Story：The boy who played the flute
【明報專訊】There were once three orphaned brothers. When the eldest brother grew up he married a mean wife. The middle brother married a kind one. And the youngest brother, still a boy, married no one.
The eldest brother was responsible for taking care of his younger brothers. But he worked such long hours that the duty fell on his wife's shoulders. She took every opportunity to find fault with the youngest brother. "I've had enough of him," she announced to her husband one day. "It's time he was independent. Hire a kaito (街渡) and dump him on the nearest island."
In order to please his wife, the eldest brother did what she demanded. He ordered a boatman to sail him and his youngest brother to Shek Kwu Chau (石鼓洲). Then, while his brother was exploring the beautiful island, he ordered the boatman to take only him back home. Without even a backward glance, he sailed away.
Meanwhile, the youngest brother had discovered friendly goats, cats and dogs. He gazed out to sea and was amused by the playful pink dolphins and diving birds. Then he walked back to the beach where the kaito had been moored (停泊), and waited, and waited. The sky glowed pink and the sea turned grey before he realised he'd been abandoned.
But the boy was brave and he didn't mind being alone. He ate some fruit and slept curled up inside a cave. The following morning, he played his flute, which he always carried in his pocket. Sometimes he played it all day, with the sunshine glistening on the sea. Goats, cats, cows, dogs, crabs and crayfish gathered to listen. Sometimes pink dolphins peeked from the sea to listen too. So if you happen to be travelling to Macau one day, look carefully, because you may see them all.
(Text edited)
■Pun Choi: a hotchpotch of Chinese folk and fairy tales (See photo)
Author: Jane Houng
Thanks: The Commercial Press, Hong Kong
