Foolish Traveler

Bismillaahirrahmaanirrahiim

This is the story of the most foolish traveler in the world. Once upon a time, long long long time ago, there was this foolish traveler, who had gone on a journey. Why was he foolish? Well because he was fooled by everyone he met.

The Most Foolish Traveler - Credit

“Please, give me some money for medicine.” said an old lady.

And he gave money to her. Everywhere he went people made up all kinds of sad stories to tell him, and the traveler fell for every one of them.

“Help me, I have a sick younger sister.” a little girl said to him.

“I don’t have money to buy seeds to plant in my fields.” a man said to him.

And he gave to them each something of his. Pretty soon his money, his clothes, even his shoes had been cheated away from him. But the foolish traveler was always glad to help, and he always told people the same thing. He said, “I wish you happiness.”

I wish you happiness - Credit

But by this point though, the traveler was completely naked without clothes. And because with nothing left to cover himself, he decided to leave the main road and travel through the dense forest, where no one could see him. Soon he was discovered by the goblins that lived in the woods. The goblins wanted to eat the traveler’s body. So they begged, they pleaded, and they used kind words to try and trick him. Of course, the traveler was fooled. 

First he let the goblins eat one of his legs, then an arm, then more and more. Before it was over, all the traveler had left was his head. He’d even given his eyes away to the last of the goblins. And as that last goblin was eating the traveler’s eyes, he turned and said “Thank you traveler, in return I leave you this present."

I leave you this present - Credit

What the goblin left was a slip of paper with the word "fool" written on it. The traveler couldn’t see it, he didn’t know what it was, even so, tears began to float of his face.

“Thank you.” he said.

“This is the first present anyone’s ever given me. I’m so happy, I’m so happy. Thank you.” Even without his eyes, he cried and he cried great tears of joy. Then eventually the traveler died… the smile is still on his face.

***

I feel so sorry for him, see… lost, hardship, things like that, you can’t really focus on them. The traveler didn’t, he never thought about his own troubles at all. I imagine that it probably does sound foolish to some people, but not to me.

I don’t think he’s foolish at all, even though other people would probably think he was being tricked. I don’t think he was. I think he did exactly what he wanted to do… I think more than anything, he just wanted to make other people happy.

(Another tale from Momiji at Fruits Basket)