The Ferrari and The Paintbrush

I read a book called "Taste Berries for Teens". It is a book bursting of stories that are inspirational in a way. In the first two chapters it had an intro. One was called The Paintbrush and one was called Ferrari. Yes Ferrari is a car; allow me to explain. Those literary pieces were inspiring to me. They talked about being different and being you.

The Paintbrush

I keep my paintbrush with me, wherever I go,
In case I need to cover up, so the real me doesn't show.
I'm so afraid to show you me; afraid of what you'll do,
I'm afraid you'll laugh or say mean things; afraid I might lose you.
I'dlike to remove all the layers, to show you the real, true me,
But I want you to try to understand; I need you to like what you
see.
So if you'll be patient and close your eyes, I'll remove the coats
real slow,
Please understand how much it hurts, tolet the real me show.
Now that my coats are all stripped off, I feel naked, bare and
cold,
And if you still find me pleasing, you are my friend, pure as
gold.
I need to save my paintbrush though, and hold it in my hand,
I need it keep it handy in case someone doesn't understand.
So please protect me, my dear friend, and thanks for loving me
true,
And please let me keep my painbrush with me, until I love me,
too.

Ferrari, Anyone? Huh? Do Yah?

A young boy came home crying from school one day. His grandfather was visiting and greeted him.
"Why are you crying?" his grandfather asked.
"Because Paul called me a sissy! Dp you think I'm a sissy, Grandpa?"
"Oh no," said his grandfather. "I think you're a Ferrari."
"A car?" said the boy, trying to make sense of what his grandfather had said.
"Well, if you believe that just because Paul called you a sissy that you really are one, you might as well believe your're a car, and a terrific one at that," explained the grandfather, asking, "Why be a sissy when you can be a Ferrari?"
"Oh! That's cool, Grandpa!" the boy exclaimed, now realizing that he got to have a say in how he felt about himself.
"Yes, it is," replied his grandfather. "The opinion you have of yourself should not only count as much as anyone's-but even more."