our first teacher is our own heart.

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:06:18 GMT

"And so, with one last great swing of his sword, the prince slew the wicked demon and rescued the beautiful princess. Soon after they were married, and together, they lived happily ever after."
            Chijiro smiled as he closed the storybook on his lap. He looked up, slowly surveying the faces of the children gathered on the floor before him, little bodies bent forward and charmed into a silence vibrant with imagination. He straightened his robes and began to rise; instantly, a small pink hand shot into the air.
            Internally, the man cringed.
            "Yes, Miss Juno, what is it?"
            The hand fell and its owner, a small girl with short messy yellow hair and a bright, boyish face, piped, "Ne, Chiji, how come the prince didn't marry the demon?"
            Chijiro blinked. "What?"
            The girl squirmed excitedly.
"The demon kidnapped the princess to get the prince to come visit her, right?"
            "Yes, but-"
            "Because the demon was in love with the prince, right?"
            Chijiro's face fell. "Well, yes, that is what the story said, but..." He flipped, flustered, through the pages of the book, his finger scanning lines of the text inside. "But that just isn't how the story went in the end. You see?" He turned the book around, displaying an illustration of a handsome prince slaying a dark and ugly demon with his sword in one hand, the other thrust protectively out before the princess.
"The demon was evil, Juno, "Chijiro went on, speaking slowly and deliberately now. He pointed to the illustration: in it, the prince was standing valiantly in front of the princess, shielding her from the monster's villainy.
            The little girl called Juno studied the picture for a moment, frowning. Around her, the children began to murmur and nod, and a few began to laugh, but she didn't seem to notice. Finally, her shoulders fell and she leaned back."I don't like the princess," she stated flatly. "Next time, can the prince end up with the demon?"
            "The prince can't end up with the demon," Chijiro replied, laughing. "It isn't right. The hero can't marry the villain."
            The little girl squinted up at him, frowning. "Why not?"
            "Because good can't fall in love with evil, Juno. It's just the way it is."
            "But-“
            Chijiro's face changed, darkening. "No, Juno. The prince ends up with the princess because that's how the story goes. It can't go any other way." He held the book closer to her, pointing exasperatedly at the illustration of the prince and the princess and the demon.
            Juno sat up straighter, peering stubbornly over the top of the pages at Chijiro. A look of sad frustration crossed her eyes. "But maybe just once-"
            "No, Juno," Chijiro said, snapping the book shut and rising to his feet. "This is the way it has to be."

            Quickly, he cleared his throat and ushered the children out of the room, watching them chatter and dissipate into the hallway. The little girl with the yellow hair followed behind them, quiet, the tiny muscles in her shoulders bunched as she disappeared into the dimness. Chijiro flicked the light switch off in the room before stepping out into the hall himself. He exhaled quietly into the empty corridor, shaking his head.

            “When you’re older,” he said, “you’ll understand.”

...
[what if anything were possible?]

we will be known forever by the tracks we leave.

our first teacher is our own heart.