The Foolish Traveler

Once upon a time, there was a foolish traveler who had gone on a journey. Why was he foolish? Well, because he was fooled by everyone he met.

“Please, some money for medicine…?” an older woman asked while letting out a few fake coughs. Everywhere he went, people made up all sorts of sad stories to tell him, and he fell for each and every one.

“I’m so cold but I have nothing to shield myself from the cold with.” A young woman cried.

“I have no money for seeds to plant in my fields.” A farmer told him. Pretty soon his money, clothes, and even his shoes had been cheated away from him. But the foolish traveler was always glad to help. He always told the people he met the same thing. He said: I wish you happiness.

But by this point, the traveler was completely naked. With nothing to cover himself, he decided to leave the main road and travel through the dense forest, where no one could see him… But soon, he was discovered by the goblins that lived in the woods. They wanted to eat the traveler’s body, so they begged and pleaded, and used kind words to try and trick him… Of course, the traveler was fooled. The goblins used their dark magic to prevent the traveler from dying. First he let the goblins eat one of his legs, then an arm. Then more and more…

Before it was over all the traveler had left was his head. He had even given his eyes to the last goblin. As that last goblin was eating the traveler’s eyes, he turned to him and spoke.

“Thank you, traveler. In return, I leave you this present. You are most deserving.” What the goblin left for the traveler was a single slip of paper with the word 'Fool' written on it. The traveler couldn’t see it; he didn’t know what it was. Even so, tears began to flow down his face.

“Thank you,” he said. “This is the first present anyone has ever given me. I am so happy. Thank you!” He cried and cried great tears of joy. The traveler cried and cried, he cried tears of blood until the magic finally wore off...and soon he died with the smile still on his face.

And that's the end of the story. Right after we heard that yesterday, all of the other kids in the class started making fun of the traveler. But while they did that, I closed my eyes and thought about him a little bit longer. I thought of how he gave everything away, until all he had left was his head, and how at the end, he still cried for joy as he said thank you. And then I realized...I feel so sorry for him. See? Flaws, hardship...things like that? You can't ever focus on them. The traveler didn't. He never thought about his own troubles at all. I imagine that it probably does sound foolish to some people, but not to me. I don't think he's foolish at all. Even though other people probably think he was being tricked, I don't think he was. I think he did exactly what he wanted to do. I think, more than anything, he just wanted to make other people happy. ...Is that foolish? When you close your eyes and think about it, is that what it was?