This is a legend said to be originated from the Western:

Long ago, there was a boy at the age of 10 who doesn’t like his parents asking him to do housework. Despite that, he doesn’t even like to go to school. Whenever the clock strikes one at noon, he’s been waiting to get home.

One day, he got into the forest and found a land full of soft young grass and flowers. It was so comfortable that he finally decided to lie down and take a rest. Suddenly, a gorgeous fairy appeared out of nowhere. She said “Kiddy, I have a very special gift for you here.”

Astonished but delighted, kiddy asked “Gift? What kind of gift?”

The fairy took out a silver box and said “This is a magical box.”

Kiddy got fascinated by the glittering silver box. He asked “What can I do with this box?”

“This is an extraordinary box! There’s a piece of golden silk in this box. Whenever you’re going through a hard time, just fold the silk and the unhappy time will be flashed away. However, you may never unfold the silk or you’ll face death. When you folded the silk till its end, it will also be the end of your life. Lastly, you must never show nor tell this to anyone, or death will be knocking on your door.”

Kiddy got so excited about this. “Thank you so much, dear fairy! I’ll use this well!” He accepted the silver box carefully into his arms.

Being afraid to be noticed, but his curiosity has driven him to desire on trying on this magical silk.

On the very next day, the pace of life repeats itself. The teacher was having the ‘never ending’ nagging and babbling, but Kiddy has been thinking getting an escape. Dozed off, his head was dangling lower and lower… Suddenly, a thought came to his mind. He carefully dragged the golden silk out of his pocket. Then, the magical moment happens when he began folding a small part of it. Suddenly, the teacher asked them to pack their bags and leave. Kiddy was amazed by the power of the silk as he rushed out of the school.

Since then, he had begun folding the silk every time when he undergoes hard times.

One day, Kiddy had an idea and he thought “Why do I have to go to school? I have the choice to grow up in just a moment so that I can go to work like any other adult.”

Thus, Kiddy folded a big portion of the silk this time. In just a few moments, he ‘grew up’ to be a carpenter such that he can earn some money by himself. He has a girlfriend and they both love happily together.

Unfortunately, his country was engaged in a war with another country. Soon, he was summoned to join the army. He was afraid of death. “War is such cruel misfortune! Ah! I know! I can get use of my magical silk to get over this war.” He took out the silk, folded another big portion of it. The country won in the war, but by the time they achieved victory, he grew old.

He wasn’t hurt from the war, and was heading home safely.

His girlfriend had been waiting for his return. She was so calmed and rejoiced when she saw him coming back. On the very same day, he asked her to marry him. However, his proposal was rejected.

His girlfriend told him “We have to wait for another year. I had to learn how to take care of a family.”

He had no choice, but to promise her. Thinking back on his silver box, he used it to get over this period by folding another portion of the golden silk. A year has passed, and there he was with his fiancée in the church.

The people were cheering for them, but in the same time, he noticed that his mother has grown old. Saddened at first, but was rejoiced by the joyous atmosphere.

Another year has gone by, they had their first child. Unfortunately, their child was ill and couldn’t get sufficient sleep. He was worried by his child, and he decided to fold the golden silk again. His child recovered in no time and they’ve even had four children after that.

Whenever his children fell sick, he’d use his golden silk to make them ‘recover’.

Out of a sudden, Kiddy had another thought “Wouldn’t it be great if my children could grow up and become adults? This way, they could help me out on my work too.” He folded the golden silk, again, and all his children grew up to become great helpers for him.

Just when he was successful in his career, he realized that his wife grew old, too. And his mother, even older. He told himself that he must not simply use the golden silk again as what is gone, will not return.

One day, his wife was suffering a lot from an illness. Kiddy couldn’t take the look of his wife, wished to use the golden silk, but yet, afraid that he’ll die if the golden silk was used up.

He was wondering whether to use it or not. Looking at his beloved wife, he finally decided to use the golden silk for once again. His wife recovered from that illness, but in the meantime, his mother got even older.

Soon, his mother got a serious illness and had gone so weak. Kiddy intended to use the silk to make his mother recover, but as he tried to pull out the silk, his mother’s eyes were slowly closing. At the end, she ‘fell asleep’, and was never waking up anymore.

(To be continued….)

Labels: n. Story palace