Fable: The Importance of Family

Once upon a time there was a boy, who like many other boys his age liked to look at the world map and wish he would go to all those places painted green on the map. He also wished he would sail all those places painted blue and discover all the beautiful islands that he saw. He did not only wish but dreamt of being in all those places meeting different people and places. He would spend many hours every day looking at his atlas, which, if you must know, was bought after vigorous saving by his poor parents. During one of his daydreams, a voice spoke to him and said:

“Obi,” for Obi was his name, “Obi, would you like to visit all those places on the map?”

He was so scared at first to hear a voice speak to him without anyone being present. The same voice repeated the same words with the same tone and Obi, being too excited about the idea of being able to see the whole world, answered excitedly.

“Please, I would like to see all those places with my own eyes. I would give anything! By the way, who is speaking to me? Am I dreaming?”

“No, you aren't dreaming. It is I, the god of your people.”

“Please God give me anything . . . wings. I will do anything . . .!”

“All right, All right. No need for that excitement. I can give you wings to fly. But there is one condition here. Did you say you would do anything?”

“Yes, Sir! Anything!”

“All right. I will give you very powerful wings that will enable you to fly the whole world. You will not get tired and so you will cross any sea without the need for rest or sleep. Moreover, you will be invisible, so no one will spot you and try to harm you.”

By this time Obi was too excited he was literally crying. He could not believe it. Then the god said a thing that killed this excitement.

“For this to happen, you will never see your family again. And this is forever. It is not reversible. Think about it. I will see you tomorrow.”

Just as Obi was about to speak the god 'disappeared', quick as he had come. Obi was now lost in clouds of thought. He thought about his family. They were not the happiest family one could have. What's more, they always seemed to enjoy picking on him.

Later that night he could not afford appetite for supper. His mother scolded him for not eating and his father observed that he was spending more time on the atlas than on anything else and took it away. This made him feel sad. He was never the adored little boy his younger brother was. He was not the beloved daughter that his elder sister was. He was just a little poor boy to be picked on, he felt. That night he could barely sleep. He tossed and turned in bed while his mind thought of all the wonderful places he would fly to. He made up his mind that he would not miss his family that much after all. He also felt that his absence would not be noticed since to him it seemed that everybody enjoyed picking on him.

When morning came Obi left home to a quiet place where he thought convenient enough for him and God. No sooner had he arrived than God asked him if he had made up his mind. Obi replied in the affirmative. God told him to think it over and over again and still Obi insisted that he had had enough of his family. God, without ever showing himself, gave him wings. Obi tried them and he felt as if he had been flying his whole life. He thanked the god and flew away. Like he had been promised, he did not feel tired. He flew round his country first and then to some of the places he had seen on the map. He flew to the highest mountains and lowest valleys on earth. That was his first day. At night he took refuge among the stocks in a certain dumping site, for he could no longer be accepted as a human being. The following morning he flew over the oceans and saw the activity that usually could only be seen from his advantage of flying. In the evening he slept in an empty room. He felt so sad. He missed his family too much. The third day he did not fly. He had not even seen a fragment of all the places he had usually imagined and here he was, too bored to explore. Then the god came to him and told him:

“I usually keep my word, but for you I will change. Go back home. Family is more important than anything.”