Happiness Campaign

The Cry of the Jinjileis

It was raining really hard; people were running back and forth searching for a shade and waiting for the rain to stop. Others were patiently waiting on the bus stop feeling worried on whether there would still be a bus going to their route. On that same place, I noticed that a group of people was gathered around something; their faces were really worried and helpless.

"What happened to that child? Is he dead?" a woman whispered.

As I continued walking down the end of the road, I saw a familiar face of a child; his lifeless body was lying with his blood flowing profusely and being washed away by the endless rain. On the other side of the road were sticks of banana cue scattered all around. I tried to move forward to have a closer look on the face of the child, but as I took my first step, everything suddenly turned into a void. They were all gone – the onlookers and the child – and when I looked around there was no one else but I standing in the middle of the road. All that was visible was the fog, the fog that swallowed up the whole place. I used to think I could find happiness in this planet, but now, I don't think I can.

They say, happiness is being able to do what you want, having all the things you need and having a complete family, but I guess, this doesn't hold true in Planet Gioia. We are the Jinjileis; that's what they call creatures that inhabit the Planet Gioia. Jinjileis were really passionate when it came to their work; they even sang joyfully while working. Young Jinjileis enjoyed playing tagoonli, a game where they gathered in a horizontal line and waited to hear the word jumal which signaled them to run really fast and climb the carrot tree to pick carrots. The young Jinjilei who was first to get at least one carrot won the game. The streets were full of colorful dancing lights at night during which Jinjileis enjoy drinking racaloo (carrot wine) and eating roasted carrots while dancing to the beat of every song. During the cold season, a bonfire was lit at the courtyard where some young Jinjileis showed their talents to commemorate the birthday of King Barclay, my father. Jinjileis were really happy living their life this way until one time, there was this one Jinjilei who went to my father to consult him with his problem.

"We've been living the same old routine every day, and it doesn't make sense at all. I'm sick and tired of living like this and this life makes me sick." said the Jinjilei.

Other Jinjileis also came to my father complaining about the same thing until the matter became the main problem of all Jinjileis.

"I will figure this out and try to find a solution to your problem," my father said.

Days came to pass, but nothing was new. Jinjileis were starting to feel weak and sickly. In my father's determination to find a solution by going to other planets, he also became sickly until he can no longer afford to find a solution. All Jinjileis lost hope and just waited for their death to come.

I am Princess Liara, the only daughter of King Barclay and Queen Freya. I am a typical 14-year-old girl who doesn't want anything more in this world than the happiness of the Jinjileis. To help the Jinjileis, I decided to take an action.

"I will go to Planet Earth and try to find a solution to our problem there. I won't let everyone die because of this," I said willfully.

At first, my father hesitated but in the end he was persuaded by my pure intention and so he blessed me as he sent me off on my long journey. On the day of my departure, all the Jinjileis were gathered at the central hall to wish me luck on my journey in search of true happiness. At the side of the hall, there, I saw my mother crying with a trace of worry on her face. I walked towards her direction and she passionately wrapped her arms around my shoulders running her fingers across my back as she whispered, "I hope that when you come back, you would be bringing something that could revive the liveliness in this place. Take care, my Princess. I love you."

I didn't want to cry at that point in time because if I did it would be even harder for me to say goodbye to them.