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At
seven o'clock in the
morning that day the alarm of Mr Andrew Cassetti, elementary school teacher of
the institute "Alessandro Manzoni" in his country,
rang punctual, as usual.
Shortly
after graduation he had begun to cross the main door of the old school to get
to the classroom where his students were already waiting for him.
Every
day the same walk, the same gestures and a smile and a kind word for everyone:
the headmaster of the institute, the janitors, his colleagues, but especially
to small children in his class.
Every
gesture and every word revealed a clear kindness.
Master
Cassetti was loved by everyone.
Since
his youth, he did not prefer to spend free time with friends, but giving free
lessons to the students who had to catch up.
And
that is why, at his age, he lived alone in the big house of the parents, in the
company of an old cat that never left him except to have a meal.
To
feel less alone, he had placed in each room a light that, illuminating his
back, threw in front of him his shadow.
In
the evening, the teacher used to go out for a walk "to help digestion",
as he said.
As
usual, that evening teacher Cassetti got dressed to the nines and,
after a pat to the cat, to reassure him of his return, he opened the door and
stepped into the street.
The
night air was cool and a light mist enveloped men and things.
On
the sidewalks the
hurried passers-by were preceded by their shadows.
Suddenly
a very strong wind got up and swept away the mist and all the shadows cast by
the light from the street lamps.
To
his great surprise, however, teacher Cassetti noticed that only his shadow was
left to keep him company.
The
wind had felt pity for the good man and didn't feel like leaving him completely
alone.
Moreover,
the shadow liked it, because living with a man so good was beautiful.
The
wind accompanied them home and, with a final caress on the face of the
schoolteacher, took leave of them.
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