Little Unku

This is a story of little Unku. Unku lived in the desert, with his tribe. The tribe had been together for many years and everyone took care of everyone else. If a member of the tribe was hungry, his neighbor would feed him. Is someone needed clothing, that was offered, too. They were a happy people, who lived off the land for their food, and collected water from a well.

One day, Little Unku and his father went out hunting. Unku liked hunting with his father. They would leave their village for days at a time, eat berries and wild roots, catch game, and camp under the stars, eating what they collected that day. Unku's father was a brave man, a fierce warrior, and a loving parent. Since Unku's mother had passed away the year before, his father now had to be both father and mother to little Unku.

Each night, before they went to bed, they would chant before going to sleep. Unku never really understood the words they chanted, but they sounded like words his father would use, only longer, and more musical. Little Unku would try to copy the sounds his father chanted, which often put a smile on his face. Unku's father would teach him how to live off the land, tell him stories about his ancestors, and pass on wisdom.

The night was overcast, Although it was dark, Unku could see the clouds floating above. Little Unku asked his father about the words he used when he chanted. His father said, "I am talking to your mother. She is up there, watching us." He pointed to the sky.

"Can she hear you?" little Unku asked

"Yes, she can. And she can even hear you when you chant with me."

Little Unku liked that and began chanting lightly under his breath. "Papa," he asked, "can she see us?"

"Yes, she can, Unku."

"Why can I not see her?"

"You can see her, son. When you wake up and see the sun, that is your mother smiling at you and keeping you warm on the cold mornings. She was always a happy woman and always had a smile on her face. It does not rain much here, but, when it does, it means she is crying, and when you are asleep, she looks at you through the stars."

That made Unku happy. He kept trying to sneak a peek between the clouds to see if a star would emerge. Every time he saw one, he would say, "There she is, Papa! Now she's over there! She's everywhere!"

His father said, "Your mother was a strong woman. She was the best wife a man could have and the best mother a child could hope for. I miss her very much." With that, Unku's father shut his eyes tight to compose himself. Little Unku looked over at him and could see a tear squeezing out of the corner of his father's face by the light of the campfire.

A raindrop fell on Unku's leg and he looked up. "Papa, it's raining. It has not rained for many months. I think Mama is crying, too."

"She is crying because she misses you, Unku," said his father. "It is getting late now. We should sleep." Within minutes, his father was fast asleep, but little Unku could not sleep. He wondered because it very rarely rained that it meant his mother did not miss him as much as he missed her. Unku closed his eyes tight, and like his father, a tear rolled down his cheek. He chanted softly and fell asleep.

The next morning, Unku asked his father if his mother really missed him. "Yes, Unku, she misses you very much."

"Then why does it never rain, Papa? Did I make her mad? Have I disappointed her?"

"Of course not, Unku," his father replied. "You could never disappoint your mother. She loves you more than anything in this world." His father pointed to a puddle. "Do you see this puddle? It is full of her tears she cried for you last night, Unku."

Unku looked at the puddle and wondered if his mother's tears filled up that puddle. He thought that all the tears he had cried for her would be 100 times bigger than this little puddle and told his father so. He was sad and angry. Unku's father paused and looked at his son. Although he was still young, Unku had grown so much since his mother died. Unku did not know what his father was thinking, but he kept looking at him and eventually a smile came over his father's face.

"We were going to return to the village today, but I think you are big enough," his father said.

"Big enough for what, Papa?"

"I am going to show you how much your mother really loves you." With that, they packed up camp and began walking west. They walked for a day. Then another. Then another. They had plenty of food, and they were able to drink from the cactuses along the way. Little Unku kept looking to the skies to see if it would rain, but no rain fell. He looked on the ground for puddles, but there were none. Unku's little legs began to tire. They ached with every step he took. That night, Unku said, "Papa, I'm tired. My legs hurt. I don't want to walk anymore."

His father said, "You will not have to walk tomorrow. I will carry you, and I promise you, tomorrow, you will see how much your mother loves you." With that, little Unku fell asleep.

The next morning, Unku awoke to his father sitting on a nearby rock, chewing on a root. He offered a fresh root to Unku, who loved imitating his father. He laughed at Unku, who was not prepared for the bitterness. His father said, "Come on. It's time, Unku." With that, he hoisted Unku onto his shoulders and started to walk West again. Unku liked the view from up top. He could see everything and his legs felt better already. He could also see they were approaching a hill - a hill with no land on the other side of it.

His father stopped. He lifted Unku from his shoulders and set him on the ground. He grabbed his hand, knelt down, and said, "Now, Unku, I am going to show you how much your mother really loves you." They walked to the top of the hill. "Close your eyes, son." He closed his eyes tight. They walked a few steps further. "Now open your eyes, Unku."

Below them stirred the ocean. Vast, wide, and with no end in sight. Unku squeezed his father's hand. "I understand now, Papa. I understand," the tears streaming down his cheeks. His father clutched his son to his chest. "I know you do, Unku. Your mother loves you very much."

And then, it started to rain