It was the first time I had smiled. It was pleasant to see such alacrity to help. The work didn't look difficult anymore. I knew that due to Eric's aid I would finish everything very quickly.

   "Thank you very much", I answered after a short pause.

   We started decorating then. I was instructing him what to hang and where. Besides, we were talking a lot. I wanted to learn his story.

  "I know almost nothing about you, Eric. So tell me about your past."

   He answered with a heavy sigh.

   "Okay" he said. "What shall I start with?"

   "Well, why did you come here?" I wanted to know.

   Eric was silent for a second. He stood up and continued.

   "Because of my last concert. It was a competition actually. I played in a band, but someone broke our musical instruments before our performance and we had no time to prepare the others. We lost and even had no chance to perform on the stage."

  "Oh really?" I said and he looked at me. My face reddened but I continued decorating.

   "Yeah. We knew the band who took part in that competition with us. They were our opponents. I'm absolutely sure that they broke the instruments. Their vocalist was afraid we would win and did his best to make us disqualified from the contest. Moreover, I was expelled from university because of him. My friends and I decided not to play anymore. I wished our band had won and had shown them as really talented musicians in front of the judges... "

   Later he explained me everything in detail. He added that the guy, who was the vocalist in the opponent band, had already been famous in the city for charity concerts and his help to the poor. Not everybody knew that his family was very rich, that's why that guy looked so kind in people's eyes for spending thousands of dollars on charity. Many people thought he worked hard doing different unbelievable things to pay money for those in need. Only a few knew he had done nothing.

   When Eric's band wanted to release their debut album and start performing too, the "kind" guy was ready to do everything to ruin their career as a band. He did it, because he was scared that Eric and the other guys would take his own fame. He wanted to be the only person who was so popular there. Unfortunately, they had to give up music because of him. So, Eric's dream to become a professional singer ended up and he came here. So, he was studying at that art college to get a degree in music. Eric hoped to perform in the future at least in the local area. I knew he would get the chance to be famous here no matter what.

   The story was really touching. I couldn't stop listening to him, because I appreciated that sincerity. I believed I was the first who had seen the real him, that guy he was inside. Eric was very kind to me.

   When I noticed he was going to shed tears, I changed the topic of our conversation in order to support him.

   "You haven't seen the town yet, have you?"

   He nodded and I had an idea.

   "Would you like to go for a walk with me to look at some sights? I think you will like the town. So what?"

  "Well..." Eric felt a blush warm his cheeks, but finally agreed. "Yes, I'd love to. So much."

   I got over my shyness and wanted him to be welcome here. Did I do everything right? It's up to him, but I thought I had just found a new chum. We kept smiling at each other for so long and I liked it.