Golden Kernel

In a small cot lived a small family of three. What used to be a fertile land has been plagued by death, and in result the mother of this household had died. Being a father of two daughters in a famine was difficult enough. With his other half gone he felt dead to the world, only tilling the earth so Sophia and Fortene could yet live. 

There came a night when no one could eat. Tilling the field is useless, for it is a barren land and it has not rained in a long while. The father sat against the old cottage wall, thinking of memories lost and what could be had in the life next. He looked over at his starving daughters and felt dread. Surely, there must be something to eat.

"Sophia. Fortene." the father said in a low voice. "Let us go out, there is surely nothing here to eat."

Sophia and Fortene got up and were eager to go with father. Sophia and Fortene only had themselves for company most of the time. They did everything with each other. "Where are we going, father?"

"Old nan'. She's as old as she is resourceful."

The family walked through the spruce tree line and it got much darker than it was before. The fragrance of the cool forest enchanted the two daughters and almost made them forget they were hungry. The world still had potential to be a wonderful place. Fathers view of the world was much different. 

Sophia and Fortene were playing a game that included kicking around a pinecone as they walked to see old nan'. Fortene happened to kick the pinecone out of the path they were walking on and into the brush. 

"Go get it, Fortene!"

Fortene scurried to find the pinecone to resume the "pinetoss" game they have made. It was out of sight. Nothing to worry about. There are pinecones everywhere.

"Ar-are y-you looking for this-this?" whispered a voice.

Fortene looked around rapidly and saw nothing, until she looked down and saw a mole poking out his head, holding her beloved pinecone.

"Hi, Mr. Mole! That's our pinecone!"

The mole saw the child's innocence and grinned while holding the pinecone in one hand.

"My d-dear child, c-could you help-help a poor mole out-out? I am creature destined for ground-ground and w-want food-food. You help, yes-yes?"

Fortene frowned. She cant even help herself, nor her family. How was she supposed to help a sad little mole? "I'm sorry baby mole, I'm hungry myself. I have nothing to eat." 

The mole saw that she was truthful. "I have gift-gift for y-you" said the mole. He let out his hand and dropped a golden kernel into Fortene's hand. "Now you have-have. Bring back-back hundred time-times I give you. Promise-promise?"

"Uh, I promise what?" uttered Fortene. Then the mole was gone.

Fortene ended up going back to father and Sophia. Quiet and confused on what had happened earlier, she was not playful like she was earlier. They had gotten to Old nan's shack. Old nan' has been around and has all the wisdom to live in these parts. If she was starving, more than likely you were too.

"Ayeeee, I know yers." said Old nan' thinner than ever with ragged cloths and a hood making her nose jut out even more.

Father didn't respond. His eyes were cold and desperate. Sophia and Fortene had never really talked to Old nan' before. She scared them a little.

"I'm sorry children. I have no food nor seed. Nothin'!"

Father gasped then fell to his knees, begging for the Lord's assistance. What is a father supposed to do in a time so desperate.

"I have a seed, Father." said Fortene in a low voice.

Everyone hastened and turned their head to Fortene. She let out her hand and behold; a golden kernel in the base of her palm. Old nan' had rushed over and seized it. "If this is the seed that may sustain you, heed warnin'. This seed binds to flesh like fertile soil, and nothing else." She handed the seed to the father, a little girl should not be burdened by such a thing.

"I'm afraid I don't understand..." said the father.

"Neither do I." said old nan'.

Time went by. It had gotten colder. The days shorter. Surely, death will claim this small family. While the girls were sleeping, the father stayed on his knees and wept. He missed his wife, he was knew his daughters were close to starving to death. He missed how life used to be. He held that golden kernel in his hand and remembered what old nan' said. 

"Is this the legacy, I'm to leave behind?"

Father grabbed his knife from the "kitchen" and went outside. The wind was howling and it was dark. The moon was his only light. He thought of his daughters one last time and thrust the knife into his stomach. In agony he fell with his back to the ground, and placed the seed into his wound. He watched the moon waiting to see his love once again. 

Sophia and Fortene had waken up early due to hunger. The sun was barely up, but father was no where in sight. They waited and waited, still he was not there. They went out side to see there father dead on the ground with a golden stalk of corn growing out of his wound. They had immediately recognized the sacrifice their father had made. Looking at their father like that was unbearable. They each took a tuft of corn and took a bite while remembering their beloved father.

One bite of this corn was enough to feed a man for a whole day! The girls were full of thankfulness, they could survive off this golden corn for a long while. While they finished taking their bite, they saw a large mole walking his way onto their cot. Fortene's heart had dropped. 

"My friend-friend! You make food-food for me!" with a devilish smile.

Sophia was surprised at the fact there was a talking mole at all. Fortene remembered what the mole had said giving her the golden kernel. 

"We can spare you a little Mr. Mole, but we needs to eat too." said Fortene.

The mole was clearly angry. "What-what!? You lie-lie to me! I take all-all!" and in a frenzy the mole attacks the two children and takes all the golden corn, and goes back into the forest. The children were cut and bruised. Their fathers sacrifice was for nothing. They lay their defeated and crying.

After time goes by the get up. Their father's corpse is withered and had no more crop to eat. These two children are destined to starvation. Until, Sophia spots a golden kernel dropped by the mole. She picks it up and locks eyes with her sister.