The Curious Troll
An Aesop’s Fable
by Jim Veary
Just on the border between the land of Neverwas and the kingdom of Everafter stood an ancient stone bridge spanning a swiftly flowing emerald river. Beneath the stone bridge lived a troll even more ancient than the stones that formed the roof of his home. The troll, named Villanto had no purpose beyond observing the travelers who passed above his head. He spent endless hours studying the people who crossed his bridge and learned a great deal about humanity. He saw the good and the bad in people and learned every nuance of human nature.
On a particularly slow day the troll spied a father and son approaching and scrambled to the ramparts of the bridge to better observe their passing. But the bridge was wet and slippery with moss and mold and the troll, growing old and less agile then he was only a hundred years ago, lost his grip and fell into the river. Though he was able to swim, he floundered and cried out for help, hoping to test the mettle of the passing couple. The father and son saw his plight and took pity on him, joining forces to rescue him from a watery demise.
The troll was grateful for their efforts and, being a magical troll offered them a boon. “For your kind deed I offer you each a choice between your deepest desire or your greatest need.”
The father and son, a child of twelve, discussed this offer between themselves. “How will you know our greatest need or our deepest desire?” asked the father.
“I am a student of mankind and I am quite able to see into your heart,” answered the troll.
“Then we choose our deepest desires.”
“So be it.” gurgled the troll, who nodded and turned back to his dank, dark home.
“But wait,” said the man. “Nothing has changed. We did not receive our deepest wishes.”
The troll smiled. “But you did.,” He nodded toward the man, “You were once this child and your deepest desire was to be your father. And so you now are just that. And you, “ indicating the child, “ were the father, wishing only to enjoy the innocence of your son.”
“But we have no memory of being father or child.”
“Of course not. The memories would have stolen the joy of innocence and the pleasures of adulthood . One cannot be a child with the memories of a man, nor can a man be the adult without experiences of growing older.”
The troll looked into their faces and saw their disappointment. “You risked your lives to save mine so I will give you each what you most needed and be done with it. Would that please you?”
The man and child both nodded agreement.
The troll nodded and turned back to his bridge. Once again the man spoke.“ Kind troll, begging your pardon, but you have promised us our greatest need and still nothing has changed.”
The troll nodded back. “Good man, you are once again the father and this is once again your child and this has always been your greatest need, not to be one another, but to have one another. Count your blessings and continue on your way, knowing that your greatest fortune is always at your side.”
I am a retired Fire Chief from Bridgeport Connecticut, now living in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, far from snowy New England. I am also a licensed pilot, and build and fly radio-controlled airplanes as a hobby. I have been previously published in “Kidz-N-Maine,” a magazine for families and children, as well as Long Story Short (May 2010, July 2010, Aug 2010, Sept 2010, and February 2011) and “The Oasis”, a short story anthology (March 2010). Contact Jim.
