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When That Little Kite flew

darthnavaPosted for Everyone to comment on, 4 years ago9 min read

Image by Please, don't sell my photos at commercial stock portals ! from Pixabay

My created fictional story.

My sons ... Listen to this story. There was once an eight-year-old boy who asked his father for a kite.

"Son, I'm gonna buy some bamboo and paper. You just make the kite, "said the father.

The boy replied, "I don't know how, Dad,"

"It is easy. I will teach you," his father said and patted the boy's shoulder.

The father bought some paper and bamboo and began to teach the boy how to make the kite.

"Dad ... buy me a kite," the child pleaded his father.

"Son, you must learn how to fly the kite high. Try to prolong the height and duration of the kite's flight."

Bored, the child replied to his father.

"I get teased, Dad. I'm the son of the owner of the only gas station in town but I only have little kite!" The father just laughed and patted the boy's shoulder.

So the father taught the boy how to fly the kite, as well as extending its flight time.

One day while they were flying the kite, the string broke... The kite flew away as they were running after it and it fell and got stuck on a trellis.

"You see ... it's not broken," the father proudly claimed. "It is not about size. But it is about the height and duration of flying the kite plus the skill, caution, and perseverance. The big kites fly easily. But are more difficult to handle for longer flights. And when they fall they easily get destroyed."

The boy forgot all about that when he was fourteen years old. He had other interests. Fashionable clothes, shoes, gadgets, and wasting time with friends.

"Son ...you need only two shoes for school. If you wear them out, we can have them replaced. Better save on clothes and don't spend too much. Money is not earned so easily," his father reminded him

"But, Dad. I am the son of the owner of the only gas station and car repair shop in town, but I'll look like a poor man's son." The boy justified.

"You look decent. Your clothes are clean and you are well-fed. A boy your age needs to save some money and need not over-spend."

The boy didn't understand what was taught to him and had some resentment towards his father. His father rationed his allowance and watched over his association with his peers. His father also commanded him to work at their gas station and car repair shop during those days without school.

"Dad doesn't care about me," the embittered boy told his mother. "I am an only child yet he treats me like I am an adopted son!"

"That's not true, son," his mother noted his resentment for his father. "You do well know he has big dreams for you."

"What? What does he want for me? "

"To be a good engineer."

The boy said nothing and did not tone down his resentment towards his father. Yet, he still respected his parents. At eighteen, he agreed with his peers that they take up a commerce course in college.

"That's right. In that way, together we'll go to the same university," suggests one of the five friends.

The boy agreed. But when he spoke about it to his father, his father opposed it.

"In my opinion, son. You are not fit for a commerce course. I think that mechanical engineering is right for you. Ask your mother."

Feeling bad inside, he still referred to his mother.

"I am not siding with your father, son. But I think an engineering course is right for you. Our car repair shop ... Who's going to inherit it? No one but you."

Following his father's wishes, the boy was forced to retire from his peer group. He remained alone to study in the city. The young man began to grow his resentment. Turning it into a rebellion against his father's feelings.

"I do not want to study, Mom," he told his mother who visited him in the dormitory. "I am suffering from being thrifty, being patient, and in shame. Why does dad want to torment me? "

His mother calmed herself.

"Trust us, son. We are not doing it for our own good but for your future."

"You better learn to endure. When you finish your studies and succeed in your job, It will be easier and things will get clearer for you."

"Why do I need to succeed? Won't I inherit our family's livelihood? "

"That is true, my son ... but how do you improve our livelihood if you do not know the value of hard work from that?"

The young man could not comprehend what his mother said, but he thought he could endure it. He just decided to continue his studies.

The young man became an Engineering graduate. He wasn't at the top of his class, but during government exams, he managed to get among the top twenty.

"Now my son ... I'll give you two thousand dollars. You can use this in making a living." His father offered when he obtained his license as a mechanical engineer.

The young man was surprised.

"I thought ... I will be working at our machine shop after my studies," he said to his father.

"I am doing that, my son. I'll take care of that job. I want you to build your own business."

"Why, Dad? We have a business. "

"It is better that you learn to stand on your own feet."

He accepted the advice given by his father. He also began to live separately from his parents.

"I know of your conflict with your father. But, I would like you to keep that in mind, he always has your best interest at heart."

But there was poison in his mind. He never believed in the words of his mother. He could never calm the rebellion in his heart against his father.

He built a car repair shop at the edge of town. He was immediately summoned by his father.

"Why have not you built a car repair shop in the third town from here? You are beginning to look like my competition here."

"Dad, I thought it was up to me to me do what I want with my life?"

His reply stunned his father who grumbled some words before leaving.

"In that case. Experience is the best teacher!"

A year passed, the young man persevered in managing his small car repair shop at the edge of town. He had only a few customers because his father had a bigger shop and a more experienced work crew. He began to accumulate large debts. When he could not pay his loans anymore, his shop's machines were forfeited by the bank.

"I told you to set up shop in a faraway town. You never followed my suggestion to avoid competition. Try to find another investment with your own effort."

The young man was enraged. Forgetting respect, he confronted his father.

"What kind of father are you? Are you satisfied to see your son in trouble? "

"I want you to learn everything that happens in life. It is not easy living in this world, son."

"Is it not the parents' duty to better the lives of their children?"

"A better life is not the parents' legacy but it is in the way on how they teach it to their children."

The young man broke away from his father. He ran away without even saying goodbye even to his mother. He transferred from job to job for work. Until five years later, he had saved a few thousand dollars and bought a small car repair shop. He got a lucrative contract assembling exhaust pipes for an auto assembler. That contract earned him a great deal of money. Within three years, his shop was finally making car parts.

Blood is thicker than water, they say, so his mother can't help it. And so he was visited by his elderly mother one day. She came to his house with goodies for her three grandsons.

"Your father wishes to see his grandchildren. But he can't because of your resentment towards him," said his mother.

"Mother, I will forget him... I don't acknowledge him as my father!"

His mother cried.

"But ... he might not see you again, son!" She tearfully pleaded before leaving.

Blinded by his resentment, he ignored the pleas of his mother. He buried himself at work. He searched for more new contracts until two more years, his car shop was the best in the city. One day, he found his wife and three children were not at home.

"Where are they?" He asked his maid.

"They went back to your home province. To visit your father! "

"Come again? Why, do they always do that? "

The maid nodded.

"They twice visited your old man."

Hate flared in his chest. Overwhelmed by anger he tried to forgive his father. And the childhood memories with the kite returned to his mind along with the happy moments with it. He recalled flying their kite.

"It is not about the size of the kite flying. It is about extending it to the top. With care, caution, perseverance, and patience!"

He spent the night unable to sleep. He was always thinking about his father's words. The next day, onboard his car, he returned to his hometown.

"He's dead!" His wife exclaimed and wept on his chest.

His heart suddenly became heavy with pain and regret. He approached his mother and hugged her, he wept slowly. Sorrow afflicted every fiber of his body.

"Do not cry ... he died without any resentment towards you." Comforted his mother.

"Wha-...no resentment?"

"Yes, my son ... because you fulfilled his dream. You have prospered and came out on top. That's what he said to me, along with your wife ... he was sure you can climb and stay on top."

When he approached the coffin. He looked at his father lying there peacefully, he recalled the time they were launching their kite...

"It is not about the size of the kite flying and extending it to the top. Let's see ... I will teach you!" Explained his father.

My sons ... remember this story. This is about me and your late grandfather. This is our story.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

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