Micro Story 01: Self Reliance — ‘You will not always be here’
The boy wandered through the village, searching for the man who had arrived just the day before. His brown hair tousled and his school uniform slightly wrinkled, he finally spotted the man by the stream, splashing cool water on his face. The man was tall and had a rugged yet kind appearance, with a well-worn traveller’s cloak and a gentle smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” the boy called out, his voice filled with excitement.
The man turned, smiling warmly. “Ah, hello, my young friend. What brings you here today?” he asked, his voice deep and soothing.
“I came to show you our village. You seemed so tired yesterday after your journey.”
The man nodded thoughtfully, taking in the peaceful surroundings. Birds chirped overhead, and the soft rustling of leaves created a serene backdrop. “It’s a beautiful village indeed. I’m glad you came.”
“Is that a book you’re carrying?” the man asked, noticing the item in the boy’s hand.
“Yes, I have to go to school later,” the boy explained, holding up his worn, leather-bound book. “But I wanted to spend some time with you first.”
The man looked across the narrow stream, his gaze following the gentle flow of the water. “How will you get to this side?” he inquired, raising an eyebrow.
“There’s a bridge up ahead. I’ll use that,” the boy replied confidently, pointing to a distant wooden bridge.
“You could also try jumping. The stream is quite narrow,” suggested the man with a playful glint in his eye.
The boy shook his head, his face serious. “No, if my school uniform and book get wet, I won’t be able to go to school.”
They continued walking along the banks, each on their respective side of the stream. The boy soon pointed out a fallen tree trunk that spanned the water, its surface slick and moss-covered.
“Here it is. This log helps people cross,” the boy said, his voice filled with a mix of pride and caution.
The man examined the trunk, his brows furrowing. “It’s very narrow. Are you sure you can cross it safely?” he asked, concern evident in his eyes.
“I can do it.” the boy reassured him, a confident smile spreading across his face.
“Let me hold your book for you,” the man offered, reaching out as the boy neared the middle of the trunk, his hand steady and supportive.
“It’s fine,” the boy responded, shaking his head gently. “I need to practice crossing with my book since you will not always be here.”
With a determined look, he took a deep breath and carefully placed one foot in front of the other, his arms stretched out for balance as he steadily made his way across the narrow log.
The man watched. The boy’s face was a picture of concentration, his lips pressed into a thin line as he focused on each careful step. He watched, admiring the boy’s foresight and determination, as he carefully made his way across the narrow log with his book in hand.
