I'll never get tired of those pesky little devils singing their morning song every day. To most it's quite the bother but to me, it's a token of remembrance. One of the last things Mother taught me was how roosters knew when to crow. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSLFxIyoOH
As a little bugger, I couldn't grasp how they were always on time daily. Of course, she had to make the concept simple enough for a small child to understand.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZsW8rbZc3
To get past this obstacle, she turned it into a story. In fact, most of her lessons were in the form of stories, which was one of my favorite things about her. She could have made it as a storyteller in the capital if she was lucky enough. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ796KNuPAUV
Mother told me that at the beginning of time, when there was no transition between night and day, roosters were the most annoying beings alive. The only thing they knew how to do was to sing, and their songs weren't even that good.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX291j88MgR
One day, when all the other inhabitants of the earth were completely fed up with their shrill voices, they decided to trick the chief rooster into taking a long journey around the world in search of Dawn, the goddess of early light. The other inhabitants told the rooster that Dawn loved anything that could sing and would greatly reward anyone who could please her, so off the rooster went.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7hpjkeoVj
After travelling for days on end, the rooster met a wise toad. This toad welcomed the rooster into his home and told him that he knew how to find Dawn. The toad explained that the rooster had to stay up all night and wait until he could see Dawn's rosy fingers slowly rising up in the east. Once this happened, the rooster had to sing his best song and continue until Dawn completely came out to reveal herself. The rooster did as he was told and waited for Dawn.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNyA7jtU58
Finally after some time, the timid goddess Dawn came out from behind the darkness of the night and asked who was singing. The toad introduced Dawn to the rooster and a wide smile spread across her face. Dawn decided to make a deal with the rooster. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0QECbK5IZ
Dawn asked the rooster if he would always welcome her into the world with his song and never allow it to be heard by anyone else in exchange for one wish. The rooster agreed under one condition: that Dawn would give him some sort of token so that he could prove himself to the other inhabitants on Earth. She quickly agreed and decided to give the rooster a soft kiss on the top of his head, transferring some of her color and warmth to him. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps6TU6DB2a
With that, the rooster not only had a solution to his troubles with the other inhabitants, but he also gained a wonderful new relationship with the goddess Dawn. This is the story I was taught to explain why roosters crow on time every single day and welcome dawn. I will always cherish this story and retell it for years to come.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXzCbXt9tu
Before I realized what had just happened, I could sense the familiar heavy footsteps that accompanied my ancient guardian as she woke up. It was almost time for morning chores but I was so lost in my thoughts that I got far behind schedule. Naini was going to kill me for this. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpeq1aeRxh
"Ruan!" 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBPAvtUHLV
Damn it. "Coming Naini!" 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOn7YO2usG
I wrapped my hair in a tight knot at the base of my neck and threw on my thick, brown ankle boots under my night clothes, which consisted of a cream-colored tunic over a pair of blue cotton trousers. Running in the opposite direction, I headed for Tua's room. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaWCBUTmjU
Tua was the oldest daughter of one of the former village heads, who Naini took in after an incident involving her family. No matter how vigorously I shook her, this girl would not move. Anyone else would think she was dead.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzFRdHgUh5
"Wake up, you big lump!" 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRo3WfhV2D
A low growl erupted from her throat and with a swatting motion of her hand, Tua flipped over and exploded at me. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMFzqNPYsH
"What? What do you want Ruan?" 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtF4RhTDy5
"I need your help," I begged. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1K4WDGDWx
"Today's your day! What could I possibly do for you?"773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0VLYjXRyT
I shook my head. I don't know what I was expecting. Tua was most difficult in the morning.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT6oXmRAoy
"I need you to distract Naini for me while I start." 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qqNeo5l81
"Start? You mean you haven't done anything yet? Tsk tsk. Laziness at its finest." 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEPHXj8cCf
"You're one to talk," I breathed. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHVrr49o8K
She scowled.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQQniPQCiQ
"Come on Tua," I pleaded. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBiJa0g4KH
Sighing and closing her eyes, Tua said, "Fine, I'll do it. But you owe me one." A wide smirk spread across her chubby cheeks.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKaomUxYng
"Yeah, yeah. Now go!" 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1skb1nA01G
I ran toward the shed while she ran toward Naini. "Morning, Naini!" I heard her call out from the distance. Grabbing the chicken feed, I proceeded to start my morning chores. Feed the animals, sweep the yard, gather water. I repeated the instructions in my head like a mantra. There truly wasn't that much to do. I should be finished in no time. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVwGuU4DQW
As I did my work, I saw Naini and Tua walk around the house from time to time and while I was stuck ducking or quickly running behind something, Tua would sneak a tease behind Naini's back every time without fail. That girl was something else. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd0x0uvNXr
Finally, I was on to my last chore: the water. I grabbed a bucket and carefully ran over to the well in the middle of the back area of the house. Gathering water was my least favorite chore since it required the most effort. Nonetheless, I could handle it. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKaZsyDpug
As I was turning a corner to carry the water over to the kitchen, I was in such a rush that I wasn't thinking clearly and before I could process what had just occured, I tripped on a bush, bumped into Naini, and fell flat on my face, spilling the water everywhere. I was a dusty, wet mess.773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFhc1rFwGq
Tua burst out into a fit of hysterical laughter. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe0sxI3pRq
"Shut up, will you?" I snapped. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUww3gZHMDF
"Don't get mad at her. You're the one who decided to drift away this morning," Naini replied in that ever so sweet voice of her's. "And you wouldn't be so dirty if you swept properly."773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkXyObrNEw
"As for you!" She turned to Tua. "Don't laugh at Ruan like that Tua. This could have very well been you with your sleeping habits."773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdY67YooxO
With that, Tua's smile disappeared. "Yes Naini." 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrGy1hTeKw
"Alright then. Ready to start the day girls?" 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yABe1dCGM
Naini helped me to my feet and knocked me on my forehead. Before I could respond in my shock she said, "That's to remind you to be responsible with your chores." I pouted and rubbed my sore head, while Tua let out a slight snicker, and Naini pinched my cheek with a bright smile of which I returned. 773Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj2794SkSC
We began to walk back to the house and Naini told Tua that since she liked to laugh so much, she can take care of my chores for the rest of the week. Her jaw dropped and it was the most satisfying part of my morning. Let's see who'll be laughing then, I thought.
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