The Boy With Strange Eyes

24 - The Choice

The Choice

~ In hardship, we see true friendship. ~

Granny Obachan

It is early morning. Mr. Ryoshi's workers are standing in several groups. They are talking amongst themselves and look worried. The Ryoshi's house and the net business are eerily quiet. No one is working; no fish are harvested from the many pools and lagoons; all are afraid.

Outside the House of Ryoshi, Granny Obachan is seated in a wooden rocking chair. She is weary from nursing the sick Ryoshi, and her old back aches with the bone pain.

She has resigned herself to the fact that the good man Ryoshi will die today. She can do nothing to stop it. In the old days, when she was a young girl, hardly anyone died from the lung fever. The victims were cured and treated with the red powder—medicine from the golden age of the Eastern Island.

The secret of how to make the red powder was lost. The remaining quantity of the powder was very expensive. Only royalty or wealthy merchants could afford it. Ryoshi did not possess that kind of wealth. So, he would die today or tomorrow at the latest.

It was a sad day for Granny Obachan. Ryoshi was one of the few men she had met in her long life who deserved the life-giving red powder and the hope of a cure.

Granny saw a young warrior, or was it a nobleman, approaching?

The youth carried himself confidently and held his head high and unafraid. Following the young man was an older person dressed in the garb of an Island physician, a Doctor. The youth stopped a couple of feet from her chair and nodded his respect to her.

As soon as he stopped, she saw his eyes and thought, "Kimyo, our Kimyo, and he returned in the hour of Ryoshi's need. Thank the great earth-mother, may there still be time to save this good man."

Aware that the crowd watched him intently, Kimyo spoke in a loud, firm voice that resonated with confidence and power: "Granny, I have come to save our friend. Is there still time? Have I come too late?"

Granny smiled at the beautiful boy, "You have come just in time, young sir." She rose to her feet quickly. Surprisingly, her back had ceased aching; her weariness was forgotten. "Come with me, quickly, this way."

Granny listened as the Doctor droned on and on about the expense of the red powder. How young Kimyo had not given him nearly enough coins to cover his costs. 

Kimyo delivered a withering look to the physician.

"I have given you my word, Doctor. You will be reimbursed in full for your services. Are you saying you doubt my word?" These last words were uttered with a tense edge to them.

"Oh no, young sir. Please understand me; I do not doubt your word. No, never, no." The Doctor looked almost pale.

The young warrior responded, "Good, we have had enough talk about costs; let us heal this good man now!" Kimyo barked.

"Of course, of course," the Doctor said in a placating tone. After administering the dose of the red powder, the physician prepared to leave.

The Doctor looked at Granny and said, "Madam, I have heard reports that there has been much bandit activity near here. Is it safe for me to walk back to town without an escort?"

Granny answered, "I will have one of the men show you how to avoid the area where the crooks have been marauding." The physician nodded his thanks.

"How bad have the outlaws been, Granny?" queried Kimyo.

Granny said sadly, "They beat an old man to death for a few copper coins and kidnapped a twelve-year-old girl. She is still missing. They have been smart enough not to attack any Royals or rich merchants. With each attack, these thieves get bolder. They prey on the poor."

After the nervous physician had left, the young warrior turned to Granny Obachan and spoke kindly. "You look tired, Granny. I need to talk briefly to the workers. Please join me. When we are through, perhaps you will take some time to rest? I will spend the next few days here with our friend. You should not bear the burden of his care alone."

Granny answered in a tired voice. "Of course, young, sir. There is a cot in the next room, and I will nap for a few hours. But you must promise to wake me if his condition worsens. When my husband died many years ago, he left me with nothing."

She pointed toward the sleeping Ryoshi, "That good man lying sick there. He gave me a job and was there for me in my time of greatest need. I will not leave him. What kind of woman would I be if I am not there for him when he needs me?"

Young Kimyo smiled sweetly and said, "I have no doubts about the kind of woman you are, Granny, none at all. Let us go together and talk with the workers. "Kimyo bowed respectfully to her. The young warrior held the door for her as if she were the most Royal of persons.

It tickled old Granny. She thought, "This young man is remarkable. He has come far from the skinny orphan boy she used to sneak sweets to. He will make an impact on the people and the world around him."

END

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Questions you might consider:

Kimyo has made an important choice. To put his dreams at risk to help a friend.

Could you do that for a friend?

Can you see changes in Kimyo from the boy he was four years ago?

Is maturity something that comes with age?

Do you know older people who never seem to mature?