Pig is the planner

It was easy since I was new to planting succulents. There are many kinds of succulents. After discussion, three of us decided to plant mother of thousands because we thought it was easier to plant.

Even though we needed to think of many things to make this business run because there were many sellers selling cacti, including succulents too.

“We need probably more than six months to open a succulent store,” I said.

“During these months, what should we do?” Robert said.

“Waiting,” Crow said.

“I don’t think so. We should do something that helps our business,” Robert said.

“What is your idea?” I said.

“Well, what about promoting it?” Robert said.

“Promote? Do you mean marketing?” I said.

Robert nodded his head.

“It’s good,” Crow said. “There are many succulent sellers, and our business needs six months to open. So we should make a plan on how to promote when our business opens.”

“Great.” I nodded my head. “Who does it?”

Robert and Crow looked at me. 

Pig thinks about another business

Because the market for vegetables was still a challenge, I discussed with Robert and Crow about planting other things. 

“What about cactus?” Crow said.

“Why do you suggest cactus?” I asked.

“I’ve got information that people living in the city, especially those who work in offices, are stressed. Because every day they sit inside the room surrounded by walls and an air conditioner. So, they like to buy small green plants to put on their desks. I searched already; among the plants they like to buy are cacti.”

“But a cactus needs a very long time to grow,” I said.

“We can import them,” Robert said.

“To import them, we need a big sum of money. We don’t have it. Moreover, if one day the importing has a problem, our business will have a problem too,” I said.

“We can plant any kind that grows faster, such as succulents,” Crow said.

“Well,” I thought for a few seconds. “Your idea should be tried. Okay. We will plant succulents.”

 

They will stop asking about my dog

After traveling for half a day, at last we arrived home.

As we opened the gate, Robert said, “Our house is still alive.”

Crow narrowed her eyes, “What do you mean?” 

“I thought the wolf would attack our house, but it seemed the wolf did not.” Robert turned to me, “Perhaps your dog came to look after the house.”

“Yes,” I said, “I sent a message to him before we left.”

“I hope one day I will have a chance to meet him,” Robert said.

“Well, I don’t think so,” I said.

“Why?”

“He is a secret army, the same as my secret place,” Crow said.

Robert wagged his head, “Oh, I see.” 

I didn’t say any word, just smiled. At that time, I looked out of the corner of my eye at Crow. She acted normal, but I could notice her eyes; I felt she knew I lied about the dog. However, I didn’t have any worry because I believed in her that though she knew I didn’t have another dog, she would not utter a word from her lips about this secret.

Crow shares her friends something

What three of us wished during our three-day trip was that we would jump into the sea and hop and do everything we wanted to. But in reality, there were rains—from the day we got out of the house till the day we returned. During the trip, what we did was stay inside the tent, in an old stone house that humans abandoned, cover our bodies with blankets, and watch the sea waves and the dark sky.

However, Robert and I learned a new thing from Crow. She told us about her family. She didn’t tell us in detail, just some short clips of her background. What I was so interested in was when her father told her to have her own place without telling anyone in this life.

“Why did your father tell you to do it?” Robert asked.

“It’s because of my great-grandfather’s experience,” Crow said. 

“Can you tell us?” I said.

“Well,” Crow wagged her head, “my great-grandfather was honest to his crows. He shared with the group everything he knew or did. He even told them about a place he made to hide if he encountered a danger. One day when he was trying to take a piece of meat from a yard, the human threw a stick at him, and he got wounded. He flew to stay in his secret place. While he was curing his wound, a wolf appeared. My great-grandfather struggled very hard to run out of the clutch of the wolf. He wondered how the wolf could find that place because it was so mysterious. Then he remembered he had shared it with his group. After he got well, he searched, and then he found out that there were a few crows in the group; some didn’t like him, and some liked him, but they liked to talk; these two kinds told about his secret place to other groups, and the news was spread till it reached the ears of the wolf. After that experience, my great-grandfather didn’t share all of his information, especially things that were related to safety. And he taught his next generations about it.”

“It means you have your own place where you can go when you meet a danger, don’t you?” Robert asked.

Crow nodded.

“You don’t tell anyone, do you?” I said.

“On the earth, only I know where it is,” Crow claimed.

Robert and I wagged our heads. 

Pig wants to travel

It was evening. Robert lay on the ground, Crow stayed on the table, and I sat in the chair. We didn’t talk about anything, just relaxed.

Then Crow said, “How long do we have to stay in this position?” 

“I don’t know,” Robert said. “Ask Pig.” 

Crow turned to me, and before she asked, I stated, “I’m thinking of travel. Does anyone have any idea of where we should go?” 

“Three of us?” Robert asked.

I nodded.

“Well, let’s go to the sea,” Robert said with a big smile.

“What about you, Crow?” I asked.

“Sea is okay for me,” Crow said.

“Deal. We go to the sea. After tomorrow.”

The two hopped with joy.

Pig is struggling

It has been a few days. I didn’t go to the garden yet. I sat in a chair with my laptop in front.

Robert was discussing with Crow. They looked at me a few times, and then they came to me.

“Hey, we want to ask you something,” Robert said.

“What’s it?” I said.

“Do you quit gardening?” Crow asked.

“Who said?”

“No one said. It’s our opinion because we don’t see you doing anything,” Robert said.

“I am solving my online job issue,” I explained. “I will do it after I solve this.” 

“I see.” Crow nodded. “What is your problem?” 

“Because my video channel doesn’t get many views, the website wants to close my money account. I’m trying to make it work before the end of this month.” 

“What is your account?” 

“I can’t say, but you can see my link if you click on the photo.”

What is happening to pig

Robert came to lay on the ground next to my chair. Crow didn’t join us; she was still sleeping.

It was a cool night. In general I would drink warm tea, but tonight I drank normal water in a glass.

“What are you thinking?” Robert asked.

“Nothing,” I said.

“I feel you are weird these days.”

I looked at him, “Why do you think that?”

Robert looked at me, “You stopped gardening, you partied.”

“I just want to enjoy my life while I can.”

“Why?”

I held the glass and watched the fireflies that were flying before my gate. “What has happened in the world makes me lose interest in doing anything,” I said.

“What about online job? You quit too?”

“I don’t know yet. My ideas and styles were copied. I’m bored of encountering same same situation. I want to take a break to think about what I will do next.”

At that time, the snoring of crow reached our ears. And without waiting, our mouths yawned and immediately we said goodbye and went to our own beds. 

Because pig and friends seem lose from this world

Today, cow, duck and twin pigs came to my house. They wanted to check because they didn’t hear or see I, Robert and crow for many weeks.

At first they just stood outside and looked for us in the garden. When they saw we were not in the garden, they called, “Pig, are you at home?”

No reply. They called again, “Anyone at home?”

Still we didn’t reply. Because we were sleeping. Last night we had a party; we just climbed the bed at 5am.

 

Pig is learning making stopmotion animation

 

“Pig,” crow said, “I heard the giant countries will have a discussion over the tariff.”

“Then?” I said.

“It will make a better thing coming out, won’t it?”

I shook my head, “I don’t know and I don’t want to care.”

“Why?” Robert asked.

“There is nothing better than we can stand by our own,” I stated. “Though thing will be better, no one can guarantee it won’t turn bad in the future. So, I don’t want to care about anything. I just want to make our business’s roots strong, then we can stand, at least we can serve our stomach even if the world is in crisis.”

“You’re right,” Robert wagged his head. 

“So what is your plan?” Crow asked.

“I am learning how to make a stopmotion animation,” I told.

“What is its benefit?”

“I am planning to use it to be an online advertising tool to promote my business and to earn money online as well.”

Robert and crow raised their thumbs, “Good idea.”

Pig doesn’t care about trade war between the giant countries

“Pig,” the crow said when she arrived in my garden, “I heard US and China are putting tariffs on each other. Does it affect your or our business?”

“Why do you care?” I said.

“You don’t care.”

I shook my head.

“Why?”

Robert came near, “Right, why?”

“If I care,  will they stop?”

Both of them shook their heads.

“Correct.” I raised my thumb. “So why should I care? What I need to do right now is to find a way to keep my business and our business safe.”

They nodded, “You’re right.”

 

Robert misses his ex-master but…

It was a cool night. When I got out of the house to relax in a chair in the yard, I saw Robert was laying on the ground next to the chair.

“How are you now?” I asked.

“Not much good, but okay,” Robert said.

“Crow told me you met your ex master.”

“I didn’t meet him. I saw him.”

“Oh sorry. Wrong words,” I said then I applied my butt in the chair.

Robert sighed.

“If you miss him, you can go to live with him. I’m okay with it,” I said.

“No,” Robert shook his head, “I might miss him because he was good to me, but I will not go back to him because he gave up on me when I needed him the most.”

Looking at his facial expression, I could feel the sorrow in his mind.

“He took care of me very well,” Robert stated. “I was so glad at that time. He loved me greatly and I loved him very much. He protected me so I protected him and people he loved. But when I was sick and it was the time I needed him, he didn’t take me to hospital, he didn’t do anything even coming to see me, but he sent me away to the forest and left me to die. That time I was very disappointed; I never imagined he would do this to me. My head recalled the time we spent together, they were all sweet memories but it made me hurt so much. You know, during that period, I was hurt because of the illness, I was very scared as I looked around and saw no one and I thought how I could defend myself if there was a bad wolf or tiger coming to attack me. It was the scariest time in my life and my heart hurt so much that I could not describe.” He paused for two seconds, then he continued, “I confess that I feel pity for him when I see he is aged but still works, but I can’t do anything because it’s his own karma. I stayed with him, I stayed in that house, I stayed with that family, I know what that family is. It’s him himself. He is bossy, he is selfish, he is sabotage. He raised his kids to depend on him. Even though they are adults, he didn’t allow them to live on their own. In conclusion, what he gets is what he created by himself. And now matter what, I will not return to him. Never and ever.”

Why were Robert’s eyes red?

Robert and crow asked me for an evening off. I said okay because they have been working in the garden for many days, they should have time to have fun.

The two went out. Before the sun set, while I was preparing equipment to put in the warehouse, they came back and I saw Robert’s eyes were red. I thought they might had an argument and crow might say something that hurt Robert’s feelings. However, I didn’t want to be the judge. I carried on working on the stuff.

“We didn’t have any argument.”

I was surprised. Crow was standing on the table on my left side.

“We went past his ex-master's house. He saw his ex master. He is thin, old and seems to be sick. Still he works hard to earn money to support his kids who are adults and already married,” she added.

I wagged my head, “I see.”

Even crow can change

It has been a few days already since the crow worked in the garden with us. 

I saw she had her eyebrows tied and she complained but to herself; she never did in front of us.

It looked like she was having a hard time, so I asked her, “Are you okay with it?”

“I’m not okay with it.”

Her answer was frank, I could sense it through her facial expression.

“You can quit.”

“No.” She shook her head.

“Why?”

“Because I want to support my life without flying around to take other human's food.”

Pig cannot defeat human

 

“Oh it is unbelievable that a crow learns how to grow vegetables,” Robert said.

“Do you want to laugh at me?” Crow said.

“No. I just said,” Robert said.

“I don’t care if you laugh at me,” the crow said and turned to me. “What should I start?”

I thought for a moment then I asked her, “What vegetable do you like?”

“I don’t know. I have eaten meat and fruit.”

“Well, you can do some basics, like…” I looked around then I pointed at small pots I put on a wooden table. “Put bell pepper seeds. One seed for each pot.”

“Okay,” the crow said and flew to work on that table.

Robert and I began to make new soil to grow cucumbers. About one minute later, the crow flew to us.

“I finished,” she said.

Robert opened eyes, “Fast,” 

The crow giggled, “I bet we will be the best business men.”

“No, we cannot,” I said.

“Why not?” Robert said.

“Because we are animals. We can do business, but we can’t beat humans. Humans are the best and strongest businessmen in the world.”

“Really?” Crow said.

I nodded, “Yes. They can do every type of business, wood, metal, fire, water, stem, stone, land, sky. Also they can do business by using humans and gods. Even ghosts.”

“Is it true?” Robert and Crow asked.

“Yes, it’s true. They are great businessmen. Nowadays, when a person dies, they will use that case to earn popularity through social media, to sell or promote their product, to gain benefits from socializing for their job and more.”

“That’s what they are doing,” both of them wagged their heads.

Crow is influenced by pig

 

Caw, caw.

I unlocked the door with my eyes open half, “What’s the matter?”

“I didn't come to laugh at you,” the crow said. “I heard the news that the US stopped giving funds and there are a lot of people who are in money trouble, especially NGO. So I think what you have said is correct. We should help ourselves, and should not wait for help from others. I decided to follow your words. And I come to learn from you.”

“It's so nice to hear it, but the sun does not rise,” I said while my mouth was yawning.

“Okay. I’ll be back when the sun rises. See you.”

Pig doesn't believe in humans who do business

Caw, caw.

I opened the door and got out when I heard the sound.

“Good morning, pig,” the crow said.

“Good morning,” I said. “You are friendly to me today. Anything wrong with you?”

“You are smart.” The crow laughed. “I came to laugh at you.”

I raised my eyebrows, “About my online business?”

“You are smart again.” The crow laughed. 

“You can laugh at me, I laugh at myself as well,” I said with a smile.

“I heard it has returned to being active in the US. Are you happy now?”

“I want to clarify. First, I am not living in the US, so it doesn't affect my career. Second, since I am not living in the US, it doesn't affect my career though it is banned or not banned. Third, I don't believe in businessmen at all, so I don't rely on them anymore.”

“Then what will you do?”

“I will create my own castle.”

“How?”

“I don't know yet. I am figuring it out.”

“Okay. I wish you success. Bye. I'm going to find food.” 

The crow flew after she said it.

Human’s mind makes pig scare

“You don’t work tonight,” Robert walked near me.

“I want to take a break to think,” I said.

“What is it?” He said before he sat on the ground next to my chair.

“Recent news about the business conflict between the US and China. It scares me.”

“What do you think?”

“I think we are like rabbits and ants. When the elephants fight, we suffer.”

“So?”

“So, nothing is better than standing strong on our own.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. I am thinking. I just know that I don’t want my business to rely on others, especially those elephants and tigers.”

 

Pig is learning how to make a stop motion video

“What are you doing, pig?” Robert asked.

“I am taking photos,” I said.

“Taking photos of alphabets?”

“Yes.”

“What is it for?”

“To make a stop motion video.”

“A stop motion? What is it?”

“It's a kind of animation video using photos. Let me show you.”

Robert waited till my video was finished.

“Ah I understand,” he said. “It's called a stop motion animation or video. But why do you make it?”

“To promote my website,” I described while I was uploading the video. “Now the business market seems narrow. We need to do something new to promote our business to compete with humans.”

“I see.” Robert wagged his head.

Pig learns how to build a studio

“Pig, where do you come from?” Robert asked.

“I went to the market to buy this box,” I said and showed him.

“What is it?”

“It’s a foam container box.”

“What is it for?”

“Well,” I put it on the table, “I am thinking of building a mini-studio to take photos or film of our product to promote on an online platform. And I decided to use this box to be the studio.”

“Take a photo!” Robert said with a smile. “Interesting.” 

Robert wants to give up

“Good morning,” Robert said.

“Good morning,” I said.

“Last night, you went to bed late. You should sleep more.”

“No need,” I said, then I went to get a shovel and went next to him. “It is enough sleep for me. I can't let you garden alone.”

“I think I am useless. I can't help you,” Robert said in a sad tone.

"Don't say that. You help me a lot.”

“I don't think so. I think I am stupid and dumb. I can't even learn how to write on a blog. I can't be like you.” He dropped his face.

“It's true you can't be like me,” I stated, “and you don't have to be like me. You have to be you.”

Robert raised his face.

“Though you change your face, your body shape or your behavior to be like me, you can't be me. It's impossible, and it's not necessary to do that. What you have to do is you must be you. Trust me.” I put my hand on his shoulder. “Find yourself and be yourself. And I believe you can do it.”

“Um.” Robert nodded his head. His smile came back.