Grandma and Grandson

Cambodian folk tale

This is one of my favorite story. I remember when I was young my mom told me a lot of stories. But this one is really touch in my heart. My mom told me that " To be a man you have to learn from everything around you. You must learn to control your mind, to cultivate it, and make it calm. Remember son your school is everywhere, and everyone is your teacher." You may think this story is just a simple story to you, but for me it is really amazing story. I tried to write it in English, so there must be a lot of mistakes. I hope you guy will not mind about my writing. I am really appreciate to see your comment, and your correction. Ah! anyway, don't you think my language today is like a kid.........hahahha, I try to be a 9 years old boy again when I write this story up.....Alright, I hope you enjoy it.....

Grandma and Grandson

Once up on the time there was an old lady living in a small village. All her children had got married and left her alone in a small hut. One day one of her son came to visit her with his wife and his little son. They asked grandma to look after their son for them as they going to leave for their business for several days. The parents bought the beef for grandma to cook for the kid, and they told grandma that it is a favorite food of the kid. So the grandma agreed with them.

She took a good care her grandson as if he is her own son. She always grills the beef for kid for his eating. She did everything according to the young boy wish. The little boy always asked his grandma to play with the others in the village, and he would come back whenever he feels hungry.

Once day, when the boy has gone with the other kids as usual, the old lady began to do her work. It has been for a while; the old lady looked at the time and knew that the boy would return back soon. So she started to cook for her lovely grandson. She grilled one piece of the beef for him as she was told by his parents. Soon later the boy was arrived, and so the conversation began:

Grandma: Oh! My dear, are you back?

The boy: Yeah, I Am( he sounded seem very hungry than usual).

Grandma: Are you hungry?

The boy: Where is my food? Where is my beef? (He did not answer the question).

Grandma: Yeah, my dear! Your beef is on the stove. Can you go and bring it to the table.

And so the boy went on toward the stove. When he arrived there he noticed that his beef was smaller than usual. He became very angry at his grandma. He thought that, his grandma must has been eaten his beef. So he took it toward the old lady, and asked her “Did you eat my beef?” The grandma replied “No dear! I did not eat yours.” The boy became very mad, and did not listen to his grandma words. He ran quickly outside the house, and returned back with the big bamboo stick in his hand. Without asking for any reason, he hit the old lady to dead.

After that he began to eat his food. As he ate it, he could not finish all of his beef, and his stomach was full of food. The feeling of anger was gone away as he had finished his eating. He cannot eat all beef, and suddenly he began to know that there was not his grandma’s fault. He ran with tear in his eyes toward his grandma. He shook her body with the loud voice “Grandma wakes up! Grandma gets up! It is not your fault. It is my fault. I am sorry! When he was kneeled down in front of his grandma body, there was one bird flied over and landed on the branch of the tree close to the window. “It leathered! It leathered! It leathered! (When it cries, its sound is similar to some words in Cambodian). When he heard the sound of that bird his heart was swelled with sorrow. Now he understands everything. He was very regret for what he has done to his grandma. Finally, he understood that he was lost his mindfulness, and let the anger to dominate him. He said loudly to himself “Because of anger I caused thy dead; Because of greed I have lost you. Grandma I am sorry.”