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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbcn0aXkxz
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.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zioHNKzxI
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0TygLp1ht
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.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQdqlG51bR
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.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi22vnCAni
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.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jHyto1YVx
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBLeBgB0a4
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs32QXDU3Ba
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.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqxV4YsEyt
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuJeez6M51
"Ruan!" 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwDZXGx2tm
Damn it. "Coming Naini!" 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcJqhb5RIw
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6bRYR5G9p
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.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Zjc1OXDSq
"Wake up, you big lump!" 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD61vTeEoLI
A low growl erupted from her throat and with a swatting motion of her hand, Tua flipped over and exploded at me. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2naQ6vS4le
"What? What do you want Ruan?" 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsluYOa5Vd
"I need your help," I begged. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDooNbq9zIc
"Today's your day! What could I possibly do for you?"756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV06jFzfpL0
I shook my head. I don't know what I was expecting. Tua was most difficult in the morning.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnFvCya2Io
"I need you to distract Naini for me while I start." 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kFr9ui7Xw
"Start? You mean you haven't done anything yet? Tsk tsk. Laziness at its finest." 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IVcJRRdOy
"You're one to talk," I breathed. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEXwVyqs5R
She scowled.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdznekxSH4A
"Come on Tua," I pleaded. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfJpLbEM7t
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.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI0hKdFEM8
"Yeah, yeah. Now go!" 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7dZhGnLEY
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw9oCG3O72
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcvKy4MFN4
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalhAsDFfpR
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.756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AWCR8ENUt
Tua burst out into a fit of hysterical laughter. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcwnWNZbG2
"Shut up, will you?" I snapped. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdRugMliBI
"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."756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhfwf3uj2l
"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."756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hjktoNYuz
With that, Tua's smile disappeared. "Yes Naini." 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaRyLPfRzu
"Alright then. Ready to start the day girls?" 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTQS027QCB
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. 756Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjuGkZh8rA
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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