True friend

I did not go into a friend group for several days.

Tonight, I was online. My friends in the group were chatting, but I didn’t join, I just read their chat.

‘I attended Rani’s funeral. Also, her 7 day funeral.’

‘I attended only her 7 day funeral.’

‘I did not see you.’

‘I went in the evening. I took time after I left the office. I felt pity for her.’

‘Yes, I pitied her. She is our friend. She passed away at a young age. So pitiful.’

‘Very sorry about her.’

‘I read her chats in our group. I miss her.’

‘I offered $ 100 to her family.’

‘Yes, I miss her.’

I scanned their photos. I wondered, they were at the funeral, but they smiled when they took photos.

They continued their chatting.

‘I did not see Sopie at the funeral.’

Sopie was my name. They talked about me.  Though I did not chat, I was online. They should see, but because they did not pay attention, they didn’t notice my presence.

‘It is not appropriate. At least, she should go to see friend for the last time.’

‘She did not go to the 7 day funeral too.’

‘Cold heart woman.’

‘We should ask her. Maybe she went but we did not see her.’

‘If she attended, she should have a photo. I did not see her posted photos of the funeral nor in the group. It means she did not attend. I didn’t feel good about her.’

‘Yes, right. She should not call herself a friend of Rani.’

Suddenly, a message appeared in our group. It was from Rani.

I opened my eyes big. How could she write a message to our group? She died already.

I bet my friends were surprised too. They all saw her message. She wrote a long text.

'Dear Sopie,

I write this message for you.

I know you did not attend my funeral and you will not for sure.

Even though I am not angry or upset with you because you are my real friend.

I was sick for months. Only my family knew. I did not tell any friend even you. I felt depressed when I realized my days were numbered. I was scared. I posted many posts. Friends just clicked like or love. Only you, you sent a private message to me, asked me how I was, and chatted with me. 

When I posted a message to the group – that I was not happy – no friend replied to me. Only you. You replied to me, you chatted with me, also you called me and spoke all night. Moreover, you took me out. 

I remember you took me to the Royal Palace because you knew I wanted to see the emerald Buddha statue. It was the greatest day I ever had. 

Then days later, you took me to visit the national museum. You were my guide. I listened to your telling about the museum and statue that you knew; it was very great telling. 

I remember when you took me to have lunch at a restaurant along the river side, near Varin pagoda. We had lunch there and stayed on a hammock, getting fresh air from the river until 4pm then we came back to Phnom Penh. 

I was very glad when you accompanied me to see animation and comedy movies at the cinema. I laughed. I forgot my pain at those moments. 

Every time you came to take me out, you spent. Car petrol, meals and even cinema tickets. I spent less. You spent time with me, cared about me, when I was alive, while other friends think of me when I’m already gone. 

I feel it’s useless when they pray to me and talk with me through the incense. I don’t hear them. I wanted to hear them, to see them when my ears and my eyes were opened, but they did not show up. They did not even take a look or chat with me in group. I don’t feel they are my friends although they attend my funeral or 7 day funeral or offer much money to my funeral. Because I don’t know or hear anything anymore.

Sopie, I want to take this chance to make my last announcement to the group and to our friends that only you are friends with me. And I have no regret knowing you. Also, I leave in peace and rest in peace. You are my friend forever and I believe I am your friend in your heart forever too.

Good bye, Sopie. 

Love you.

From Rani,'

My lips smiled when I read this message and two drops of tear fell down my face. 

Yes, I did not attend her funeral because I felt I have already done enough for her as her friend. I did not want to see her sleeping and cold because I wanted to keep her beautiful smiling and active image, when we had fun together, forever in my mind. I felt peaceful as I learnt she left in peace and I was glad to see her saying she rested in peace.

Rani’s messages were seen by all friends in the group. They were silent. 

Then another message from Rani showed up.

'Hello everyone,

I am the younger sister of Rani. She gave this message, before she died, and asked me to send it to the group on the night of the 7 day funeral.

Perhaps this message scares you. I am so sorry.

My sister told everything about sister Sopie.

My parents and I would like to express great thank to sister Sopie what she had helped my sister while she was in hard time. We really thank you for your kindness and true friendship to our sister.'

After that, Rani’s name was removed – by her sister – from our group.

Pig is writing a short romantic fiction

Crow was still staying in my house; however, she was much better.

After dinner, three of us gathered at the table in my front yard. Robert and crow were playing a ball and I was sitting in a chair and typing.

When they were tired, they came to the table. As Robert saw me typing, he asked, “What are you writing?”

“I am writing fiction.”

“Oh,” he unlocked his eyes, “what’s it about?”

“It’s a romance between a bird and a fish.”

“Do you take inspiration from my romance?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I planned this story a few years ago. I had the story's plot and frame already. I just kept it. After I heard your love story, I remembered this story; so I took it out and decided to write it.”

“Wow, you are good. Can you tell me how you make a bird and a fish love each other? How do you make it start?”

“Well,” I turned to the crow, “Can you tell me what you think when you see a fish?”

“My institution tells me to eat it,” the crow said.

I turned to Robert, “It’s how the story starts.”

“I don’t understand.” Robert shook his head.

“Neither do I.” Crow wagged her head.

I chuckled, “If it is easy to understand, it can't be called a romance.”

Both Robert and crow raised their thumbs up.

 

Can Robert make a female human love him?

The sun was shining. Robert and I were doing a job in the garden. Then…

“Pig,” Robert said in a low pitch.

“Why did you whisper?” I said.

“I want to ask you something.”

“Say it a little bit louder.”

“Well,” he thought for a few seconds, “I want to ask for your advice on what I should do in order to persuade that woman to love me.”

With a blank brain for about five seconds, I stood and looked at him. After that, I opened my mouth, “In general, people who love apples will go to a community of people who love apples. If she is a person who loves a dog, she will love you. However, it is not romance. It is rare for a human to fall in a romantic relationship with a dog unless you are a dog who is good or better than humans.”

“So, what should I do?”

“Only one thing you can try.”

“What is it?”

“Develop yourself - knowledge, competence, ideas etc. If you are a dog but you can take care of her better than a male human can, you might have a chance to win over her heart and make her fall in love with you without caring what other people look at or think about both of you.”

 

Crow is not healed

The hotpot was finished.

“Thanks for dinner,” the crow said. “I am flying back home.” As she finished speaking, she opened her wings and flew.

Bang.

She fell on the ground. Robert and I ran to carry her, “Are you okay?”

“What’s happened?” She asked.

“You flew in the wrong direction. It’s the door to my house.” I pointed to the door.

“Oh,” the crow looked at the door and looked in the opposite direction and wagged her head. “I'm confused.” She got up. “Bye bye, good night.” She opened her wings and flew.

Bang again.

Robert and I ran to stand by the fence and asked, “Are you fine?” 

“I’m fine, but what’s that?”

“It’s a tree. You hit the tree,” I told.

“What’s happened to me?” The crow covered her wings on her head.

“I think you are not yet well. You better stay here.”

“Well,” she thought for a few seconds then she nodded, “okay.”

“I have free space in the house. You can sleep there.”

“I can sleep on the tree’s branch,” the crow said.

“It’s dangerous.”

The crow giggled, “I am crow. Only a wolf, fox or tiger will be able to hurt me. However, there is Robert. They don’t dare to come.”

“Yes, you are right; but it is double safe if you stay inside the house.”

Robert nodded his head, “Pig is right.”

Knowing that she could not refuse, the crow agreed to stay inside my house.

Golden fur heron

written by Chakriya PHOU

There was a heron living by a pond. It had magical golden fur which could double the amount of things. The heron usually gave its golden fur to lion, rat and ant. Each got one fur per day.

One day, the heron fell sick. Golden fur became normal fur; moreover, the fur fell off of the heron’s body.

Three animals heard about the poor heron.

Ant thought, “I am a small animal. I cannot help. So, I better help myself.”

And the lion thought, “I am kind enough to let it live.”

Only rat brought food to feed the heron. It did everyday without complaint until the heron got well. 

After the body was free from illness, golden fur came back. Heron decided to fly away. Before it moved, it gave lots of golden fur to the rat to pay for its kindness.

Lion and ant heard that the heron had golden fur again; hence, they quickly came to ask for golden fur but they could not meet even a shadow of the heron. The two went back home sadly.

As for rat, it lived happily with full food forever.

 

Hotpot night

In the front yard, I sat on a chair, Robert sat on a chair and crow sat on the table. We were having soup.

“Thanks Robert,” crow said.

“Why did you thank him?” I asked.

“Because of him, I can join the two of you tonight.”

I looked at Robert. He didn’t say a word and pretended to focus on taking beef from the soup pot.

“I am who invited you to this dinner and I am the one who prepared all of these. Why didn’t you thank me?”

“Because you were the one who caused me this,” the crow said and pointed to her forehead that was wrapped.

“Why me?” I asked.

“At that time, I was flying back home then I saw Robert was arrested, so I hurriedly flew to tell you but you didn’t wake up. You know I knocked on your door for more than ten minutes, but you were so lazy. Because I was frustrated, I decided to hit the door on purpose to break it into to wake you up. And it caused me this.” She pointed to her forehead again.

I looked at Robert, “You see? It’s the cons of being in love. I am innocent, but now I turn out to be a bad guy.”

Robert showed me a grin, “This is your favorite meatball.” Then he put it in my bowl.

What could I say? Nothing besides, “Let's forget it.”

Robert is arrested

In the early morning, I heard bang bang on my house's door. When I opened it, I saw the crow was laying on the ground.

“What’s happened?” I asked.

The crow covered her wing on her forehead and said, “Your dog was arrested. I came to inform you.”

I was surprised to hear that, “What was  going on?” 

“I don’t know. Go to ask him yourself. He is in the police station in the village.”

Quickly, I ran to the police station. When I arrived, I asked for the cause of arrest. After I heard the story, I was mind boggling. 

It started before the sun rose. An owner of a farm heard his chicken crying, so he went to check and saw Robert was inside the pile of dry hay in front of the chicken cage. The owner of the farm thought Robert wanted to steal his chicken, so he called for police to arrest him. 

When I asked Robert, he said that he ran following a car, but because last night, there was rain, the road was muddy. As he was running, he slipped and went to hit the pile of dry hay in that farm. He tried to explain, but the owner of the farm didn’t believe him, so he called the police and he got arrested.

Though the misunderstanding was solved, I had to pay the bail.

Along the way home, I asked Robert, “Why did you chase that car?”

Robert dropped his face down and stayed silent for a few seconds. Then he raised up his eyes and said in a tone of shy, “She was inside that car. I heard she would go back to her hometown, so I ran after her on purpose to tell her about my heart.”

I cocked my head and unlocked my mouth big, “Because of a female?”

Robert expanded his lips in a manner of shyness.

“Robert, I don’t mind if you love someone, but that one is human, not a dog.”

“I know. I don’t want anything from her. I just wanted to tell her how I feel about her.”

“Oh god.” I looked up at the sky and shook my head. “Love is strong. It can make not only humans but also dogs become a blind and a dumb.”