Thakin Mya Than - U Thu Taw and Ko Thit

When the tree fell with a crash, the monkeys on the tree fell over and died. When the ship sank, the mice on the ship ran away into the water.

Although they live on trees, they did not cultivate the tree. They did not contribute to the growth and sustainability of the tree during their stay on trees.

The rats that lived inside the ship were powerless to prevent the ship from bursting, leaking, or sinking.

One of the monkeys, who had fallen to the ground with a thud from a large tree, was so terrified that he raised his head, wondering how his other companions were doing.

A monkey with its tongue stuck in a tree branch, a monkey with its head completely crushed, a monkey with its intestines spilling out.

And there are monkeys who can't get up after breaking their legs, feet, or arms.

The monkeys were screaming in excruciating pain.

It is a terrible sight to see the monkeys, who were once trapped and now lying in pain and agony among the fallen trees.

Even though I was exhausted, I still looked up.

At first I thought the tree was the tallest, but not now. At first I thought the tree was the strongest, but not now.

Now, what if the other trees are too tall?

(2)

Your Majesty, your servant is as bad as a dog.

The height is painful. However, the way they bow down to the injured person from the ground and bless him is just like that.

This proverb was created by the elders to bless and comfort those who are suffering from a fall from a height.

Your Majesty, you look like a servant, you're as bad as a dog.

When we see someone suffering, we are usually moved by compassion.

However, when they saw that person in trouble, not only was there no compassion, but many people even looked at him and felt happy.

What if he falls into a dog's trap?

Many people who saw that person in such distress and misery even said such words with joy.

Your Majesty, you look like a servant, you're as bad as a dog.

They do not have compassion for those who are suffering, and they even take pleasure in watching others suffer.

See, how is he doing? How much trouble is he having to eat a meal now?

Good, very good.

I am so happy, very happy.

Seeing how difficult it was for Ko Thu Daw to get a bite to eat, they were overjoyed and even applauded him.

(3)

"Don't you understand yet how hard it is to work to get a bite to eat?"

A young man shouted at the refugee Ko Thu Taw, who had a small face and was talking in a low voice.

He was very sad and heartbroken.

Aw... When they first met me, they didn't dare to speak to me, let alone raise their heads. At first, it was like this, people who spoke to me respectfully, but now...

Ko Thu Daw was overcome with great sorrow and grief, and he tried to speak to himself, as if he were in agony, but he could not speak, so he repeated it.

"I'm asking you for help because I'm still struggling. I haven't even had breakfast, let alone dinner. Even if it's not much, five kyats is enough. Rest assured, I'll continue to repay the money I borrowed from you."

With his stomach empty and his food scarce, Ko Thu Daw begged a neighbor, who was about the same age as his younger brother, to lend him money, but the young man did not give him any money, only harsh words.

Oh, what if it's hard to earn even five or ten kyats these days?

Ko Thu Daw had no relatives or descendants. He had some close relatives, so he was living in the royal house.

The elder brother and sister-in-law, who came to live with them, were fed as they should be. When they could afford good food, they would eat as they should, and when they could not afford good food, they would eat as they should.

The old man, U Shwe Oh, was a manual laborer, and he had to earn enough to eat, drink, and sleep. He had three children, aged 14, 11, and 7, and because he did not own a house, he had to rent a house. Since the old man's income alone was not enough, he also had to work from the side.

Ko Thu Taw, who had fallen into bankruptcy, came to live with this family.

I have relatives and friends.

There are still people to feed, and there is a place to stay.

When he arrived at the king's house, he said these words to himself and sat down to eat the king's and his wife's food.

Eat well, sleep well.

As soon as the sun rose in the morning, my uncle and aunt would go out to work to earn a living, but my uncle would usually get up at sunrise. After breakfast, he would take a nap and fall asleep again.

I woke up hungry, but the food wasn't ready yet.

While my uncle and aunt were working, they were still searching and searching, so they hadn't cooked yet. My uncle's eldest son, Orasa, 14 years old, Maung Kan Aye, had to do household chores such as fetching water and cooking rice after he returned from school.

At around 5 pm, my uncle and aunt returned from work, cooked the food they had bought, and at around 6 pm, they gathered around to eat dinner.

No matter what he eats, if there is a bowl of rice for him at the dinner table, he eats what the family eats. If he cooks fish, he eats fish, if he cooks beans, he eats beans, if he cooks fish paste, he eats fish paste.

I also took a cigarette from my uncle and aunt's cigarette case and smoked it. I couldn't afford to smoke cigarettes, but I wanted to smoke cigarettes.

When the sun set, Takokho fell asleep. In the morning, after my uncle and aunt had gone to work, I usually woke up a long time later.

He often said that he was dependent on his own ideas before they became a reality. He also joked that one day, he would come to terms with it.

The uncle and aunt, in accordance with the auspicious custom of the marriage ceremony, performed the duty of kinship by providing as much food and drink as possible for their nephew, who was in need of food and drink.

However, the great man lacked generosity and devotion.

After a few days, he became jealous of Ko Thu Daw, who was being served rice at home, showing signs of disbelief.

The old man, however, tried to persuade his husband, saying that he should stay, but his plans were not yet clear.

However, after a few days, the old man became jealous again.

"Remember, it's easy to find, dig, make, and hold a loaf of rice to eat?" said the old man.

Ko Thu Taw has no vocational skills. Therefore, he can't do anything to eat a single meal. He doesn't know any crafts, he doesn't know any trades, and he doesn't know any skills that require the use of his intellectual power.

It was hard for him to do any physical work. It was really hard. Because he was so worn out.

"'Oh my god, what's going to happen if you're just sitting here like this? You better do something."

When his uncle, U Shwe Oh, said this,

"I'm not doing it, I'm just not comfortable," Ko Thu Taw replied.

What's the point of not wanting income?

I'm still struggling because I can't afford it.

(4)

Grandfather U Shwe Oh was a man of great generosity and devotion.

"I've got a job for you, so get ready to work."

The old man started talking like that. The old man was also happy.

"I'm so happy that my nephew got a job," Daw Saw Hla said happily.

Despite hearing such good news, Ko Thu Taw's face showed no sign of joy or happiness.

Uncle turned his face, looked at the old man, and listened in silence.

"If I get a job, I'll do it, right?" U Shwe Oh asked again.

"What should I do?"

This is the counter-question that comes from the lips of the monk.

"I need someone for my workshop. I've had a lot of people come to me and say they want this job. The employer agreed to hire you because of my good reputation."

Do you think Ko Thu Taw was happy after hearing U Shwe Oh's words?

Far from being happy, even their faces were ruined. Therefore -

"I'm not good at that job," was Ko Thu Daw's only response.

“You have to learn by doing. I and Ko Bo Thein, who is working with me, will teach you under supervision. It’s not difficult to drill and hammer iron, cut iron with a saw, and hammer it. It’s a job that anyone can do if they’re a really strong man. We’ll show you how to do other things too.”

Saying this, the elder brother continued, looking at his brother's face as if he were studying it.

"Let's eat lunch. I'll be getting three meals a day as soon as I start working. I'm sure the number will increase as I become more skilled at my job. That's because of my face."

At that moment, Daw Saw Hla, filled with joy, spoke up.

"My uncle is going to have a job and an income. When I first started, I was earning three kyats a day. In the next month or two, I would earn one or two kyats."

The elder brother spoke happily, but his younger brother's expression remained uneasy. Although his elder brother tried his best to help him get a job and earn an income, he felt that the words he said were a sign of disrespect, and he felt humiliated and insulted, and he became unhappy.

"Now, will you do it? Come with me tomorrow morning and go to work. Starting tomorrow, you will be earning three times a day."

U Shwe Oh's words made the blood in his body drain, and his face turned pale. Ko Thu Daw frowned, wrinkled his nose, and heard his father and grandfather reply in a tone of indifference.

"Ha, can someone like me do such a menial job?"