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Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Flavier: The parable of the crooked boy
By Juan Flavier
THE farmer wanted a son from the very beginning. But as fate would have it, his first five children were all daughters. It was only after the fifth girl and a special trip to the chapel of Sta. Clara did his dream come to pass. There was a big celebration to welcome the much-awaited son.
But the farmer's elation was short-lived as the boy's abnormal growth immediately became apparent. He was sickly and weak. By the time the son turned four, his spinal column took on a crooked shape resembling the letter S.
First, the parents consulted a hilot who massaged the boy with a balm made from various herbs. After a month, there was absolutely no sign of improvement. Next, they went to the town doctor at great expense but also without any success. In fact, the crooked shape became more distinct as time passed.
When the son became of school age, the parents were resigned to accepting the physical deformity. For the reality was that their long-desired son was abnormal.
Greater pains were yet to come from the cruel teasing and taunting of classmates. Worst of all, other children would not accept the crooked boy to join in their games.
One day, a group of neighborhood boys were having a war game complete with toy pistols and bamboo sticks that served as rifles. The deformed boy wanted so much to join. He pleaded but was unanimously rejected.
"Have you ever seen a crooked soldier?" jeered the boys.
The boy could only drop his toy gun as big drops of anguished tears trickled down his cheeks. As he turned to leave, a barrio elder passed by.
"And why must you cry?" inquired the sage in a solicitous tone.
Instead of replying to the question, the boy asked, "Have you ever seen a crooked soldier?"
The old man though for a while and then replied aloud so all the other children would hear. "Yes, I have seen crooked soldiers. But you see, they are very rare because they are the bravest and most heroic in the whole world."
(September 23, 2003 issue)
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