Rembrandt Jinn

By JinnaraQ

Summary: Little “Jinny” participates in the Initiates Art Fair.

Rated: G

Archive: Yes to Early Years and The Master’s Pathway

@ http://www.geocities.com/jinnaraq/index.html

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DISCLAIMER: Star Wars and all publicly recognizable characters, names and references, etc are the sole property of George Lucas, Lucasfilm Ltd, Lucasarts Inc and 20th Century Fox. This fan fiction was created solely for personal use and private entertainment . No money was made from it. No copyright or trademark infringement was intended. This work and its author are NOT in any way connected with or to Lucasfilms Ltd.

Chapter One: Accidents Will Happen….

“UT-Oh!” said the small boy as he backed away from the table in his room. Quickly the older one turned to him. He knew that tone of ‘UT-oh’…. And it never meant anything good!

“What do you mean, UT-oh, Jinny?” he ask very warily as he came to look over the younger’s shoulder.

The seven-year-old sighed at the spreading puddle of bright yellow paint spreading across the tabletop. “I didn’t mean to… I was reaching for the green and it just – fell over!” the 5 year old said with a shrug, and the older shook his head at him, suppressing a smile.

“Well, at least it didn’t get on the rug Jinny… not YET anyway.” He said and the smaller nodded, then ran to the bathroom and came back with a towel that he plopped over the spill, causing the nearby container of red to now tip over as well.

"Here – look out – you’re gonna get it all over your tunic –“ the older boy said quickly as he took both the red and the yellow containers of paint to the bathroom, holding them far away from his own self.

“At least I’m done with my painting… “ The younger said as he moved a sheet away from the area, and his friend came over to consider it and smiled as if amused.

“Well – it’s bright… what is it?” he asked and the younger frowned back at him.

“It a picture of the garden silly! Can’t you tell by all the green? The red and yellow things are the flowers.” He said proudly now and the older smiled and nodded more enthusiastically as he considered the work of art.

“Is it your entry for the art fair?” he asked and the smaller nodded.

“Group mother said we all had to do one. I wasn’t going to…. But after I saw yours… You really draw good Mace.” He said, and the older smiled.

“Put it down to dry, and lets get the rest of the paints out of here.” He advised, turning and taking the blue and orange cups to the bathroom.

“Yeah – good idea… this stuff is awfully messy.” The younger agreed, following soon with the purple and green cups as well.

“Hey Jinny –“ Mace started, coming out of the bathroom…. Just as the smaller hurried in.

THUNK……. THUD…….. SSSS PPPP AAA TTTT !

Both boys startled a fraction of a second before they collided, both trying desperately to leap back and away from the already falling cups of paint… only to land on top of each other just outside of the doorway. Instantly they leapt up – and looked down at their tunics with deep concern.

“THAT was CLOSE! We’d be in BIG trouble if we got paint on our tunics. I got red on my sleeve once, and it never came out!” the smaller observed, and the older nodded with a smile.

“I remember your tunic with the pink sleeve… what ever happened to it?” Mace asked and the smaller smiled.

“I finally got too big for it…. UT-oh… LOOK!” he said – eyes widening as he peered into the bathroom to see the brilliant colors splattered across the floor, the cabinets, the wall…. And Mace scowled deeply as he too considered the mess.

The smaller boy seemed to gulp as he breathing sped up. “Oh wow –“ he breather rather upsetly. He had only been allowed to finally move from the crèche living quarters, and into the initiates quarters, a month and a half ago.

“I’m gonna be in so much trouble…” he breathed unevenly, “and… I just got DONE being in trouble! I don’t think the group mother likes me very much.” He confided in a downcast tone, and the older boy gave him a sympathetic look.

“It wasn’t exactly your best idea Jinny – to bring the caterpillars inside as pets, you know.” He told him and the younger frowned.

“I told them to stay in the closet and make their cocoons in there. They could’ve hung from the shelf just fine… I forgot is all…Besides, 30 isn’t like it was an army of them. I didn’t know they were going to turn into moths. Who would ever think moths would eat holes in cloaks anyway?!” he asked and Mace smiled.

“I’d ask how come they ate holes in everyone’s cloak, but NOT yours!” he said and the younger looked even more downcast.

“She wouldn’t let me play outside for the whole week! I had to sit on the wall by her the whole time. I think she hates me.” He concluded dismally, and Mace half smiled at his younger friend.

“I don’t think she hates you Jinny. She’s just not used to you yet. It’s different when you first come to live in the initiates area. Most new kids can’t even hardly read their assignments…. And you do real, real well in all your classes. Most new kids cry for their friends and the crèche caretakers at first… and you aren’t like that. I’m your best friend and I’m already here. And you never did really like the caretaker droids that much. You’re just different from the kind of new initiate she’s used to is all. Come on - I’ll help you clean it up. She’ll never even know.” He said confidently, grabbing another towel, and now the younger gave him a grateful look.

And indeed, in no time at all, the paint was gone and the two boys had disposed of the towels as one did all soiled laundry – by stuffing it down the laundry shoot.

Chapter Two: Swirling Developments

Master Yoda strolled slowly down the long hallway of the First Level Initiates Classrooms. Each side of the hallway was covered with large sheets of paper upon which the youngest initiates had done their best to artistically portray the theme of ‘The Force Around Me’.

It amazed him no end, and always had, that creatures that eventually developed into fully functional humans, started out with such ‘primitive’ skills. Animals portrayed as little more than stick bodies with a head (hopefully only 1) and numerable legs (who counted appendages anyway), and often with tails far too large to even be lifted….

And yet – in a few short years these same ‘artists’ would be immersed in astrophysics and diplomatic protocol classes.

He stopped and smiled at one picture near his eye level… a background of all shades of green, with rather circular swirls of bright yellows and reds, and an occasional dab of orange. // Obviously the garden -// he thought to himself with an amused half chuckle.

Onward he continued past the pages of stick people levitating all sorts of objects, crude lopsided squares of buildings and city….the myriad surreal ‘zoo’ of creatures… It constantly amazed him indeed.

For many, many years - over 800 of them, he had viewed the work of the spring art fair… and yet, it was as if the same pictures had hung here every time …. All those years… and still so, so primitive. Amazing indeed… and yet a testament of the Force itself.

He paused outside the doors of the music room, and just listened to the sounds of the young voices raised in song. Indeed… the songs even were so often the same. He smiled. He could picture exactly what scene lay before him.… 20 children, some of the smallest in the classes… all clad in their bleached tunics and leggings… shoes rather scuffed, hair not yet cut in the Padawan style… standing in 2 rows of 10, with the music teacher before them, waving her hands in exaggeration to the beat of the music….

Yes… continuity could definitely be reassuring – and amusing in it’s own way….

Mace hurried through the long hallway of the initiate’ living area. Only 5 to 7 year olds lived here - so it was not that far from his room to his young friends’ room.

“Hey Jinny! Guess what? I won a prize in the art fair!” he started as the door slid aside and he rushed in… and froze instantly at finding the tall, dark haired group mother standing at the open closet doors, with a deep frown on her face.

“Is Qui-Gon Jinn with you?” she asked sternly, and he shook his head quickly.

“No! I – I – I saw him at evening meal last night. Why?” he asked and she frowned as she pulled out a tunic… that had areas of faded green and orange and blue swirled faintly in large blotches of the cloth. Mace’s eyes widened as he swallowed dryly.

“ALL of my group’s tunics came back from the laundry this way. Every single one of them! The Mistress of Laundry says there must have been a large amount of paint on something that was just thrown down the laundry shoot, rather than sent for treatment.” She said, just as the younger came through the door himself, and froze at seeing them.

“Jinny – there has been a problem with the laundry. ALL of our group’s tunics have come back stained… absolutely irreversibly stained. LOOK at this! Can you imagine this? The laundry says SOMEONE must have put something down the shoot that had paint on it.” She observed of the tunic she was holding… and instantly the young boys’ eyes filled with tears.

“It… It.. it was me… I was doing my art project, and I spilled the paint. I used a towel to clean it up, and then I put it down the laundry shoot. I didn’t know… I’m sorry… I wasn’t trying to make trouble!” the child reacted with all in one rush, and her scowl darkened enormously.

“I – I – I was here too… I helped him clean it up. I didn’t think about the laundry –“ Mace breathed quickly, and she raised an eyebrow at him sharply.

“You are even older! Still, Qui-Gon Jinn – you KNOW better than to spill paint and try to clean it up yourself, rather than coming and telling me! Do you realize that now ALL of our group will have to WEAR stained tunics? The Council does NOT smile upon carelessness and reckless misregard of materials, young man!” she scolded sternly, and the young boy’s eyes leaked one tear down each cheek as now she turned to Mace.

“YOU, young man, will go BACK to your quarters and report directly to your group mother. You will inform her of exactly what you did… you are excused.” She growled, and the older boy quickly fled the room. Now she turned back to the younger one.

“You, Jinny… will sit here on your bed and meditate on the embarrassment you have caused to both myself and your group mates. At dinner tonight, you will stand at the table and explain to them EXACTLY why this happened, and how much you regret causing them this experience!” she scolded, and he just nodded, eyes now glued to the floor as she swished past him, taking the tunic with her.

Chapter Three: Things Lost and Found

Mace sat at the dinner table with his age mates, listlessly pushing his food around on his plate. He had absolutely no appetite at all. He had done as he was told… and received a lengthy and serious lecture and assigned meditations on the nature of accountability as a result of his confession… and his other group mates had enjoyed teasing him about having a 5 year old for a friend in the first place.

He snuck a look over at the younger boy’s table and frowned. Jinny wasn’t even at the table with the other children. Was his group mother not even letting him eat? He frowned deeply as now the younger boy’s group mother started over towards his table. What could she possibly want now?

“Mistress, may I speak with initiate Mace?” she asked first, and the boy swallowed dryly as his group mother raised an eyebrow at him and nodded. “Have you seen Qui-Gon? Have you seen Jinny – since you left his room?” she asked, and he quickly shook his head, and she frowned deeply and uncertainly at him.

“Initiate… this is no laughing matter. I left Qui-Gon in his room to meditate about what he had caused and what consequences his actions would have on others. He was supposed to apologize to the table tonight…. And yet when I went to his room – he had ignored my order and left anyway. If he has come to commiserate with you – you had better inform me now.” She said sternly, and Mace felt the pit of his stomach turn to ice.

“I haven’t seen him… I swear I haven’t!” he exclaimed in alarm, and his own group mother looked concerned now as well. “Did he say anything to you Mace?” she asked and he frowned mildly, remembered the other’s group mother was there, and looked away quickly, heaving a shuddery sigh.

“Now, now… no one will be angry with you. But we are talking about a very small boy. He could easily get lost in the temple. Did he say anything to you?” his own mother asked, now with a hand gently on his shoulder as she knelt beside him, and he sighed.

“I haven’t seen him since he got in trouble this time. But – but – the whole reason I helped him clean it up was because he got upset when the paint got spilled. It didn’t get on him or me or the rug…. But he knew she’d get mad at him… He – He -….. Jinny said he thinks she hates him.” He said sadly, and she sighed and gently stroked his hair even as she looked up at the other group mother, who looked rather shocked at the boy’s words.

“I think we had better notify security, and have people start looking for the child.” Mace’s group mother said with concern, and the other nodded as well.

Jinny sighed to himself as he hugged his cloak around him closely. He’d tried to meditate… but he wasn’t very good at that yet. Especially not when he was upset. //Why does she hate me so much?// he wondered sadly. For so long he had looked forward to living in the initiates area, like Mace did…. And now he had a group mother who hated him… or so it seemed.

The boy wiped at the tears that slid down his cheeks unchecked. // Maybe he should be sent back to the crèche. // he thought to himself, which made the tears come even faster. He heaved a deep, uneven sigh as he curled up even smaller into his robe, now lying on his side and rocking back and forth in the quiet darkness.

Mace and several others had found this tiny 4 foot tall by 5 foot square place, behind some discarded equipment and boards, at the rear of the controls room in the garden. By dragging in boxes and scraps, they had managed to even out the floor area and make a little space to sit and talk, or for lying down. Mace had showed it to him the first week he had come to the initiate’s area. It was the only place he had left to go now, it seemed. Without realizing it, the tired boy fell asleep.

Master Yoda met the others in the upstairs hallway of the initiate’s area. It was quite a sizeable group now of Master, Knights, Padawans and instructors – all assembled and who had been searching for the missing child.

The ancient being sighed deeply to himself. It was well past the midnight hour now… he had tried with every sense he had at his disposal to feel out the child’s presence – with no results at all. The entire situation troubled him. True, often it took a group mother a little while to accept a new child into her care…. But this did not sound like a match made in heaven…. And now the child had apparently run away.

How far could an initiate go in the temple? Yoda didn’t want to even think of it!

Mace tossed and turned. It was impossible for him to sleep. In all his life at the temple, he didn’t remember seeing so many of the really tall men in the deep dark Master’s cloaks, anywhere NEAR the initiate quarters. Not all in a group! Or with their Padawan’s with them! Nor that many knights either!

Where could Jinny be? Was he cold? Mace knew the younger boy just hated the cold, even to the point of wearing 2 pairs of leggings on the worst of days. Was he afraid? Mace hated to even think of the smaller one being scared and frightened.

He knew Jinny was one of those kids who always said they weren’t afraid, or didn’t need help – even when they really did. He remembered the first night Jinny had spent in the initiate’s quarters – just a few weeks ago it seemed. Mace had snuck over to the younger’s room long past darkfall when the lights were turned out. He’d found his friend curled up into a tight little ball, dampness still visible on his cheeks and pillow from recent tears, with an old, battered black and tan bear-like thing clutched tightly in his arms.

He didn’t even know the younger still had the thing! He hadn’t even seen old ‘bear’, not since Jinny had been 3 years old! Mace sighed, rolling over onto his back. He didn’t think the group mother hated the younger boy… but he could imagine how hurt he would feel if he felt his group mother hated him. It wasn’t like Qui-Gon Jinn had a hundred friends who all knew him well… the younger boy actually tended to be a little shy at first. Jinny was more inclined to play by himself, or climb a tree, or gather up the insects and things from the garden that he was always so fascinated with. Yes, he got into trouble often… sometimes he was downright bent on mischief… but this wasn’t one of those times.

Gradually Mace Windu drifted off into a dream.

“Hey Mace! Mace likes to play with the ba-bies! Mace likes to play with the ba-bies!” came the sing-song taunt from the oldest boy in Mace Windu’s living quarters group.

“It’s too late now Mace… he knows which choice you made when it came down to it! Besides, you don’t need him – you have us now!” another told him… and with a sigh Mace realized he could NEVER make THIS up to the younger child…..

Chapter Four: Secrets Shared

Mace awoke with a gasp and a start. Without even thinking he threw his tunic and robe on over his pajama sleep pants, yanked his thick socks on and tore out of the door of his room and down the hall.

He half slid around the first corner, nearly ran into a girl coming out of her room as he rounded the second – only to finally turn a third one and collide suddenly and solidly with another body! Quickly he leapt up; eyes wide with alarm as he stared open mouthed at the figure on the floor before him.

“Help me UP you could young man!” growled the ancient greenish Master… and quickly the boy did so.

“I’m so sorry Master Yoda… I was just looking for you – I think I know where Jinny might be!” he breathed all in a rush, and the elder’s eyes bore a hint of hope as he listened to the child.

Within 15 minutes they were both down in the garden area.

It was only the seven-year-old and the ancient greenish Jedi Master who carefully crept behind and under the piles of discarded materials in the tiny unfinished room. Despite the dusky shadows and near darkness of the dawn outside, Yoda could see the small child clearly.

"Is he here? I hear something breathing!" Mace observed, lacking Yoda's highly developed eyesight, and the small Master nodded.

"Go you will for me. Find his group mother you will. Tell her you may that we have found the child… and that he is with me now - for disciplinary purposes. To his room I shall take young Qui-Gon…. When DONE with him I am!" He said seriously, and Mace's eyes grew wide as he caught his breath slightly.

He looked from Yoda's gimmer stick that he had drug in with him….to the corner where the soft breathing came from. Mace swallowed hard, his mind racing in a whirl of concern and confusion. It was not unknown for Master Yoda to hit someone with that stick of his… although it seemed the one's he struck the most often were his own former Padawan's when they came to visit.

Still - Mace could not help but be upset. He remembered himself, barely 2 years ago. All the time he'd been in the crèche, Master Yoda had often visited, came and told stories, came and just talked to them, his raspy chuckle making them smile even more brightly.

Then, he had come to the initiate's area of the temple, and one of the first things he learned was that here, Master Yoda was considered the hardest taskmaster of all. He still remembered the way an older boy in his group had blushed bright beet red one day in the dining room, when Master Yoda had chosen then and there to reprimand the boy for some minor prank he had seen him take part in earlier. Right there in front of the rest of the table, the group mother, the whole rest of the dining room…. And NOT in a quiet voice at ALL!

Even worse had been the time they had all heard the rumor that an initiate had been sent home - not because of misbehavior, but because Master Yoda had said the path of the Jedi was not to be his. Just that simply - and suddenly the initiate and all his things had vanished…. Leaving many speculations as to what the REAL reason must have been. As the oldest and most ancient living Jedi, Master Yoda's opinions could have a really serious impact on anyone at the temple! And now he was going to 'discipline' little Jinny?! Mace swallowed dryly, his eyes stinging as he half bowed and turned to go deliver the message.

Yoda watched the older child leave, keeping his expression stern as the boy looked back once, saw him staring, gulped hard and quickly disappeared. The ancient master sighed, shaking is head with an inner glint of amusement, then moved closer to the sleeping small one in the corner.

Quietly he situated himself on a piece of the cardboard, drew his robe around himself, and closed his eyes to consider the state of the sleeping child's mind. For now all was peaceful it seemed. He opened his eyes and now considered the young one curled up in his cloak.

Upon hearing of the child's disappearance, and his not being found quickly, one of the first things that he had done was ask for the child's temple records. Yes, he had had enough encounters with this one to know his name, but he did not feel he had any inner sense of the child.

He sighed as now he gently rested a hand on the mop of chestnut brown hair. He had long known that this child was one oriented to the living side of the Force… or he had very strongly suspected it. But the recent testing of the child had yielded some important results. Not only was the child oriented indeed towards the living side - but his awareness of it and innate connection to it scored at an incredible level of over 88 %!. Usually children did indeed have a strong indication of which side they were innately tuned to… but those levels were usually found to be 40% for one side, 60 % for the other. Any child who's tests revealed a score of more than 70% was bound to be a very unusual student indeed!

The ancient master smiled softly to himself, remembering this child as an infant, screaming in the nursery…. As a toddler reaching up eagerly for an him… as a nursery school student fascinated with the magic of a sprouting bean plant, the blooming of the rose bush… Yes, the boy was renown already for his energy and headstrong manner… but he sensed only a deep, deep reservoir of goodness and compassion in the young being.

The boy did indeed need disciplining. Running away from a problem was not the way of the Jedi, nor did it ever solve anyone's problems. Facing and accepting responsibility for one's actions was a lesson all sentients lived better for the learning of. Yoda sighed to himself, gently stroking back the wisps of dark hair, even as he sensed the child waking slowly.

With a sigh, the child stretched, yawning deeply… then he rubbed at his eyes even as he sat up…. To quickly realize he was not alone. Yoda remained motionless as the boy stared at him, his eyes growing wide even as his teeth suddenly dug into his lower lip.

"Good morning, Qui-Gon Jinn -" Yoda said dryly, using the child's full name, and the young boy swallowed dryly.

"H-hello Master…" he barely whispered, his eyes dropping to his lap even as his shoulders bent quickly. Yoda frowned mildly to himself. Why was this boy suddenly so quick to give up? He frowned even more as now the child brought his knees up to his chest, put his arms around them, and rested his cheek on them, his face turned away from the elder.

"I'm sorry I'm so much trouble all the time Master Yoda." He whispered as if entirely resigned to surrender, and Yoda now arched an eyebrow sharply at him. He moved around to the boy's side, only to see the younger suddenly close his eyes. A long silence engulfed the two even as the shadows receded a little more.

Chapter Five: Vines and Tendrils

Yoda was about to say something, when suddenly he felt the child reaching out for the Living Side of the Force. A barely begun his training 5 year old…. And respond to him it did…. Eagerly even!

Yoda watched with his inner eye as the child's body remained unmoved, while the swirls of the Force gathered around him, seeped into him, became part of him, then wrapped itself around him as closely as if it were a second skin. Slowly the child gave a soft sigh of acceptance, and a sense of peace began to permeate the little area.

"Learned you to do this, how?" the diminutive Master asked very gently, and the boy shrugged without even opening his eyes, and now Yoda gently rubbed his back in slow circles.

"I know everyone is really mad and upset with me. YOU are… I can feel it in you…" the child murmured softly, and Yoda frowned, looking inside himself - then quickly he released that into the Force.

"Concerned I was Qui-Gon… worried I was… Very large the Temple can be." He said, and now the boy turned his head so as to consider him intently, his chin still resting on his knees.

"I don't mean to cause trouble Master - yet it seems like it always happens anyway. I don't blame the group mother for getting upset with me…. She should have. Now the whole group is going to look funny - because of me… and I don't even know what all their names are yet! I'd be sorry to get stuck with me if I were them. OR, if I was the group mother. I wanted to be grown up enough to be an initiate… I guess I'm just not." he said, raising his head now, the statement coming very matter of factly, and Yoda's eyebrow crawled warily up his forehead.

"Aahhh, a perfectionist are you little one? Think you there will be some day when never a mistake again do you make? Never again an apology do you have to give? Wrong indeed are you little Jedi, if this is how you believe it will be! One mistake, and give up do you?" he asked, and now the boy gave him a mild frown back.

"I DON"T give UP!" he growled, and now Yoda arched his eyebrow more, sending a wave of mild annoyance at the lack of respect, and the child quickly moved away from him.

"Why don't you just punish me and get it over with?" he asked very sadly, and Yoda considered him for a long, long moment.

"Stubborn and headstrong you are little Jedi… very much so… Moody you are as well. Not good things are these in a Jedi, not at all - " he warned seriously, and the child met his gaze squarely.

"I told her I was sorry Master…. And it wasn't good enough. I felt horrible. And not even that was enough. I don't even hardly know her - or the other kids… all I have is my friend Mace… and the Force that comes to me sometimes. I'm too little to do anything BUT be a bother it seems like. None of those other kids asked for me to come live there with them… Instead, one of their friends went away! And I'm what they got as a trade. I already know that no one there wants me there. That's not being moody or stubborn. Even the Force tells me… ask it yourself." He said back to the elder, but in a barely above a whisper tone, and Yoda frowned deeply as indeed, he felt into the small boy’s energy vibrations, and he frowned mildly with a concerned look.

“What has been happening to make you feel so?” he asked seriously, and now the boy quickly looked away, burying his face in his knees.

“C-C-Can’t you just punish me? A-a-and go away, please Master?” he asked in shaky tone, without lifting his face, and now Yoda moved over to again perch beside him.

“Never before so eager have I seen one so small be for punishment, little one… Why think you that punishment will end your problems – any more than running away did?” he asked very gently now, putting an arm around the child, who seemed to be sobbing softly and silently.

“Shh, shh, shh now… tell me what happened Jinny –“ the diminutive Master whispered as now he drew the one into a hug, and the child’s tears increased.

“I can’t do anything right! Every time I try to do anything with them, or even play with them… they get mean… They call me the newest ‘crèche baby’… you can’t play with us – you’re just a crèche baby… go back to the crèche where you belong little baby… One – one of them took my color sticks… he said I was too little for them – crèche babies aren’t big enough to be trusted with THESE kind! Or – or… when they saw my plants… they all started laughing at me. They call me ‘nature boy’ – they say I’ll be great – in the AgriCorps… or as a healer!” he sobbed as if deeply hurt, and the ancient Master’s heart swelled with the child’s pain.

“What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I be of the Unified side of the Force, like everybody else Master?” the child sobbed, and now the ancient one Force lifted the boy to half sit him in his lap. There he hugged him warmly and securely, rocking him back and forth as the little one now sobbed even harder and more fully into the ancient one’s chest.

“Shh now my little one… they do not know you…” he soothed, and the boy shook his head, not even looking up.

“Mace does… The- the- the- other day… he thought I was inside… and the other kids in MY group started telling him he shouldn’t play with a crèche baby like me… They were making fun of me… making fun – of just everything… And he started doing it too! He – he told them I painted a picture of a bunch of stupid plants for the art fair… and they ALL laughed… even him…” he sobbed, at the end his voice fading into a heartbroken cry. The Jedi Master slowly closed his eyes as he hugged the child even more securely.

For long minutes the ancient one let the child cry in his arms, gently rocking him and stroking the dark hair as he murmured soothing sounds. How does one ever prepare a child for the fact that others can be wantonly cruel… that a friend can give in to pressure from peers…. That yes, there is such a thing as differences between people… and that not all are kindhearted… nor tolerant.

Finally the boy’s intense sobbing gave way to quieter crying, then to shaky sniffles and sighs. Eventually the child looked up at him, his eyes puffy and red.

“I-I’m sorry Master Yoda…” he started tearfully, shaking his head as he went to pull away, and the one held him firmly, gently brushing the dampness from the child’s cheeks as he considered him with a compassionate look.

“These are hard lessons you have had, my little Jedi. Believe me… nothing wrong with you is there… You are perfect, just as the gods have made you. Aligned with the life force of the Universe you are. Realize the value of the moments you do as they pass by. A strong gift this is indeed. Others must feel outwards into time and pathways to feel the Force as it is aligned with them… For you – it is around you at ALL times. I too, have strong alliance with the Living Side. Come from Dagobah I do… a planet draped in the swamps and mist of the Living Side of the Force. Share this we do, you and I.” He said gently, with a kind smile, and the child sighed.

“Yeah… but they would never pick on you… or laugh at you. I’m the youngest and smallest initiate in the whole place!” he observed lowly, and Yoda sighed as he drew the child into a close, to his chest hug. Silently, he closed his eyes and opened himself to the Unifying Side… and nearly gasped at the vision he saw there… A tall, strong man… long chestnut hair and same eyes of sky blue… in a Master’s cloak… Aligned with the Living Side as few others had ever been… and in a moment of betrayal by another, giving in and turning to the Dark Side.

The ancient one broke off the vision and swallowed dryly, instantly shielding that touch of darkness from the child in his arms now. The boy shivered just then, as if he too had still felt some of the ancient one’s vision. Yoda could feel the heavy weight of the child’s sadness – and yes – repressed anger, weighing down upon the small one.

“Come, come with me Jinny –“ he said gently, as he rose, thus forcing the boy to do the same, and the child quickly hung his head even as he shook it.

“No… Now they’ll just laugh at me for crying like a crèche baby…” he half whispered to himself, and Yoda smiled gently, lifting the boy’s chin so their eyes met, even as the child’s cloak floated up to settle itself around his shoulders with the hood up.

“Your cloak you will put on…your head you will keep down… and follow me you will. Assure you I can, not close will they DARE to come! What I say you will ignore – until I tell you to take off the cloak.” He said in a rather conspiratorial tone, and the child gave him a very weak, half-lopsided smile, and Yoda nodded as if satisfied.

Chapter Six : Enduring the Punishment

Yoda looked up at the chronometer on the wall in his quarters. Yes, it was almost time once again. For 10 days in a row now this had become his activity from 1 in the afternoon, until 2:30. Even the other members of the council had recently expressed their concern!

Suddenly, there came a quiet knock at the door… then it slid open to reveal the form of the short 5-year-old, clad in the stained tunic and his robe, his head down low as if expecting to be treated severely.

“Come in, young man!” Yoda said loudly and very, very sternly, and the one did so, with a half glance back and to one side. Silently the door slid shut behind him and quickly the child passed through the common area of the large suite, and into a back spare room. There he shed his cloak and turned to face the ancient Master with a wide grin of delight, and Yoda chuckled mildly.

“And who was your escort today?” he asked, and the boy smiled.

“R’nald… he’s the oldest one in my group area quarters. He kept asking me all the way, what sort of things had you done to me! But I told him what you told me to say – that I can’t discuss my punishment with anyone…” he said, and Yoda looked amused.

“Well that one SHOULD ask… discipline he has indeed received from me!” he said as he came closer, watching as the child carefully opened a small jar of yellow paint.

“Ahh – nice BRIGHT yellow!” Yoda observed, and the boy gave him a shy look. “I don’t see why you want me to paint you so many pictures of the garden Master. You have a wall full of them as it is!” he said of the ones stuck to the walls of the room, evidence of his prior visits and Yoda just smiled mysteriously.

“When my age you get to be – know why you will. Today, I feel the need for a tree please. A large one, with a bird's nest.” He said, and the boy smiled and chuckled softly.

“I don’t know if I can do a tree…” he said, and Yoda arched an eyebrow at him.

“My method you will follow – quiet your mind first…. Then, reach out you shall to the Living Side. When found it you have… paint you will!” he said with great certainty, and the boy nodded even as he went about neatly setting out more cups of paint and a large sheet of paper on the table.

Yoda withdrew from the room, only to come back in a few moments with a cup of tea. He paused at the doorway to consider the child before him. The boy stood with his eyes closed and the blank paper before him. Once again, as the child had done every day, he felt the small one reach out, and indeed he was answered quickly by the energy he sought.

Intently now, and carefully, the child began to paint. Yoda watched, waiting for that moment when the child quit worrying about the straightness of lines and instead let the ‘life energy’ of the tree he’d found in the Force, guide his hand.

There – now it had happened. Gently Yoda reached into the energy with his own mind… and began feeding the child impulses of peace and healing for the inner hurt he had suffered. Slowly a gentle smile came to the boy’s lips, and the ancient master sighed with a feeling of relief.

Several times now he had again tried to catch a glimpse of this child’s future… and while at first the tones had still been all dark and catastrophic… as the days had passed, that had seemed to fade. All he could see now was a cloud of uncertainty. It did not exactly reassure him, but it was an improvement.

Within 45 minutes the boy had finished the picture, now coming to sit on the floor before the ancient master with a teacup of his own, only with nearly more honey than tea in it. Yoda smiled as he watched the little one sip gingerly at the hot liquid. It was almost enough to make him consider taking another young one – perhaps THIS young one as his pad-….. But no…no no no he told himself sternly!

Suddenly the small child smiled up at him.

“Master Yoda, is this what you do when you discipline students?” he asked curiously, and Yoda sighed.

“No, never before anyway.” He answered, and the child frowned.

“Then, why do you have ME come to paint and drink tea with you?” he asked and Yoda smiled at him warmly.

“Listen I do to the will of the Force Jinny. Even in matters of disciplining students. What is right for one, is not right for all. Tell me now – seen your friend Mace have you?” he asked, and the boy seemed reluctant for a moment, then nodded.

“He came over when my group was in the pool and so was his.” He said, and Yoda nodded as he considered him.

“Good opportunity it sounded like it was.” He remarked and the boy looked shy.

“Master Yoda…. He said he was sorry… and I could tell he really meant it. I told him it was ok… but then when the other kids came over… I got out of the pool before they could even say anything.” He admitted and Yoda sighed mildly.

“Afraid were you?” he asked, and the child frowned mildly.

“Maybe…. I didn’t think so…” he observed and Yoda gave him his best inscrutable look over his tea cup.

“Then why leave did you?” he asked and the one sighed heavily.

“It wasn’t Mace I didn’t trust enough to stay… it was them. I heard them ask him what I’d told him you make me do here everyday. He said I wasn’t allowed to talk about it. Then – later… one of the bigger kids at my table actually asked me if I wanted the last dinner roll. It was just a roll… but no one ever asked ME before.” He observed, and Yoda nodded.

“Isn’t it a lie Master, to let them think you make me do awful things – instead of just paint?” the boy asked suddenly, and Yoda nearly choked on his tea, as he instantly began coughing and the boy looked alarmed and started to rise.

“No, no little Jedi –“ the diminutive master reassured quickly as he recovered, and the boy settled down again with an uncertain look, and Yoda sighed deeply with a smile.

“Give them something they now have in common with you it has. Rare is the student who does not get sent to me at least once. Rarely does it EVER happen again! Do not worry little Jedi – you have years left ahead of you to accomplish this – although I would rather you not!” he said, and the boy smiled at him rather mischievously, a twinkle to his eyes briefly.

“ Didn’t you tell me I can’t be perfect?” he asked, and Yoda seemed amused.

“Perfect I do not expect from you, nor from any initiate. Not even from the most esteemed of Jedi Masters do I expect perfect… nor does the Council… - but you do not HAVE to follow the tradition of being sent to me for a matter of discipline! This tradition I would not mind you disregarding in the least!” he said, and now the boy laughed soundly.

“But Master… if I start to disregard one tradition… Who knows what will be the next one I would disregard…. And the next… and the next…. It might actually turn into a problem all of it’s own!” he said teasingly, and Yoda smiled warmly at him.

“Somehow little Jedi…. I expect nothing less from you…” he said with affection, and the child smiled, obviously warmed by his tone.

The ancient Jedi Master looked around at the room, which now bore 11 paintings on the wall. The first ones had indeed been done with all dark colors and generous touches of black…. While the last several had become more lighter and full of pure colors. It had been a difficult lesson for the small boy to learn at such a tender age – the feeling of being the object of ridicule and prejudice…. The betrayal – even if minor and temporary, by a trusted friend….

Yet, he also had the resilience of youth on his side… and a Jedi Master bound and determined to see the clouds of darkness stayed far from him. Yoda smiled to himself as he set out a sheet of paper on the table and opened the jars of paint. He had always found artistic endeavors to be an excellent way to release into the Force, those things not yet even put into words. Yes indeed… it had been many a year since he had tried this himself!

An hour later, the swirls of colors and abstract shapes laid aside to dry, the ancient master had to smile as he noticed the multitude of bright colors now spattered in places on the sleeves of his tunic. Carefully he took off the garment and changed into a clean one.

Then, with great deliberation, planning - and care… he wadded up the paint stained garment - and put it down the laundry shoot.

//Ahhh welllll…. One should practice what one preaches….. and - what better way to show one so young, that perfect not are the ways of life… at any age.// Yoda thought to himself….

He could almost see the looks on the other members of the Council’s faces when he would show up wearing this tunic, now with its’ soft “rainbow” kissed sleeves.

The End