The Tamaraw's Dream
by Paprikkai
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Once in a quaint, silent village lived a farmer and his Tamaraw, Pangarap. Loyal may this beast be to his master, but because of poverty sold to a wealthy man. Pangarap's new master brought him to his humble home.
While grazing at the fields outside, this curious and ignorant creature took a peek inside the manse. He saw his master's youngest daughter watching moving pictures in a metallic box. Pangarap saw in brilliant hues a horse with wings that flew endlessly inside the box. With a graceful swift, the Pegasus landed proudly on its four legs with its incredible wings dragging behind it. Amazed, Pangarap decided on that day that he will become an animal that can fly.
"I will fly like that horse!" Pangarap said to himself.
He went to the chicken coop and asked the hens and roosters for feathers. When they asked for his reason and he explained, everybody laughed at him.
"A fool among fools," they said, and not a precious feather they gave the poor Tamaraw.
Without a hint of discouragement, Pangarap went back to his owner's house. There in the living room, he saw his master watching a white, wide-winged machine that with great speed zoomed inside the box. Once again, Pangarap decided that he will ride that bird-like engine and fly across the sky.
"I will fly like that bird!" Pangarap said to himself.
Later that day, Pangarap heard a familiar noise from the heavens. When the airplane passed his sight, this determined beast ran and raced after it. His eyes were glued on the aircraft that unfortunately made him stumble over the fence and straight to the filthy pigs' lair. The hogs laughed at him and called him names.
"What a stupid animal," they said.
Still, Pangarap did not lose hope and walked back to the manse. The weary Tamaraw with his dream of flying peered inside the living room. He saw his master's wife watching gigantic balloons floating inside the box. These colourful air-filled bags lifted passengers in a basket to reach the clouds. With a smile, Pangarap trotted happily towards the backyard. He saw an empty sack and a worn-out laundry basket lying on the side. He pulled a rope and tied the materials to form his own hot-air balloon. Pangarap pushed his improvised floating machine up the nearest hill for everyone to see. The ckickens, ducks, pigs, goats and every farm animals looked at him with doubt.
Pangarap stepped inside the basket and waited for the wind to carry him above the clouds. All of a sudden then, a strong gust of wind blew his machine up-for a second. Pangarap and his hot-air balloon tumbled and rolled down the hill splashing over a puddle. All the farm animals laughed at him but stopped when they heard Pangarap cheering with glee and joy. The Tamaraw's happiness was caused not only by that short moment up in the air, but because he already realized where he truly belonged. Not flying, but rolling on the mud like any other four-legged, farm animals do.
The End.
