Tenshiki

Originally Japanese Short Story

Tenshiki

Once there was a priest of a Temple, whom was respected by everyone. He lived with is son, Kentaro, who was 10 years old.

One day the Priest fell sick with some stomach problem. He called a doctor to his home to examine him.

The doctor examined the Priest and asked him, "Well, do you also have "Tenshiki" ?"

Now the Priest did not know what was "Tenshiki". But he did not want the doctor to know that he did not know what "Tenshiki" was. The Priest considered himself that he was the most knowledgeable person and he did not want to admit that he did not know what "Tenshiki" was. So instead of asking the doctor what "Tenshiki" really was, he pretended that he knew what "Tenshiki" was, and answer, "No, no, I don't have "Tenshiki"."

The doctor said, "Umm, its strange, but its okay. Send your son to my clinic, in the evening and I will prepare some medicine for you to take." He then left.

After the doctor left, the Priest was little worried that he had lied to the doctor. He had told the doctor he did not have "Tenshiki" was but it would be very embarrassing to ask the doctor again what "Tenshiki" really was. So, he tried to find out what "Tenshiki" was, without asking anyone. 

So he called his son Kentaro. "Kentaro, Kentaro...come here. Now tell me where did you put the "Tenshiki" that I gave you ?"

Kentaro said, " Father, what is a "Tenshiki" ?"

"Do not answer my question, with a question. Now do you know where is the "Tenshiki" that I gave you ?"

"I don't know, what a "Tenshiki" is."

"You don't know what a "Tenshiki" is ? I have told you before."

"Father, I think I forgot."

"Oh, you forgot eh ! You always forget these important things. Well, if you've forgotten it, then you will have to find it out yourself. This way you will not forget it. Now, go to the next door neighbour, and ask him to lend me a "Tenshiki". "

"But father, I don't know what a "Tenshiki" is ."

"Just hurry, and ask for a "Tenshiki" and you will know what a "Tenshiki" is."

Then Kentaro goes to the neighbour and asks the man to lend his father "Tenshiki".

"Uncle, can you lend us a "Tenshiki" ? Kentaro asks the neighbour.

The neighbour also does not know what a "Tenshiki" is, but he too pretends that he knows. Kentaro asks him, "Uncle, don't you know what "Tenshiki" is ?"

"Of course I know what a "Tenshiki" is, but I don't remember where it is now. Let me ask my wife about it." So he asks his wife. "Oh dear, Kentaro has come to burrow "Tenshiki". Do you know where it is ?" The wife did not know what "Tenshiki" was either. But she answered, "Kentaro, we actually had two "Tenshikis" but I gave one to the other neighbour yesterday, and the other we ate in our lunch this morning. So, we are sorry we don't have any "Tenshiki" left now."

Kentaro went back his father and told him, that they had eaten the "Tenshiki".

The Priest thought for awhile. He was certain that "Tenshiki" was something that you could eat.

In the evening, the Priest told his son and said, " Now, Kentaro, run to the Doctor's clinic and get me the medicine from him. And since you don't know what "Tenshiki" is, ask the doctor to tell you what it is."

"But father, you know what "Tenshiki" is, why don't you just tell me ?"

"Be quiet and run to the doctor's clinic, and ask the doctor, after you get the medicine, so that you will never forget what "Tenshiki" is. Now go fast."

So, Kentaro goes to the doctor and asks for his father's medicine. Before returning, he asks the doctor, "Doctor, this morning when you were examining my father, you asked if my father had "Tenshiki". But I don't know what it is. Can you tell me what it is, doctor, please."

The doctor said, "Oh, so you don't know what "Tenshiki" is. I will tell you. "Tenshiki" is the bad gas that gets formed inside our stomach. Now do you understand ?"

"Oh, its "Onara". Kentaro said.

"Yes, its the same. We call it "Tenshiki" also, in medical terms. Now go back and give the medicines to your father."

Kentaro now knew that his father and the neighbours also did not know what "Tenshiki" was, but they did not want to admit it.

At home, Kentaro, gave the medicine. Now he wanted to check if his father really knew what "Tenshiki" was or not, so he wanted to check on him.

He told him. "Father, I now know what "Tenshiki" is. It means 'alcohol' ".  

To this, his father did not react or say it was wrong, so Kentaro was sure that his father did not know the real meaning of "Tenshiki" and had only pretended that he knew it. 

His father said, "Kentaro, didn't I tell you that "Tenshiki" is alcohol. Now, don't you ever forget that "Tenshiki" means 'alcohol'. And when I tell you to bring "Tenshiki", you must bring alcohol, understood ? Now go away and play."

Kentaro was smiling to himself.

The next day, the Doctor came again to check how the Priest was. The Priest said he was much better with the doctor's medicine. And said, "Doctor, when you asked me yesterday, if I had "Tenshiki", I said I did not have any "Tenshiki". But now I remember that I have a small bottle of "Tenshiki". I want you to drink some "Tenshiki". "

The Doctor was amused, what this Priest was saying. Has he gone half-mad or what?

But the Priest was insisting the Doctor to have some "Tenshiki". He called his son, "Kentaro, bring the bottle of "Tenshiki" and a glass also."

The Doctor said, "No, no, I don't want to have any "Tenshiki". Kentaro brings the bottle of alcohol and gives it to his dad.

The Priests says, " I have a nice bottle of  "Tenshiki". Please have some."

The Doctor is very amused. He says, " In medical terms, "Tenshiki" is bad gas, but in your language its alcohol, so strange."

Then the Priest is very embarrassed and his face turns red. He scolds to his son, "You Kentaro, why did you lie to me and said that "Tenshiki" means alcohol ?"

Kentaro replies, " Sorry father, I thought I would embarrass you a little bit, so that you will not forget it ever !! "

THE END

THE CAT’S PLATE

Short Story – Originally from Japan

THE CAT’S PLATE

Once there was a traveler, travelling towards his destination. One his way, he found a rest-place, where there was a man selling some food and snacks. The traveler took a rest and ordered some snacks. As he was waiting for his snacks to arrive, a small cat approached him and started playing with him. He was not too fond of cats, but this cat seemed to like playing with him. After a few moments, the cat started eating from a plate which was on the floor nearby. The cat’s feeding plate was a dirty plate and seemed not to have been cleaned for months. The colour of the plate was dull gold and was certainly a metal plate and not steel, plastic or aluminum plate.

For some reason, the traveler noticed that plate and looked carefully at the carelessly lying, dirty plate on the floor, from which the cat was lapping some milk-rice pudding. He kept on watching and as the cat finished the feed, some sparkle of gold could be seen. The stall-keeper was busy inside his kitchen preparing the snacks he had ordered, and there was no one else around. The traveler took a deeper look at the cat’s feeding plate. Since no one was around, he picked the dirty plate and examined it carefully.

“Holy macro ! the plate was heavy. It could be of gold !” he thought. He cleaned some bits of dried dirt with this finger nails and examined carefully. Because of the weight and the sparkle he was pretty sure it was a golden plate and this stall-keeper is not aware of it and is using carelessly as a cat-feeding plate. He smiled to himself. How foolish of him !

He started thinking how he might be able to get hold of this precious plate. He thought that if he could somehow get this plate from the stall-keeper, he would certainly get rich by selling this golden plate. He thought, that if he asked to get the plate from the stall-keeper, he might be suspicious and not want to give it to him. So, he thought, he will offer to buy the cat at a high price and then ask him to give him the plate also. This way, he thought, the owner is sure to agree to give him the plate.

After a short while, the stall-keeper appeared with his snacks. The traveler, while eating his snacks, started talking of the stall-keeper’s cat.

“You have a cute little pussy, there,” he said to the stall-keeper.

“Yeah, this little cat is my only companions, after my wife passed away,” he replied.

“You know, my wife loves cats and she has been very lonely, since her previous cat died a month ago. In this trip, I have promised my wife, to bring her a cat, if I find one, during my trip. And here you have a lovely cat. Could you be interested in selling your cat, please, for the sake of happiness of my wife ? I know it is your only companion, but could you please agree to sell it to me ? My wife will take good care of him, I promise. You can ask any price for your cat. Please accept my request,” he forced him to accept to sell his cat.

“Oh, sir, you put me in a difficult position. I don’t want to really sell this cat. I talk to him, when I am alone. He has been like a kid to me. But if this cat will make your wife happier, then I might accept to give you…though it’s difficult for me.”

“Oh, thank you so much. Now please tell me how much you want for your cat. I can give five thousand for his cat.”

Paying five thousand was a high price for the cat, but he thought, if he can lure him by giving him some extra money, he will certainly sell the cat and happily give away the golden plate.

But the owner was reluctant. He was not interested to sell for five thousand rupees. He said, “ There was a man who wanted to buy this cat for seven thousand rupees, last week, and I did not sell it.”

“Okay, I can give you ten thousand rupees, and that’s all I have with me now. Are you willing to sell your cat for ten thousand rupees, for the sake of my wife’s happiness, please ?”

“Well… okay then. It’s a very hard decision for me. But I believe this cat give your wife much happiness. So please take him and take a good care of him.”

The traveler was happy inside that he was successful in persuading him to sell him the cat.

Now his real strategy was to get the plate, now that he has got the cat. So he told the stall-keeper. “Thank you, Dai. Both me and my wife will take good care of this pussy. You don’t worry about it. Now some cats will not eat if we change its feeding plate. So, I am sure you will not mind if I take that old feeding plate. I will warp it in a piece of paper and take it with me. Okay Dai ?” he asked.

“Oh, Bhai, Sorry for that !! That plate I cannot give you!!. Because of this Plate, I have sold 5 cats within this month. So please take the cat, but not the Plate.”

           
         The traveler was shocked to hear this!! And was ashamed of how he failed with his strategy and how the stall-keeper had out-smarted him !!!

THE END

Never Lonely Again - A Story

One morning Chestnut stayed in bed longer than usual. He didn't feel like getting up. There was nothing for him to do, and worst of all he had no friends to play with.
"I might as well keep on sleeping," he thought to himself, when suddenly his whole house began to move and shake !!
"An earthquake !!" Chestnut thought, and was wide awake right away.