When
stories are written by drugs, the end is always
the worst possible. Therefore, my dear readers,
write your own stories and don’t allow drugs
61
make their ending.
Then, you will be able to say that Ed won!
Jorge Parada
62
EDUCATIONAL WORK
This educational work was done by the
interdisciplinary cabinet headed by Ms. Liliana
Inés Pettinati and coordinated by the author
Jorge Parada.
63
LETTER TO THE
EDUCATOR
It is of fundamental interest the issues
afflicting children and adolescents in these
times where the banality, speculation and the
absence of real life paradigms increase daily,
leaving them facing an unhealthy exposure and
terminating in disease.
The topic “Drugs and its effects” has
already been introduced to students from
various schools. This material is used to enhance
the task of awareness.
We should not forget that in Latin
“a-dictiun” means “no right”. For this reason,
64
the adolescent drug addict is seen as someone
who cannot express what they feel or think,
through emotional, family or social blocks.
To perform an organized and methodical
work, there are some guidelines that need to be
established and taken into consideration:
• See the drug as en evil of the society. And
to eradicate it, proper tools must be used in full
compliance with those who are to be treated.
• One should think of the drug addict or
the one who can potentially start using drugs
as someone who is integrated in the society
without the possibility to grow, be nourished
and live in the reality by the cause of disease.
We should try to instill in them the concept of
no marginalization, in order not to produce a
greater damage that can be irreparable. School
life appears to reflect the society in all its nuances,
65
specific indicators and codes of conduct.
• It cannot be forgotten that there is a
movement in the world (a job) on pro peace
and defense of the child rights, which becomes
a commitment of responsibility for the adults
and institutions. Apart from this, the drug
dependent students should be accompanied to
institutions, foundations and establishments
which are dedicated to their help. It is also
important to involve relevant security agencies
to help mitigate the dependencies.
• While it is an activity that concerns
all people to build a more just world for the
common good.
• The best way to start making teens and
parents aware comes in various ways. The book
at your disposal and comments on what was
read, open the mind and allow a space for a
66
serious reflection.
• Part of the story that makes the reader
to allegorically enter the world of “light dark”
in order to clarify in its whole to teens, parents
and educators.
• The opinion of the readers on the book
allows parents and teachers to respond in a
simple and practical way to a serious demand in
this current society.
67
WORK PROPOSITION
Allegorical questions to each chapter of “Ed-Drugs-Nay”
▫ Explain the concept of allegory and why it is
used in this case.
▫ Guide students to develop a synthesis of
reading
▫ Explain the difference between summary and
synthesis
1) What does the forest mean/represent?
2) What does the flower represent? What
does it refer to in reality? Explain the
68
term “reference”.
2) Why doesn’t Ed ask for help?
4) When did Ed’s situation begin to change?
Who pressed him?
5) What is the moral of the story?
Questions for incorporating preventative references
▫ What do we understand about drugs in
relation to medicine?
a) What is the doctor’s role in the society?
b) Why is it established that medicine can
be only prescribed by a doctor?
▫ 2) Is there a flower or a magic thing that can
solve our problems?
a) Why do you think Ed chose this reality?
69
b) Do you know of anyone like Ed?
▫ 3) Are there people like the villain in this
book? (Justify the answer)
a) What should you do if you knew
someone like Ed?
b) What should you do if your friend tells
you that he/she knows someone like
Ed?
▫ 4) What is dependency?
a) Is it easy to become dependent? Why?
b) Is it easy to get out of dependency?
▫ 5) Does the use of drugs affect our health?
a) What are the illnesses that you know,
which result from the drug use?
b) Do you know of anyone who suffers
from this illness?
▫ 6) What should you do if this was happening
70
to you?
a) What should you do if this was
happening to your friend?
b) Who would you talk to about your
friend?
c) Drugs give you short moments of
artificial happiness, joy, euphoria
and strength. In exchange for what?
Write a draft expressing your answer.
▫ 7) Did you like the book? Why?
71
EDUCATIONAL
SUGGESTIONS
Work method and techniques to implement
The theme of this book relates to the
disciplines that address the ethics and morals of
citizens, outlining the versatility that embraces
institutions as a whole.
To achieve this objective, it parts from the
“construction theory”, thus integrating all the
school sectors.
It is known that the programs required
by the Government are extensive. However,
teachers can ethically choose to: make a specific
time to regularly work the book throughout
72
the year. Also, coordinating with the time slots
already specified for the drug dependency
subjects, focusing on its preventative measures.
73
PROPOSALS FOR
COMMUNITY WORK
▫ Dramatize to draw and solve human conflicts.
▫ Puppet Theater and involving older students
to work with younger ones.
▫ Imaginary conversations with the characters
from the book.
▫ Develop flyers/signs for drug prevention and
promotion of health.
▫ Interdisciplinary tasks: theater, music,
literature, etc.
74
FINAL SUGGESTIONS
This book is a useful tool to eradicate
drugs, while making the readers aware through
emotional processes about an evil that plagues
constantly.
Educating with emotions through healthy
feelings from both personal and social point of
views.
To remember that one enters drugs
for pleasure, but it is fleeting and brings
immeasurable pain afterwards; marginality,
illness and even death (insist on this part).
Formulating allegorical questions on each
chapter helps to establish a contact on the drug
subject different to what they (the students) are
used to. This provides the readers with mental
75
as well as psychic clarification. In this way,
thought and feelings are taking place over the
neurosis that is provoked by the evil of these
times.
76
CURRICULUM VITAE
Jorge Parada (Argentina), MD through the
University of Rio de Janeiro (Frasce) specializing
in physiotherapy. Formed in psychology and
pedagogy. Author of books with educational
theme. His book “One Winged Angel” has earned
him international recognition for its integration
to work on the issue of disability. Lecturer in
the field of disability, drug dependency, ethics
and values. He has worked for government and
private institutions, as well as NGOs in America
and Europe. To learn more about the author:
www.jorgeparada.org
77
CURRICULUM VITAE
Liliana Inés Pettinati. Argentinian, (1951).
PhD in Education and Ethics from the Salvador
University (Argentina). Has developed
substantial projects for minority groups,
families and drug addiction acting in the field
with dependent and marginalized minors. She
has worked as an international counselor on this
subject and as well as ethics and semiotics.
Jorge Parada
EDdrugs NAY
The objective of the book “Ed-Drugs-Nay”
is to incorporate the issue of drug addiction in
the child-youth education. Its main feature is
using sensitivity and emotion as a reflective
tool, marking a point of focus on the experience
as it unfolds. The play tells the story of a very
imaginative and sensitive boy who escapes his
problems by breathing the magical perfume
flower “Ed-Drugs-Nay”. Its author, Jorge
Parada (author of “One Winged Angel”, a play
for children to learn about disabilities) argues
that the formative and reflective capacity of
the emotions makes the most efficient tool for
education, because it evokes in the reader a
virtuous form of awareness on deeper issues.
9 788494 195426
ISBN 978-84-941954-2-6