Dear Creature
There once was a small village that was built on the edge of a small river. The river was beautiful. Trees grew along the bank of the river creating a magnificent green canopy which homed many animals and creatures. The villagers loved the river; the men would catch fish while the women picked berries from the bushes. The elders of the village would sit on the water’s edge watching the children swim and play in the water. The villagers loved the river and the river loved them back, giving them plenty of fish and berries to eat and making certain the water stayed clean and clear of harmful creatures.
One day the wealthy men that lived outside of the village decided that the trees must go. The men believed that once the trees were gone they could build bigger houses and sell more of their goods. So the axes came out and the trees came down. All without letting the rest of the villagers have a say. Soon the wealthy men had all the trees down and had replaced them with cold grey stone.
And because of the men’s selfishness and cruelty the river stopped loving the village and soon the thriving village turned into a land of poverty and despair. There were no fish or berries for the men and women to collect. The elders and children could no longer go near the water because of the dark creatures and disease that plagued it. The wealthy men did not care, their business was thriving and their houses turned to mansions.
Years passed and the village fell deeper and deeper into poverty. One day six men were walking on the old rusted bridge outside the village. One man stood on the edge of the bridge and tossed a stone into the water. And out of the waves that rippled away from where the stone hit the water’s surface came a brilliant ray of light. That ray of light morphed and changed into a creature of white and gold. The creature had wise eyes and an aged face but moved with immense grace and agility. It towered over the men, who shook and quivered in fear.
The creature looked down upon the men and in a booming voice that rang with authority and beauty it said, “Why, children of the village do you disturb my sleep?” The men unable to speak tried to back away, but the creature’s tail erupted from the water and blocked the men’s escape. Again it boomed as it looked around itself at the dreary river, “What has happen to my beautiful river? Where have all the trees and animals gone?”
The smallest child, quivering in fear said, “Dear creature, the trees have been gone for many years. Selfish men came and replaced them with these stones for their own gain.”
“If this is true you children deserve endowment for bringing this to my attention.” The creature looked into the eyes of the men and asked them what it was they wished for the most in the world. Each man looked to the other before the one who cast the stone stepped forward.
“Dear creature, I was the one who cast the stone that awoke you from your slumber so I believe I should receive the first wish.” The man said. A deep grumble came from the creature throat before he told the man to continue. So the man continued and said, “Dear creature I wish to have the strength of one thousand men, so that I may kill the men who have destroyed the river and so that I may have power over all man.”
To that the creature replied, “So it now is.” And before the men’s eyes the man walked to the water’s edge and lifted a stone four times his size and tossed it over the horizon. The man went out and killed the men, who destroyed the river, but soon people began to fear him and they began avoiding him where ever he went. The man fell into anger and depression and took his own life after he killed his wife in a blind rage.
The second man stepped forward and made his wish. “Dear creature I want knowledge of the universe. I want everything that is the truth.”
The creature nodded and said. “And so it now is.” And the knowledge of the universe entered the man’s mind. Within seconds the man was driven crazy and threw himself into the river.
The third man stepped forward laughing at the second mans foolishness and said. “Dear creature I am not a foul. I want only to be the most handsome and beautiful of the earth.”
The creature waved its tail and said, “So it now is.” And before the remaining men’s eyes he turns to water; which is the most beautiful and handsome of the world.
The fourth man stepped forward and said. “Dear creature, please make it so that all I see is perfect. So I no longer have to see this destroyed river.”
Again the creature waved its tail saying “And so it is.” Suddenly the Forth man went blind. Because the only perfect thing in the world is complete and utter darkness.
With that the fifth man stepped forward sluggishly and slow and said. “Dear creature I want to be treated like royalty. I want everything done for me so that I no longer have to work for anything.”
The creature looked down on the man and said, “So it now is.” Within ten years the fifth man died of gluttony after days of endless eating.
Finally the small sixth man stepped forward, but he did not say anything. He stood quietly and wondered what he could wish for that was not foolish or selfish. That was when he noticed a small sprout coming from the edge of the rocks. The man went to the sprout; gently scooping it up in his hands he said, “Dear creature a moment ago I was not sure what it was I was going to wish for. But now I see there is only one thing I could truly wish for, this little sprout has brought it to my attention. So creature I wish for the world to always have hope no matter how dark the world becomes. Starting with the rebirth and re-growth of this river so that one day it can love the village again and supply the people with food and water and hopefully deliver them from their suffering and despair. That is all I wish for dear creature.”
At first the creature said nothing. It was in awe at the small mans compassion. Finally the creature smiled and in doing so the earth began to shake. An eruption of sound came from the ground as trees began to sprout from the stones. When all had settled and the river looked just as it did so many years ago the creature said. “Dear child you have shown me that there are still men that care about more than their own selfish needs. This is why your wish will not end in despair. Dear child you have given me a new faith in humanity. I ask you now to go back to your home and tell the story of this day to all those of your village so that they may know that there is still hope in the world. And compassion in man’s heart.”