Just another fairy tale (1/14)
BEFORE THE TWELVE STROKES
- Narrator: Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived alone with his mother. His father died the same year he was born, so he never knew him... but the boy really didn't care, because his mother loved him enough for both. He was a kind and quiet boy who spent his days alone absorbed by his multiples hobbies: painting, dancing, singing and fishing. It wasn't that the other boys of the village didn't like him, quite the contrary, they thought he was kinda strange, but nobody could ignore his shy smile and cute face, and they loved when he sang or danced for them, so they liked him a lot, but he lived so far from the village that they rarely got to see him. He sometimes wished to have brothers or sisters to play with, but it didn't make him really sad, because he enjoyed his hobbies a lot. But one day, unexpectedly, his wish came true. His mother remarried a merchant who had two sons, younger than him. "I'm going to have two brothers!... And I'm going to be the older one so I'll have to take good care of them!" He thought. How was he going to do that? Never mind, it was the duty of the older brother to look after the younger ones... so he would do his best. And with those thoughts in mind and that determination he went to meet them.
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The curtain opens. The scenery shows a living room with a big fireplace and a round table surrounded by chairs. There is a middle-aged man smiling at a woman and a small child who looks at him timidly.
- Woman: This is my son Ohno, he's a little clumsy but he is a very good child.
The kid greets the man shyly. The man smiles at the boy warmly and shakes one of his hands.
- Man: I'm very glad to meet you, Ohno. Allow me to introduce you to my two sons. Sho, Jun! Come to the living room, please.
Two young boys enter the room. Both are a bit taller than Ohno. One of them looks like a serious and studious boy. The other one is dressed following the latest fashion trends. He plays distractedly with one of his rings (he wears various rings... some of them quite big, as Ohno can't help to notice).
- Sho and Jun's father: Dear sons, you know your new mother already, don't you? Well, she has a son too. He is your new brother, Ohno... Ohno, they are my two sons. Sho is the eldest and Jun is the youngest.
Ohno waves at them smiling timidly from his mother's side. Sho looks at him slightly worried.
- Sho: He is very small, father... does he eat enough?
The man gives Ohno's mother an apologetic look.
- Sho and Jun's father: Um, yeah, don't worry about that, my son. He is only a little... short.
Jun looks hopefully at his father.
- Jun: He is cute... can I keep it, father?
- Sho: He is not a pet, he is a boy, so you can't keep it!
Jun simply sticks out his tongue at Sho. His father seems to be a little confused about the conversation’s development.
- Sho and Jun's father: Err... Yes Jun, my son... He isn't a pet. He is your new brother... He is older than you two, to be exact… By the way, Ohno and his mother will live with us from this moment on. I want you to treat him with respect and affection. Please, show him the house.
The man gives Ohno an encouraging smile.
- Jun: Ok... Can he sleep in my room?
Jun takes one of Ohno's hands between his and begins to drag him towards the door.
- Jun: You will like my room Ohno, I've a lot of wonderful accessories... I'm sure you would look really cute with some of them.
- Sho: Don't be stupid Jun. He will have his own room.
Sho grabs Ohno's free hand.
- Sho: Aren't you hungry, Ohno?. Let me show you where the kitchen is.
The children exit the living room together. The curtain closes.
To the next chapter