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The Boy with Strange Eyes

by Dr. Thomas Davison




Rounded Eyes– Slanted Eyes- Hen’s Story



From that first day- when he arrived at ‘The Island’ they named him “Hen’na-me”, which in the Island tongue denoted ‘strange eyes.’ Shortly this label evolved into the abbreviated nickname of Hen. Hen had witnessed thirteen summers, when he first sailed east from his homeland, in search of this very island. He had been discovered half-dead by The Islanders afloat in a rickety old fishing boat. The boat had belonged to his grandfather, his father, and at age twelve summers (after his father died) belonged to Hen. He had set sail for The Island in search of… what exactly had he been searching for? Rumors I suppose? Rumors of an Island Country to the far east. An Island that was inhabited by a strange people with an unusual language and different writing (they scripted things backwards- it was said) and they possessed advanced science and mathematics. Rumors that the strange eastern island studied The Way of the Warrior- termed Sam-ur–rai. Rumors that they forged swords that were virtually indestructible. Swords created through mystical eastern magic. Magic possessed solely by The Islanders themselves. Lastly- rumors that their eyes were shaped strangely, and their skin was a different color. It was reported that they weren’t truly a part of humankind. It was firmly believed, by most from Hen’s homeland, the people of the eastern isle- were in reality- a remnant of an elder race of men.

It was the latter part of those rumors- the different eyes- that plagued Hen’s every waking thoughts for the past seven days. For ten complete sun rotations (as the Islanders referred to it) Hen had studied and learned the strange language and writing of The Island. He had absorbed and lived the eastern island philosophy to the fullest. He had been committed to doing everything possible to speak, dress, act, talk and become one of them. He had pushed away any memories, or history of the first thirteen summers, of his previous life. In fact- he had convinced himself he was an Islander in every measurement- except birth. That was the one thing that Hen, could not change about himself. That and perhaps, his very different and strange eyes. After ten long years, he nevertheless witnessed many of the Islanders, gawking at his eyes. However, until seven days ago, he had been happy and content, with the thought of living the remainder of his life, here on The Island.


HIMEKO



He couldn’t stop thinking about her, Himeko. Beautiful Himeko. Daughter of The Master, his trainer and mentor for the past decade. Little chubby Himeko that always trailed behind him, full of laughter and questions, as he practiced and did his chores. Teenage Himeko, all elbows and knees, always by his side as Hen worked and practiced twice as hard as any Islander. He had advanced quickly in the warrior ranks of The Master. He had to admit that she had been something of a pest at first. But. he soon grew accustomed to her presence. As she grew and blossomed in her beauty, so had Hen’s secret love for her, grown and blossomed. She was the sole Islander that never saw Hen as different or strange. Then the day came when she had bashfully, declared her love to him. Seven days ago.

“Himeko” he muttered under his breath. No – Hen shook his head violently at the bitter memories. The scorn in the Master’s voice when he had inquired politely, about the possibility of marrying Himeko. The bitter tears of anguish in her beautiful eyes. All those years of unrequited love. It no longer mattered. He was going home.

Hen trekked to the Drinking Pools of The Island, to fill his many gourds, for the long sea journey home. He glanced into the large stone bowl where the cool mountain water was stored by the Islanders. He stopped abruptly when he saw his reflection in the bowl water. His face was darkened by the sun. His jaw was square and corded with muscles and tendons. His hair was, long, thick, and coal black. He wore it tied behind his ears with a thin leather band. His ten plus summers immersing himself in The Way of the Warrior had left his body, lean and muscled. Then he spotted them, his eyes, his damned strange eyes. Why did his eyes have to be so strange, so slanted? Why couldn’t they be rounded like all the population of The Island, the one called At-land-tis by the people. The Island of Rings by others.


DEPARTURE



They had been kind to the orphaned Hen, but only to a certain point. Then seven days ago, they made it very clear, he wasn’t one of them. No matter how hard he tried, he never could be. He was too different, too strange, to ever be totally accepted as an Islander of Atlandtis. It did not matter to Hen, that everyone in his homeland of Yamato had slanted eyes. Folks had started to refer to his homeland as Nihon when he had left on his quest. But, in his mind and his heart, the eight islands were Yamato, and always would be! He would return to his homeland with all the valuable knowledge he had learned, the Atlandtis language, samurai way, and sword-making.

He would start his own sword-making school, become rich and famous, and to hell with The Islanders and their bias against his eyes.

He wouldn’t be returning in an old beat-up fishing boat, empty-handed, as he had left. He was returning in a Atlandean skiff. Well known for their seaworthiness. He had collected many rods, of different carbon-content of steel, refined from the rich Atlandtis iron ore sand, for sword-making, on his skiff. He had fine silk clothes, with other riches he had earned, in the service of his Master. Hen was going home. No! Wait, Hen was dead and gone forever. From this day forward, he would be known by his true name. Amakuni the master sword-maker was going home.




THE END


© 2021 Dr. Thomas Davison

Bio: Dr. Davison is teaching at two all-male prison facilities in Northern Ohio. He has been deeply moved by his interactions with incarcerated students and has been motivated to create poems and short stories about these experiences. Thomas has started a non-profit dedicated to providing free one-on-one support services for felons.

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