This is in response to @wrestlingdesires' invitation.
The Ring
One summer afternoon, when I was seven years old, I was on a hammock under a huge tree. The cool breeze whistling around the shade was lulling me to sleep. My heavy eyelids were about to succumb to slumber when a branch nearby shook.
Sitting on a branch was an eagle, eyeing a hen with her chicks just next to me. The hen was raking the leaves on the ground, looking for worms-- maybe. I wasn't sure.
"Oh, my gosh!"
I was about to get off the hammock when my grandmother's voice stopped me.
"Don't worry," she said. "The eagle won't eat her."
"How about the chicks?"
"They could be his victims, but--" she smiled at me. "He just wants to make sure that she finds his ring first."
"His what?" I gave Grandma a querying look. Her laughter cracked the silent afternoon.
"A long time ago, a hen and an eagle were in love with each other. They were so in love that the eagle proposed to the hen. She gladly accepted the ring and wore it anywhere she went." Grandma paused, searching my face for whatever reaction I might hold. "Do you want me to continue, dear?"
I nodded.
"One day, the eagle told the hen that he needed to leave for the meantime. But he promised that once he returned, they would get married. So, the eagle left, and the hen continued with her routine, still showing off her ring to other fowls in their area." Grandma glanced at the hen, then at the eagle before she continued.
"Days turned to weeks, and weeks to months but the eagle hadn't shown up. The hen was getting disheartened and hopeless, not to mention humiliated because of the mockery she received from the others. On one of those bitter days, a rooster fell in love with the hen and asked her to marry him as soon as possible. To regain her confidence and restore her image, she readily agreed. But the rooster has one condition--"
"What is it, Grandma?"
"He told the hen that since they were to get married, she had to throw the eagle's ring away. The hen didn't think twice. She pulled the ring out and threw it as far as she could."
"That was sad. What happened to the eagle then?"
"One day, he returned. He was searching everywhere for his beloved hen, only to find her happily married to the rooster with their chicks. He was furious. 'How dare you betray me!' The eagle crowed. ' I gave you a ring as a promise of marriage, but you married another!' The hen apologized several times, but the eagle wouldn't listen. ' As a punishment for your betrayal, I curse you to rake every day for the rest of your life until you find my ring! And in return for your unkindness, I will forever hunt your chicks with that roster!' After saying that, the eagle flew away."
"That was an awful curse."
"Yes, indeed."
This is supposed to be a short story. 😅 I apologize it has been lengthy.
