Fiction: Group 4
“When we got out into the fields, he proposed that we have a competition. I’d never had one with your
uncle before, so of course, I said yes. I still remember him grinning at me so mischievously.
“Out of the blue, there suddenly came these butterflies. Your uncle pointed at them, and said to me, “Let’s
have a butterfly catching tournament. Whoever who catches the most butterflies will have the other treat
them to a meal of their choice.” And then I said, “But wait, I don’t know how to catch butterflies!”
“Your uncle smiled at me, and then cupped his palms, waiting a butterfly to land in them before gently
enclosing it. That was the way, I think. He taught me it.
“We had so much fun in the fields that morning, but then it all began to go downhill.
“Your uncle had won the competition that day, because I had killed my first butterfly. I didn’t mean to kill
it, of course, but some things can’t be helped.
“I think that the butterflies are meant to symbolise good luck. At least, that’s what your grandfather believed
and passed on to us. If you kill one, then bad luck will be passed onto you, or a close relative of yours. And
that’s what exactly happened.
“When we got back to the village, it started to rain once again. Everyone was disappointed. They had all
been looking forward to a day of…
magic,
but it had all been ruined.
“Then, all of a sudden, there was a loud crash of thunder, and a bright flash of lightning that lit the entire
sky white. An eagle then swooped down towards us, talons extended, and… and…”
“I-it was horrible. There was blood everywhere. Your uncle was screaming so loudly, so dreadfully. Your
grandfather couldn’t do anything. Every time he tried to near the bird, it would hit him away with its
powerful wings, and continue at what it was doing.
“I don’t know how long it was before the bird finally left. He was still screaming… I could tell that he was
in so,
so
much pain. Your grandfather grabbed him tightly, and then took him to the village healer… I
thought that they could do anything, but I guess I was wrong.
“She told us that there was no saving him. The infection had already set in, and we didn’t have the proper
herbs at the time. He suffered a lot, but I think he was happy when he died. After all, who ever wants to
live in pain?
“It was my fault that your uncle died. If… if only I didn’t kill that butterfly, perhaps it wouldn’t have
happened at all. I should have been more careful. It was my fault.
“When I saw that eagle just now, I was so scared. I was reminded of the past, of what happened to your
uncle. I guess I just didn’t want what happened to him to happen to you. You’re still young. You have your
whole life ahead of you, but that could have all been ruined if that eagle had attacked you. Don’t you see,
Cecelia? I care about you, a lot more than you think.”
—————
Cecelia looked up to her mother with wide eyes. “O-oh…” She bit her lip. “S-sorry, then.” If Cecelia had
known about the story beforehand, then she would have never talked back to her mother.
Her mother smiled warmly. “I-it’s okay, Cecelia. The past is in the past.”
Cecelia reached up to hold her mother’s hand. “Shall we go, then?”
