THE LOST CHILD

The Lost Child

By: Alma Erana

The Golden haired sheep is amazing kind of animal. It figures in the tale of Jacob in ancient time, during the time of David 900 years B.C.

Leonos the Kenyans, who lived in the mountainous area in Tepaly together  with his wife Celia and one son Hero. The family was living simply with small house. They were poor, but they were raising several goats and a few cow. When their son reach at the age of eight, Hero used to obey of his parents. Hero was an obedient child. He always help his mother in fetching water in the hidden cave, two kilometres away from their house.  His father Leonos used to sell one goat every month in the market in order to buy foods for their consumption.

One time Hero asked his mother, that he should go to school. “Mama I wanted to go to school, I want to study.” “ Oh, my son, there is no school here in our place, there is a school in Ethiopia but two hundred kilometres away from here, and besides we have no money my son.”  Her mother answered. “I understand you mama”, Hero replied. We will have more money someday he humbly said.

Few months later, Hero was fetching water alone and went into the deep well. Because of his curiosity, he went inside the cave to find out something inside. He found out something inside the cave, that there was a yellowish shining around inside, and he said wow very bright light, and he came nearer and nearer in its source. He found out that it came from a bulging golden rock, it was illuminating. He wanted to touch, but he did not know that once he touched the rock he will become a sheep. And he touched it without any hesitation. So, Hero became a sheep. He was a golden haired sheep with no horn. Hero went home nobody knew of what was happening to him, only him. So hero forced to be integrated in a flock of goats. He took in as a part of them. His parents were so sad because of losing their exemplary child. But they did not know that Hero was still there turning and became a sheep.

One morning, his father Leonos was looking for a goat, to bring with him to sell in the market. He noticed, and his eyes became wide upon seeing amazing sheep alone among group of goats he feeds.  He saw only one sheep, with golden curly hair. Leonos immediately called the attention of his wife Celia.” Look at that sheep where is that come from? We have no sheep, only goat. Leonos exclaimed”. Leonos wife Celia holds the sheep. “Oh, Leonos this is a nice sheep .It is a golden curly haired sheep. I bring this inside”. Celia said. But Leonos Wanted to sell the sheep for a great price in the market. But his wife did not allow his husband to sell the sheep. She wanted to preserve it.  But their problems they need more money. His wife Celia was crying upon holding the sheep while Leonos forced her to give the sheep so that he could sell the sheep in the market for a big amount of money. But suddenly, there were plenty of round golden chips that came out from the tail of the sheep. It was a gold chips. The couples were amazed of what they saw. They picked up all the golden chips, and instead of bringing the sheep in the market to sell, only the golden chips they brought.

After that moment, they took good care of the golden curly haired sheep. And every month the sheep gave plenty of golden chips, and they sold in the market to have money. They never again have difficulties in their lives because the amount of the golden chips was so high.

But the couple loss their child Hero, and it was replace by the golden haired sheep. They did not know that the golden haired sheep was their son Hero.