The Boy and the Magic Bird – A Magical Tale of Betrayal and Justice
Long ago, in a forest-bordered village rich in sunlight and song, there lived a man known for his cunning and greed. One fateful day, while hunting beneath the tall palms, he captured a most extraordinary bird—one with feathers that shimmered like the rising sun and a voice that sang in the rhythm of human speech.
But the most astonishing part? This magical bird defecated cowrie shells, the precious currency of the land.
Overwhelmed by his luck, the man hurried home and locked the bird in a small cage, tucked into the shadowy corner of his hut. Every morning, he collected the glistening cowries and used them to amass great wealth—buying livestock, land, and goods beyond measure. He told no one of the bird’s true powers, not even his son.
He was a widower, and the boy—his only child—grew up in a house filled with riches but utterly devoid of warmth. The father allowed no relatives, no visitors, and no servants, fearing someone might steal the secret of his fortune.
A Forbidden Friendship
Before leaving one day for the great market in a neighboring town, the father gave his son a stern command:
“Do not, under any circumstance, let the bird out of its cage. If you disobey, you will pay dearly.”
Alone for several days, the boy grew restless. His only companion was the bird, and over time, they formed an unlikely bond. The bird’s songs were comforting, and the boy spoke to him of dreams, fears, and the ache of loneliness.
Eventually, the bird spoke softly:
“I wish to stretch my wings. Just for a moment. You can close the windows—I promise I won’t fly away.”
Loneliness clouded the boy’s judgment. Trusting the bird, he opened the cage.
In an instant, the magical creature soared into the sky, never once looking back.
The boy was heartbroken—his companion was gone. But worse still, he knew his father’s wrath would be unimaginable. Desperate, he searched the nearby woods and caught another bird that looked similar—though ordinary and dull-eyed. He placed it in the cage, hoping it would fool his father.
A Cruel Punishment
When the man returned and saw the new bird, he grew suspicious. It no longer sang sweetly, and its droppings were just… droppings.
Enraged beyond reason, the father demanded the truth.
“I—I let him out. He promised to return,” the boy confessed, tears running down his cheeks.
The father said nothing. Instead, he fetched a blade and, without a word, cut off the boy’s right ear.
“Let this be a reminder,” he growled, “that obedience is more valuable than kindness or friendship.”
From that day forward, the boy was called “the One-Eared Boy.”
Years Later…
Time passed. The boy grew into a man. The father, once strong and proud, became old and brittle like a fallen tree. One morning, the son approached him and said:
“Father, let’s go pluck coconuts by the riverside. It will be good for you.”
The old man, weary but nostalgic, agreed. Together they journeyed to the wide river where coconut trees leaned over the water like sleepy giants.
The father climbed the tallest tree while the son placed three baskets below.
“Aim carefully,” the son said, smiling. “Any coconut that misses the baskets—you must retrieve it yourself.”
The old man, perched high in the tree, threw one coconut… it landed in a basket. The next rolled toward the river. The third tumbled straight into the water and disappeared.
“Leave them, son! The river has taken them,” the father pleaded.
But the son only shook his head.
“No, Father. You must retrieve them. That was our agreement.”
A Song of Remorse
The father descended, walking into the water. The waves lapped at his knees, then his chest. He sang, trembling:
“Ozooo, hu so’okuse ka menehu”
(Child, you make me drink river water)
“Okuse, okuse, ka menehu”
(Deep water, river water)
“Okuse, ka’o kamenehu”
(You say I should drink river water…)
And the son responded, his voice echoing over the ripples:
“Ind’ooo, hum’ inomi jo’moto”
(Father, for a bird, you took my ear)
“Inomi nu ku jo’ moto”
(For a bird, you stole my ear…)
With each verse, the old man moved deeper until the river swallowed him whole. His pleas were lost to the water’s embrace.
Moral of the Story:
Greed clouds compassion, and cruelty leaves wounds that never fade. What we sow in the hearts of others will return to us—sometimes when we least expect it.
