We had an exercise a while back to write a story to begin with "Once upon a time, in the land beyond the river Moo, was a farm". The ending too was specified but I could not fit my story into it - so I took a bit of liberty. We never had a chance to share the stories with each other so I thought I'd post mine :-)Once upon a time, in the land beyond the river Moo, was a farm. The farm was quite unremarkable with the usual assortment of four and two legged animals. One winter day, the farm cat found a warm spot in the corner of the barn to relieve herself of her kittens. The cows looked on indulgently as the proud mother examined each of her babies and licked them thoroughly. They kept mewling softly for milk with their eyes yet closed. Three little balls of varying colours suckled while the fourth pure white kitten still lay curled to one side. The mother nudged the little one slowly towards her breast so he could suckle and he stumbled and reached there by feel. It slowly became evident that the white kitten with the sole black spot on the centre of his forehead was different. He was blind.
The farmer’s children were very fond of the kittens but they were fondest of the blind kitten that they named Ivan. Ivan was an unusual cat. He seemed perfectly happy the way he was and was the darling of every human and animal in the farm. He had a perpetual smiling face and radiated serenity. The farmer found himself spending some of his precious free time with Ivan every day. He felt very silly for doing so but deep in his heart he had the feeling that Ivan could read his mind and he ended up feeling very refreshed and could almost see the solutions he was seeking.
Slowly, every farmhand began feeling the same way. They were filled with a sense of peace in Ivan’s presence. They went to great lengths to make a comfortable little spot for Ivan with a great big basket lined with soft blankets for him to sleep in and enough food for four cats. The basket was placed to a side of the kitchen stove and was the warmest and cosiest spot in the farm.
Ivan sat at his spot day after day with his smile always on his face. He seemed to know instinctively when someone was in pain either of the mind or the body and would imperiously jump onto the person’s lap and snuggle quietly and soon the person would begin to feel better. Friends of the family were curious when they felt the changes in the personalities of those in the farm. There was always a positive flow of energy and anyone who came to the kitchen would feel it the most at Ivan’s spot.
Ivan continued to make people smile and touched hearts with his stoic and happy acceptance of affliction. He had never known the pleasures of a sunny day or of chasing butterflies or mice or squirrels. He would never see the change of seasons. He would never run his heart out. Yet, he fretted not and was never helpless. The family felt he was no ordinary cat but a true messiah come to teach them the real meaning of life. From him they learnt that life was to live to the tune of one’s heart – happiness was not to be had by milking others or by being milked oneself. Ivan’s journey continues and he is still there in his warm spot by the fire ready to share the joys of being one’s own self.
