The Real Julio

Seven years ago, I crossed paths with an exceptionally kind soul, stuffed into the scruffy and small body of a seven-year old street kid living in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.  His name was Julio and having plenty of free time on his hands, he liked to hang out and talk to people who were sitting in the town’s main plaza.  While I had not noticed him until he spoke to me, he noticed everything and everyone and was an expert at identifying the new people in his town. He sat down next to me one day, said hello and we started talking. I wasn’t sure what to talk to him about with limited Spanish, so I tried to make some jokes and he laughed. I asked him a few questions about his family. He asked me about mine and that day we parted.

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A few days passed and I was walking back to my house late one Sunday night. The streets were fairly dark, lit up by only a few lamps. Out of the shadows, I heard a high pitched voice shout ”Yenny!”  Julio had spotted me and swiftly moved to attach himself to my legs that were moving in a fast stride down the street. I was happy to see my little friend and I asked him if he wanted to eat something. He said sure and picked the place. We decided to take the food to go so that we could eat in the plaza.

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I watched this little boy eat as he talked and smiled and chewed, and talked and smiled some more. He ate some of my food and gave me some of his. It was one of the nicest dinners I had that trip; he was great company and anyone would have been happy to sit with him. As we finished our meals, I noticed that he didn’t eat all of his, but wrapped it up in the bag as we were finishing. I told him I had to get back home and that I hoped to see him again. He hugged me and thanked me for dinner

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I got up to go and turned around to try and watch what direction he would head in. As I was watching him leave, he skipped over to a passed out man sleeping on one of the plaza benches, shook him awake, left the rest of the food with him and darted off into the darkness, disappearing quickly once the street lamp no longer illuminated his path.

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I was left standing on the street, grateful to have met such an amazing little person who had so much love and kindness inside of him. I have never forgotten Julio and I never will. I never saw him again after that day but I think of him as a little light running around this world, illuminating every person he comes into contact with. He is what it means to have spirit and love bursting from within. He’s a little package that is full of unlimited surprises and gifts for everyone that he shares himself with.

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I would like to know what his dreams are for his own life, being that 7 years have passed since we met each other, and maybe one day I will have that chance. I would love to help him accomplish whatever he desires to do with himself. He is the inspiration behind our logo, our company name and our mission. We too wish to be a little like Julio, a light that iluminates your path, whatever your path may be.