Chapter One: An IntroductionA Chapter by justa335... the story startsSummer had once again arrived at the small
school by the foothills of High Mountain.
With her came the sweet smell of jasmine, and it was the scent of these
flowers that had awakened the wise teacher, Falcon Eye, for the past week. But today was different; yes, the sweet
fragrance of jasmine still hung quietly in the morning mist " but today…today,
Falcon Eye had finally come to a decision.
Among the many students who were in his care, he had finally chosen the
three most deserving to take the supreme test.
The sun had just begun to peek over the horizon
when Falcon Eye called the first student.
Handsome, tall and brilliant, Lemuel, the governor’s nephew, quickly
followed Falcon Eye, as the master, bent by many years of teaching, led the
young scholar to a small room at the end of the hallway. When Falcon Eye opened the door, Lemuel was
surprised " for the tiny room was dark and empty. There were no chairs, no tables and its one
small window was boarded shut.
“My son, you have spent three years with
me. All that I know, all that I cherish
" these I have shared with you. Now,
before I let you leave, will you fulfill one more task for me?”
“Gladly, master,” the young man answered.
“From all that you have learned these past
years, fill this room with what you value most,” Falcon Eye said.
The sun had reached the top of High Mountain
when Lemuel once again stood at Falcon Eye’s doorstep.
“Come, master, I have done what you asked. I have filled the room with what I value
most.”
The old teacher saw a small smile on Lemuel’s
lips as they made their way back to the tiny room. Was it a smile of triumph or
satisfaction? Falcon Eye could not tell.
“Look, master!” Lemuel said, as he opened the
door for his tutor.
The old master was taken aback, for the
governor’s nephew had filled the small room with books. All kinds of books were everywhere in the
room. Thick books covered the floor,
thin books were on the window sill, they lay in piles and stood in rows all
around the room.
“This is quite a feat, my son. But why did you choose to fill this room with
books?” Falcon Eye asked.
Lemuel cleared his throat, then drew back his
shoulders.
“We learn everything from books, master. All the knowledge in the world has been
written down on paper so that every generation can read them.” Falcon Eye looked into the student’s clear
brown eyes. Yes, Lemuel was a fine young
man, but that was the problem " he was young, perhaps too young.
Falcon Eye placed a hand on the young man’s
shoulder.
“You are right, Lemuel. The knowledge of the world, perhaps even of the
universe, has been written down. But
honesty, faith, hope and love cannot be put on paper. These we learn only by living them. You will have to stay for another year, my
son.”
The sun had passed the tip of High Mountain
when the old teacher called the second student.
Mariquita, the mayoress’ daughter, came at once. She was tiny and delicate and walked with
very dainty steps. She always wore a
flower in her long black hair and she was the envy of all the other girls in
the school.
Mariquita curtsied before Falcon Eye.
“I am here, master.”
“Ah, my dear, you have been in my school for
three years now and you have done so well.
Everything I know and everything I cherish I have passed on to you. Now before I let you leave, will you do just
one more task for your old teacher?”
“Of course, master.”
Falcon Eye led Mariquita to the tiny room at
the end of the hallway and opened the door.
“Fill this room with what you value most, my
child.”
The sun had started to come down behind High Mountain
when Mariquita knocked on the door of Falcon Eye’s study.
“Come quickly, master. I have filled the room with what I value
most.”
The young girl held the old man’s hand as they
made their way to the tiny room. Falcon
Eye smiled as he watched Mariquita’s quick steps on the wooden floor. Perhaps she is excited, he thought.
“You will be surprised, master,” the young girl
said, as she opened the door for Falcon Eye.
And surprised the teacher was, for the room was
filled with flowers. Roses, carnations,
daisies, violets, jasmine, wild flowers, garden flowers, hot house blooms…the
room was almost ankle deep with them!
“These are magnificent, my child. But why flowers, Mariquita?” Falcon Eye asked
the mayoress’ daughter.
“Oh, master, I had to fill this room with
flowers. It was drab and empty
before. Look around you, master, it is
so beautiful now because of these blooms.
We must always strive for the beautiful.”
The old master tilted his head and smiled sadly
at his student. Mariquita was bright and
beautiful, but perhaps a little vain.
“You are right in that, my dear. We must strive for beauty, even for
perfection, in our lives. But what is
beautiful and perfect cannot always be seen.
You will have to stay for one more year, Mariquita.”
The sun was hidden behind High Mountain when
Falcon Eye called the third and last student to his study. Calmando, the farmer’s son, had been working
in the fields the whole day. His coat
was soiled and his sandals were still caked with mud, but he removed them
before he entered the room.
“Forgive me, master, for not coming earlier,”
the farmer’s son said.
“Do not worry nor apologize, my son, for doing
your duties. You have been with me for
three years now and I believe it is time for you to move on and see the world
outside our little school. But before I
let you go, can you fulfill one last task for me?”
“Anything, master, you have but to speak.”
Falcon Eye led Calmando to the same dark, tiny
room at the end of the hallway. He
opened the door and led the young man inside.
“Everything I know and everything I cherish I
have shared with you, Calmando. Now
before I let you leave, fill this room with what you value most.”
The sun had fully set on the small school that
lay in the foothills of High Mountain when Calmando gently knocked on the door
of Falcon Eye’s study. The old man
opened the door.
“Master, please come. I have done what you asked,” Calmando said.
Falcon Eye held on to the arm of the farmer’s
son as they made their way to the tiny room at the end of the hallway. He was very tired now, he had walked the same
passageway half a dozen times that day.
He looked at Calmando walking beside him and was a little surprised that
the young man did not look at all tired, even after a full day’s work at the
fields. Perhaps it is because he is young
and strong, the teacher thought and…I am old.
At last, they reached the tiny room.
“Master, if you please,” Calmando said as he
opened the door and led Falcon Eye inside.
The room was still empty; there were no chairs,
no tables and its small window was still boarded shut. But it was no longer dark, for the tiny room
was lit by the light of one candle. “Why did you choose a candle, my son? Does it hold great value for you?” Falcon Eye
asked Calmando.
The farmer’s son looked around the room before
he answered.
“Yes, master, light holds great value for me,
but I think it holds greater value…for this room.”
A smile as bright as the candle’s light lit the
old teacher’s face.
“You have chosen well, my son and I was not
wrong in choosing you. You can now go
out into the world, Calmando, and,” he nodded towards the candle, “be that
light for others.” © 2015 justa335Featured Review
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2 Reviews Added on September 5, 2015 Last Updated on September 6, 2015 Tags: characters, teacher, students, school Author
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