A Chain...

 "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link..."
  
  Makio was looking at the water amazed at how
the fish were able to swim so fast. He was
bored, tired of just holding the net, so he
let it go and the fish started to escape.
  Angry, Mobosa came close from the distance, to 
get closer to Makio. He pointed at the net and,
with a sign, he ordered Makio to pick it up.
After Makio's denial, he signaled for 
him to leave, for if he was not going to help,
he might as well leave. 
  Makio left mad, but more tired than anything
else. He wanted to hunt, to fish, not just stand
there and hold the net. He wanted an active role
but he was only eleven, too young for the tribe
to let him be.
  Now, he went to see his grandfather to seek
advice. The grandfather was sitting outside
eating some roots. When Kichia saw the kid coming,
he knew something was bothering him. After the
explanation of the events, Kichia said:
  "You maybe small and only a child, but you are
part of this tribe. You help hunt and fish. 
They depend on you as much you depend on them.
They can't both fish and hold the net at such 
a distance. Someday you'll be fishing and 
appreciate the help you can now provide.
  Makio wasn't yet satisfied. He wanted a better
explanation. But there wasn't any. It is then that
his grandfather told him this:



  "If you open your mind and let yourself feel
  then you are most likely going to see
  that the water that falls on the hill
  will always go back to the sea.
  
  It begins as a single drop in the mountain
  and it grows as it gets closer to the sea.
  Once there it shoots up like a fountain
  only now it's vapor that we can't see.
  
  And the sea is a big pool of water
  not the end or beginning as you think.
  It's a snake bitting its own tail
  and the tail, as you know, is very thin."
  
  
  Makio had an amazed face.
  "I think I understand now."
  Makio stood up while being watched by the 
smiling Kichia.He got close to the river and,
when he saw that Mobosa wasn't looking, he 
got in the water and helped the other kids 
hold the net. Mobosa turned around eventually
to see him there. A smile invaded his face and
he let Makio experience the art of fishing the
next day. But for Makio that wasn't necessary. 
He knew now his role in the tribe and would be 
happy performing it.


  Francesc Beltran  
  
Copyright Francisco Beltran, 1997