Gaiagon

Chapter 2: Seth's First Legend

Seth was up alone in his tree house a few days later. The wind was blowing to give him a calm, cool breeze. The tree branches of all the surrounding trees were swaying back and forth in a relaxing motion that was slowly putting Seth to sleep. The birds chirping in the distance quickly contributed to his sleepiness. Just before he shut his eyes to rest, he heard someone below say, “Seth! Seth, where are you? I have a surprise for you back home!” Seth quickly jumped up and slid down the ladder to his tree house. The Forgons did not show up that day to meet him, so Seth didn’t have to worry about his mother finding out. “What’s the surprise, mom?” “Why don’t you come and see with your own eyes?” Seth’s mother calmly turned around with a ‘follow me’ gesture and started walking back the same direction she came.

            Seth and his mother arrived at their house to see a man talking to Seth’s father. Seth opened the door and heard a sudden, “Hey! Look who it is! Haven’t seen you in a long while, scamp! What you been up to?” “Uncle Roger! What are you doing here?” “I came to see your mother (Family can’t stay apart forever), but I didn’t forget you. I have something for you, but I’d like to talk to your mom and dad first. Mind waiting in the other room?”

Seth walked over to the kitchen, but his curiosity overpowered him, so he put his ear on the door. Seth’s mother started with a calm, happy voice. “What have you been up to recently, Roger?” “I’ve been traveling far and wide in search for something very specific. You see this book in my hand? When I heard Seth talk about his big dream last year, something had come to mind. I remembered a story dad would tell us. However, for the life of me, I couldn’t remember the story other than the hero’s name! I remembered how dad told us he heard it around all the villages he visited, so I started going to a bunch of villages to hear what they knew of the story. Just to make sure it was accurate, I took all the different stories I heard and analyzed them with any historical records I could find. Here in my hand is one of a few copies I have made, and I wanted to give you and Seth one each.” Seth couldn’t see what was happening very clearly, but he could see his mother and a little of Roger through the key hole. His mother’s face lit up as she saw the book. The look in her eyes showed that thoughts of her father were rushing back in to her mind like a dam full of memories had just burst open. When Seth squinted, he could see a tear of joy run down his mom’s face.

Seth’s father put his arm around his wife as she took the book. “You did all that for your sister?” he began. “You’re a good brother. Your father would be proud of you if he were here today. Dinner is supposed to start in an hour or so. Care to stay and eat with us? I know Seth would love to hear any excitement you encountered on your little journey.” “I would love to. I’ll give Seth his copy after dinner.” Still looking down at the book, Seth’s mother walked over to the kitchen to check on dinner. Seth quickly ran to a chair and acted like he hadn’t heard a thing. “Why are you crying, mom?” Seth’s mom wiped a tear from her eye and looked at Seth with a warm smile that could melt a snowman. “I’m crying because I’m happy.” “Why are you happy?” “I have your uncle to thank for that. Want to help me with dinner?”

As Seth was setting the table for four, he often noticed him mom looking at the book he saw Roger give her. “What’s that, mom?” As if startled from forgetting Seth was even there, Seth mom turned quickly to Seth, then back at the book and said, “Oh, this? This is a book your uncle Roger gave me.” “What’s in the book?” “You know how your father tells you all those stories about his past adventures. Your grandfather did something similar. He never had the chance to go on any adventures, because he met your grandmother. His work, however, required that he travel. On his travels, he would go to taverns and listen to local folk tale. When he returned home, the first thing he would do is repeat his favorite one to me and Roger. The story was always told by word of mouth, so you had to remember it in order to repeat it. Much like what your father does. After all these years, I forgot the story, but your uncle Roger remembered the places your grandfather heard it in, and wrote it down so all I have to do is read the words in this book to remember the story.”