More and more people are
coming
to
the land of
no names.
The
older citizen of Land of
no Names
felt that
they were not
wanted anymore.
Even though they felt
that way,
they
continued to
do their
chores and works
without
complaint.
One
day, there
was news blowing across
the land of
no
names that the
powerful king is
planning to
take over
the Land of
no Names.
“Did
you heard the news, John?”
asked
Matthew as
they were walking towards
the field.
“What
news?”
“That
the Northern King is
coming
to
take over
the land?”
“Really?”
“Yes
and it going to
impact us
big time John.”
“What
do you mean?”
“The
new king said the land
has
more people than
what it can
offer.”
“So?”
“So there will be
some people
who will
ask to
go.”
“Go? Go
where?”
asked John.
He looked worried.
“I
don’t
know.
They will
simply choose
the one they
don’t
want and
out
you go.”
“Hmmm…
you are
pulling my
leg,
right Matthew?” John
stopped walking.
Matthew
just shook his
head and continued
to
walk towards his
house.
John
quickened his
steps to
join Matthew.
Suddenly Matthew
stopped and turned
his
body to
look at his
corn fields.
The
vast field was
his
property,
and he didn’t
want
to
leave the field.
“What
if the king chooses me?”
He mumbled.
“I
don’t
want to
leave,”
he shouted
and quickly turned and walked
to his
house.
John
was surprised to
see Matthew’s
behavior.
“Aahhh… don’t tell
me that the rumor is true?” said
John softly.
Now he’s worried. He also
didn’t want to leave this place,
the place where
he learned his trade, the place
where he met
his wife, the place where his children
grew up.
He walked to his slowly, thinking about what to do if
the new is right.
He needed to have plans if
the king asked
him to leave. Upon reaching
his house, John quickly called his wife.
“Sarah honey! Sarah!” John walked
to the kitchen where he normally
found his wife.
“Oh dear! Sorry.... didn’t here
you”
Sarah quickly went to get John a glass of water. John who was
sitting at the dining table quickly drank
the water.
“Thanks honey.”
“What’s up dear? You looked worried.”
“Hmm… Matthew told me that
there’s a rumor going around that the land will be taken
over by a new king. More people will have
to leave the land.”
“What are we going to do John?”
“We need to plan, Sarah. We need to make
sure that we
have something that we can use when
we leave the
land.”
“What about the land, John? This is our forefather’s lands. It has so
many memories.” Sarah wanted to cry.
“Sarah, this is just a rumor. Let’s think
of our plan and execute it if
it happens.” Sarah nodded her head in agreement to what John’s said.
Somewhere in Matthew’s house,
the house was
noisy. As usual
his young kids were in the house
playing. Matthew sat at the chair in the living
room, looking outside through
the window. He sighed, thinking
his future. He didn’t want to leave.
While he was
watching the fields, Jane came out from the kitchen with a glass of water. She
stopped when she saw Matthew was
not his self. ‘What happened’
wondered Jane.
“Hi honey!” Jane greeted Matthew cheerful
and gave Matthew a kiss on his cheek.
“Hi!’ he replied softly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just tired.”
“Hmm… Why don’t you rest first before dinner? It will be ready in twenty minutes.” Jane rubbed Matthew’s shoulder. Matthew nodded.
“Kids,” called Jane, “quiet, please. Daddy’s tired and need some
rest.”
Jane went to the kitchen to prepare for dinner. Matthew continued to look outside thinking about his future.
Few months later,
the rumors became true. One district after another has been asked
to select who should be asked to leave the
congested and overpopulated
Land of No Names. Matthew and John were
worried that they would be selected.
“I don’t want to go, John.”
“Ha? You don’t want to go?”
“No. I love this place, and I don’t
think I can be apart from it.”
“Matthew, if you are selected you have
no choice. You
have to go. They will be paying you and you
can start a new life outside this Land of No Name.”
“Do you want to go John? Really going?”
Matthew asked.
“I am ready Matthew. I have made plans with Sarah what we going
to do and where?”
Matthew was shocked to hear that John has planned. He never
knew that John and Sarah, their good neighbor, has some planned if they
selected.
“It is not too late to start thinking what
you want to do,” said John softly to Matthew.
Matthew nodded and quickly went back
to see Jane. He knew that he
needed to discuss with Jane
on their future. Upon reaching
his home, he stopped at the door.
Slowly he raised
his hand and twisted the knob,
at the same time thinking on his plan.
He went to the
kitchen where Jane usually was. Slowly
he walked to Jane. Jane, who was very
engrossed in kneading the flour, was
shocked to see Matthew. Normally, Matthew would still be at
the field.
“What’s wrong baby?”
“Hmm… Did you hear anything
about people was asked to leave Land of No Name?” asked Matthew.
“Yup I did. Why?” asked Jane.
“What if, we are selected to be the one?”
“Oh… just pack our things and go.”
“Go where and what to do?”
“Matt, I knew you are worried about this. I have already contacted
my sister in the North. Her husband has a mill, and if we want to, we can join
them.”
Matthew’s spirit went up. At least his wife
has some planned, and now he
can breathe easily.
“Thank you dear” Matthew gave his wife a kiss.
As Matthew came out from his house, he heard
someone called his name. He turned and
saw Gabriel.
“What’s up, Gab?”
“Hmm… I heard there’s a rumor.”
“What rumor?”
“The one that anyone of us can be asked
to leave this place.”
Matthew nodded.
“I’m scared. I’m not ready Matt.”
“Pray that you are not selected.” Matthew turned toward the field.
Gabriel sighed.
“Gab, one more thing. Start planning for
other thing if you are selected,”
shouted Matthew.
Two weeks later, the King called them to the castle. John, Matthew, Richard,
and Thomas were called. All four knew
that they were
the selected one.
“Dear all,” said the king, “You knew why
I called you here, right?”
"Yes said John. The rest nodded.
“The new ruler wanted the piece
of your lands. They wanted to build a new castle for
the king. You
will be paid for the lands.”
“How much, sir?” asked
Thomas.
“A lot. Will a pouch of gold coins enough?”
He showed a medium size of pouch
that has been filled with money.
The king asked his general to hand the
pouch to the four of them.
There were names written on the pouch.
The four opened the pouch and
smiled. It was
more than enough to last for few
generations.
“Thank you sir,” the four said at once.
“Oh ya… you have, until the end of the
month to move out.”
The king reminded
them.
They rushed home and told
their wives. Everyone was happy. Who
have thought that their land would purchase such a fortune?
But they didn’t
know that each
of them received different amount. It depends on the size and
location of their land, but whatever it is, it is more than enough.
Gabriel upon hearing that
Matthew and John were selected was relieved.
His name was not mentioned, and he
could continue with his life.
Gabriel went to see Matthew.
“Matt, I heard the news.”
“Yup Gabriel. I was selected,
but I’m very
happy. It gave
me an opportunity for me to do other things.”
“You are not sad, Matt.”
“I am, but life has to go on,” said Matthew with a satisfied and happy
grin.
“All the best mate.”
“You too.”
Finally, the time has come. Everything that they wanted
has been loaded into the wagon. The
kids and the
wives had said
goodbye. Matthew and John for
the last time
stood together looking at the fields
which they have been doing since they
were small.
“I’m going to miss this place,”
John said softly.
“Me too. There are too many memories.”
“Yup. Matt, did you remember when we
first played in the corn fields?”
“Hmm… when we couldn’t find our way home
where our parents and the neighbors
have to help to look for us.” Matthew laughed.
They stood there
reminiscing the old days remembering
all the important events that happened to them. They were silent.
No words could describe how the
felt. For the
last time, they
looked at the place knowing that,
it won’t be there anymore. Their
houses and fields
would be replaced by big castles.
Sara and Jane, who watched from the wagon,
walked to their husband. They stood beside their husbands. Holding hands and saying
goodbye to the place that has
served them.
“Good bye, but forever you will stay in my hearts.”
It’s only one week and I kind of lost track of days. For
past three days, I thought it was Saturday. Three days ago, I went to hospital thinking it was Friday
and when the nurse told me it was Wednesday, it took sometimes for me to
register it is not Friday yet. I’m afraid that by end of January, I might
totally forget the day and date. 
