"Mom? Am I always going to have to worry about jerks like that?" I asked. "Like when I grow up, is it always going to belike this?"
She didn‘t answer right away, but took my plate and glass andput them in the sink and rinsed them with water.
"There are always going to be jerks in the world, Auggie,"
she said, looking at me. "But I really believe, and Daddy really believes, that there are more good people on this earth than bad people, and the good people watch out for each other and take care of each other. Just like Jack was there for you. And Amos. And those other kids."
"Oh yeah, Miles and Henry," I answered. "They were awesome, too. It‘s weird because Miles and Henry haven‘t even really been very nice to me at all during the year."
"Sometimes people surprise us," she said, rubbing the top of my head.
"I guess." - P279
"Auggie, I couldn‘t stand seeing that thing cover your face anymore," he said clumsily.
"Dad, I loved that helmet! It meant a lot to me! I was bummed beyond belief when it got lost-don‘t you remember?"
"Of course I remember, Auggie," he said softly. "Ohh, Auggie, don‘t be mad. I‘m sorry. I just couldn‘t stand seeing you wear that thing on your head anymore, you know? I didn‘t think it was good for you." He was trying to look me in the eye, but I wouldn‘tlook at him.
"Come on, Auggie, please try to understand," he continued, putting his hand under my chin and tilting my face toward him. "You were wearing that helmet all the time. And the real, real, real, real truth is: I missed seeing your face, Auggie. I know youdon‘t always love it, but you have to understand... I love it. Ilove this face of yours, Auggie, completely and passionately. Andit kind of broke my heart that you were always covering it up."
He was squinting at me like he really wanted me to understand. - P291
Here Mr. Tushman looked up at the audience. "Kinder than is necessary," he repeated. "What a marvelous line, isn‘tit? Kinder than is necessary. Because it‘s not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed. Why I love that line, thatconcept, is that it reminds me that we carry with us, as humanbeings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice ofkindness. And what does that mean? How is that measured? You can‘t use a yardstick. It‘s like I was saying just before: it‘s not likemeasuring how much you‘ve grown in a year. It‘s not exactlyquantifiable, is it? How do we know we‘ve been kind? What is being kind, anyway?" - P300
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