Amuma's tales for the child-like: The Moon's story (Part 1)

Once upon a time, there was a very old lady called Amuma. No one knew her but she knew everyone.

She had been walking the earth for as long as she could remember, wandering from one place to another. She sought no one and nothing. Her life was not a search. She lived to give and she had plenty to give. No, not sweets or biscuits. Not flowers. No, not dolls or clothes; but a gift no less. She told stories, and how she told them!

One day I asked her, 'Amuma! If you are as wise as you look, tell me, how did the moon come about?' And she said to me,

"Long ago in a cottage by a river called Jeevan, there lived a mother. The mother had two daughters. The elder one was a very plain looking girl. when she was born her mother suffered a painfull labour, and when she finaaly saw her baby, she was surprised at how plain the child was. So she shed a tear of dissapointment. She said, 'I have heard it said that all parents find their own ofspring very beautiful. But my baby is so plain that even all my love for it cannot hide it's plainness from me. How much more must it's plainness be apparant to others who do not love it so!' She shed another tear. 'I will call it Ansoo.' The mother loved Ansoo and gave her everything she needed. Ansoo was, however, very slow to grow, to understand things and slow to respond.
After a year or two, the mother had another child. It was an easy delivery. The child was a marvellous beauty. She had eyes that shone with enthusiasm. Everyone around came to look at the new- born child. They widened their eyes and congratulated the mother. Even nature, they said, must be amazed at this child. Look how her skin glows! It seems she is made of silver. So they called her Chaandi. The mother was happy. Then she noticed the older child who stood alone by the corner. The crib of the new- born attracted everyone like flies to milk, but no one as much as noticed the older child by the corner. The mother's heart cried out at this unfairness.
(to be continued)