Maung Tun Thu - Run and Classic Short Stories

Run

The Torres family farm is located on the coast about fifteen miles below Monterey. It is only a few acres in size, on a gently sloping hillside. Yet the farm extends from the hillside to the white-sanded shore. Behind the farm stand the rugged mountains of the Rocky Mountains.

Farm buildings clustered on the hillside, all swept by the wind, ready to fall into the sea. The small wooden hut and the dilapidated barn were damp and brown from the constant exposure to the salty air.

On the farm there are two horses, a cow and a young red bull, six pigs and a flock of fat, scaly chickens. On a hillside there is a field of wheat. It is planted on land that has no soil at all, and the wheat plants do not grow well.

Mother Torres was thin, with dry skin and a very old-fashioned appearance. She had been in charge of the farm for almost ten years, having taken over since her husband's death. One day, her husband went to work in the field as usual. He accidentally stepped on a stone and slipped.

He fell face down on a venomous snake and was bitten in the chest. It was a very poisonous snake, and there was nothing he could do.

Mother Torres was left with three children. The two youngest, Amelio and Rosie, were twelve and fourteen years old, and both were very frail and weak for their age.

Mother Torres would send these two children fishing on the rocks below the farm on days when the truant officer was not coming to the farm and when the wind was not strong.

The eldest, Magpie, is nineteen years old, tall, and always smiling. He is gentle and charming, but very lazy. Magpie has a long head. His thick, coarse, black hair falls to the sides and back. His mother, Torres, has cut the hair that falls in front so that his eyes are visible.

Magpie's cheekbones were high, as was the custom of the Indians. His nose was curved like that of an eagle. His mouth was small and delicate, like a girl's. His chin was pointed, and his legs and arms were so long that he looked like a hunchback. In any case, Magpie was a very lazy young man.

Mother Torres thought her son was a very brave and handsome boy. However, she never told Mapple her opinion. "It seems that there is a lazy woman in my father's family. That's why I have a son like you," said Mother Torres. And one day when I was pregnant, a very lazy coyote came out of the bushes and stared at me. That's why you are so lazy, said Mother Torres.

Magpie smiled like a little sheep that didn't understand anything. He was digging the dagger in his hand and pulling it out. He was doing this to sharpen the blade and prevent rust from building up.

This dagger is an heirloom for him. It is the dagger that his father always carried. The dagger is large and long. The blade can be folded into the bone. There is a small button on the bone, and when you press the button, the blade will come out. This dagger is the most precious to Mephi. It is the dagger that his father carried, and he keeps it close to his body.

It was a very sunny morning. The sea in the lowlands below the cliffs was a deep blue. The water was sparkling in the sunlight.

The white waves slowly roll in and out, crashing onto the rocky shore. Even the mountains behind the farm have a cool, serene appearance.

"Meg-pe...Hey..Meg-pe, come to Mom's house, Mom, I have something to ask you."

From inside the small wooden hut, Mother Torres's voice rang out.

There was no sound from outside, and Mother tilted her head and listened. She heard laughter from behind the barn. Mother Torres stood up, grabbed her skirt with both hands, and walked briskly toward the source of the laughter.

Mappie sat with his back against a broken box. His white teeth gleamed in the sunlight.

To his left and right stood two dark-skinned children. The two children showed signs of waiting with great anticipation for something.

Suddenly, a scream came out of Amyo's mouth.

"Yah..."

, Magpie's wrist moved very quickly, like the head of a snake. The dagger blade that passed through the air flashed. It made a loud thud and crashed into the wooden pole straight ahead.

The black blade shook violently. As soon as the dagger was inserted, the three siblings burst into laughter.

Rosie ran to the wooden pole, pulled out the dagger, and ran back to Mappie. He handed the dagger from his hand to Mappie. Mappie closed the dagger and put it back in his palm. Then he looked up at the sky with a wide smile on his face.

"Yah"

The dagger leapt out of Mappie's palm and plunged into the wooden post again. Mother Torres stood in front of them, scolding them.

"I've been working with this dagger all day long. You're treating this dagger like a toy," he shouted angrily.

"You little rascal....get up, stand up, and stand up, your feet are chewing on your shoes and destroying them."

As they spoke, Mother Torres pulled one of Mapple's arms and held it. Mapple slowly looked at her mother's face with a 8-pointed look and stood up reluctantly.

"This is...Mr. P, listen to me," said Mother Torres.

"Hey, you lazy guy...., listen to me carefully. Go and get your horse and saddle it. You... have to go to Montreux. The medicine is gone, the salt is gone, go right now... If you're going, go and get your horse first."

The expression of wanting to resist the revolution is reflected on Mapi's face.

"You're going to send me to Montre, right?"

' he asked in a dissatisfied tone.

"I have to go alone, okay?......... It's not like my mother asked me to..."

Mother Torres frowned at Mbappe. "Don't talk nonsense," she said.

"Don't think you'll have to buy candy. I'm just going to buy medicine and salt. I won't give you a penny more than the money, understand?"

Mappé smiled.

"If I go, you'll put on the leather band that goes around my head, right, Mom?"

He asked..

Mother Torres felt a little sorry for her son. So she lowered the price a little.

"Oh...Mappie, if you want to wear a leather belt, go ahead and wear it." Mappie immediately became cheerful. "Mom, should I take the green handkerchief?"

“Hey…if you go quickly and come back quickly without any problems, I’ll give you a green handkerchief. And don’t let me tear your handkerchief when you eat, you hear? If you do, I won’t give it to you.”

"Don't forget, don't worry, Mom. I'll handle it carefully. I'm not a child anymore, Mom... I'm an adult."

"What... that guy, you're the big guy, I'll tell you."

The magpie entered the rickety barn, took a rope, and with cheerful, nimble steps, climbed the hill to catch the horse.

A moment later, Mappie was ready. He was standing in the doorway, sitting on the saddle of his father's horse.

The saddle had been used for many years, so it was old and worn. The leather covering the saddle was torn and showing through, so that the wooden frames inside were visible.

Mother Torres came out of the tent, holding a black hat with a small leather strap and a green scarf. She put the hat on Magpie's head. She tied the green scarf around Magpie's neck.

The blue cotton shirt on Mappie's body was no more faded than his jeans. The fabric was dark and covered with layers of copper from the washing.

Mother Torres handed him a medicine bottle and some coins. "This is to buy medicine," she said.

"This is to buy salt, this is to buy candles for your father to light the oil lamp, and this is to buy candy if you want to eat it, do you hear?"

“Mother, my friend Mrs. Rodriguez will feed you dinner. She will give you a place to sleep. When you enter the church, bow down and pray. When you look at the pictures of God and the Virgin Mary, don’t be sad. It’s not good to just look at the beautiful parts. Do you understand what I’m saying, you lazy wolf?”

Mappie nodded. His hair stuck out on one side from under his black hat. His son had grown up, and he looked so handsome, sitting on a long, lean horse. He was dark-skinned, thin, tall, and handsome, she thought.

“Aye Kwe, Mom doesn’t want to let you go alone, Kwe. She’s only letting you go because the medicine is gone.”

He whispered in a gentle tone.

"You know, if you don't have medicine at home, you can't do it, son. No one can tell when a toothache or a stomach ache will happen. It's hard to get sick without medicine when these things happen, son."

"I'll go, Mom," said Mappie, greeting her.

"I'll be back soon. I'll be able to let you go alone soon, sister, I'm an adult now."

"You are a stupid child who still doesn't understand anything," Mother Torres muttered.

Mappie sat up straight from his horse's seat. Then, quickly driving the horse, he set off.

When he reached a considerable distance, he turned back. Standing there watching him were Amy, Rosie, and Mother Torres. Mappé smiled briefly and then reined in his horse.

The car went down the street and disappeared from view. Then Mother Torres turned to her two children. And said to herself,

"Aye... He's almost a grown man now. It's good to have a big man back at home."