WELF THE DWARF

Long ago, deep in the forest, there was a very peaceful village of dwarfs. It was a very busy village where all the residents, young and old alike were happiest when they were working. The men spent their time in a dark cave mining for gold while the women worked on the farm, planting and tending the lucious vegetable gardens. Everyone just worked and worked and paid little mind to their children's schooling.

There was a young dwarf who is different from all the rest. His name is Welf. As soon as he finished his work, Welf hurried up walking down to his special place. There he found the peace and quiet needed to read his favorite books. Welf's smile grew wider as he neared a big old tree. He would climb up and sit on a big branch, take a deep breath and smell the air so fresh and look around the forest with happiness in his heart. Then, he would open his book and start reading it.

"Welf, Weellf, WWeeeelllfffff!." A tiny voice shouted calling his name near his left ear. Welf turned his head and said. "Oh, Twek! why are you shouting as if i cannot hear you?. You know that i am here but you keep on calling my name. You little naughty Maya bird." Twek answered, "Did you see me flying near you, ha? No! your eyes and your mind are there in the book you are reading." Twek the Maya bird was Welf best friend. Twek laughed and flew in a circle and finally stopping right in front of Welf. In a surprise Twek flapped his wings right in Welf's face. Laughing even louder he quickly flew far enough away so Welf couldn't catch him. They both laughed, talked and read Welf's book way up in the old big tree. When it was time to go home for dinner, Welf scrambled down the tree and bid farewell to his friend.

One morning, while Welf and his father were walking on the way to the cave, father dwarf asked Welf where he spent his time after he finished his work. Welf did not tell his father that after his work he went to the forest and sat in the old big tree to read his books. He just said that he played with his best friend Twek. Father dwarf looked at him suspeciously but Welf didn't mind it. Confident, Welf continued to go to his secret place everyday without knowing someone followed him and observed what he and Twek were doing.

The dwarfs just kept busy working and working, oblivious to the fact that the news spreading to the other villages that none of them knew how to read. They just work and work. The black and lazy dwarfs heard the news about it and they just laughed at them. But, Dolf the leader of the black dwarfs had an idea. With a hoarse voice, Dolf called Blink ( As he was always blinking his eyes when he heard Dolf loud and angry voice). Blink was Dolf's right hand man. "Come near me, Blink and listen. Did you heard about the white dwarfs in the other village? Apparently they just work and they do not know even how to read?." Blink so proud he answered. "Oh, yes,yes,yes I've known that for at least a year." Blinking his eyes, he asked. "Why, Dolf?."  With a loud and angry voice Dolf yelled at him. "What, you knew it a long time ago but you did not bother to tell me, where is your sincerity, Blink?." Dolf grabbed Blink's shoulders and shook him with anger. Blink trembled and nervously he said. "Oh, sorry i do not know where my mind was during that time and until now, Dolf because you always shakes me when you are angry at me." In dismay, Dolf turned his back at Blink. He rubbed his chin with his fat hand wearing a clever smile on his face.

All are busy working and mining carried on as usual in the cave until one day Dwenk, Welf cousin walked towards him and whispered. "What are you doing in the forest with Twek?." Welf was surprised to hear his cousin's questions. Welf answered. "Nothing we just play, talk and relax for a while then we go home." Dwenk said to Welf. "I do not believe you, Welf. You know that i followed you so many times and watched what are you doing up in the old big tree with Twek. I am happy to see you reading your books and i envy you. Why have you kept it to yourself? Why have you not taught us how to read? Most of us are willing to learn we want our minds to be enriched with knowledge. I assure you we will keep it a secret from our parents." Welf on the other hand, hesitated to say anything. He looked at his cousin with so many questions in his mind. Welf couldn't decide at the moment whether to say yes or no. Dwenk tapped his right shoulder and said. "Think about what i have said and we will do some planning."