The Starfish Story

An old man walked across the beach until he came across a young boy throwing something into the breaking waves. Upon closer inspection, the old man could see that the boy was tossing stranded starfish from the sandy beach, back into the ocean.

“What are you doing, young man?” He asked.
“If the starfish are still on the beach when the sun rises, they will die,” the boy answered.
“That is ridiculous. There are thousands of miles of beach and millions of starfish. It doesn’t matter how many you throw in; you can’t make a difference.”

“It matters to this one,” the boy said as he threw another starfish into the waves. “And it matters to this one.”

I learned something great! When I was in 4th grade, we were presenting flowers to our teachers before the summer holidays, and I had a huge expensive bouquet. I should have given it to a teacher, but…. They were all cruel and unfair! So I gave it to the one who really deserved it: our cleaning lady. Yet the next year she didn’t come. And now, after nine years, my friend told me that she was his neighbor, and back then she was so happy she left the school and started her own business. He said I gave her hope.

I’ve been dreaming of Berlin but had no money. I spent a year saving for the trip. When I got there, I couldn’t stop thinking how cool I was feeling there, and how I’d be remembering every minute of this magnificent week. On the last day, I was walking along the streets on the outskirts, saw a hairdresser’s, and decided to have a haircut to remember. The stylist offered to cut my hair to his taste, to make it a surprise, and I agreed. For an hour, he turned my boring haircut into a stylish one I was afraid to do before because I considered myself not cool enough.

Then I saw a clothes store across the street and bought a super brutal tee for my new image. When I came home, I wore this tee for a week and decided to beef up to complete the cool guy image. Six months later I had an athletic body, and a girl fell in love with me for the first time. I lacked time because of my girlfriend, and I learned to manage it, so my efficiency at work increased.

Four months later, I was promoted to manager for my good work. My income increased, I bought a car, and I began saving for a wedding. And yesterday I received a letter telling me that my company accepted my application and transferred me to another office in Berlin.

5 years ago I threw a bag of water from the balcony onto the head of an unfamiliar girl. And yesterday I learned that five years ago my wife (we met three years ago) was going on a date with a man who was going to propose to her, but some idiot threw a bag of water from a balcony right onto her head, and she couldn’t go in wet clothes. Her boyfriend considered this a very frivolous attitude toward him, and they broke up. Five years ago I ruined the wedding of my current wife! I’m proud of myself!

I’m 35 years old. I’m a boss at work but a hermit in life. I have no friends but have one tradition: I go to the same pub, take a seat at the very end of the bar, and drink Guinness.

On one such evening, someone suddenly covered my eyes with their hands and asked, “Guess who?“ The girl behind me realized she was mistaken, apologized, and went to the other end of the bar. She was so young, light, with eyes reminding me of two large black beads: she was different. I couldn’t think anymore, and Guinness suddenly seemed bitter.

She had been waiting for someone for all this time but in vain. Thinking I was crazy, I started thinking about how to start a conversation, but I had no good ideas. The bar was closing, and she was going to leave. I ran outside, and, because of awful weather and because she was looking so sad, I offered her a ride home.

In the car she wouldn’t stop talking — she was so…alive! I forgot to ask for her number, and it came to my mind only at home. I returned to the pub in a week, and she was there. Sitting in my place. I covered her eyes with my hands and asked, ”Guess who?” She started laughing and cried, “I thought you’d never come here!”