A Father Returns

14 A Father Returns Long ago, on the plains of Africa, a powerful chief went hunting. He was the greatest hunter in his village, and he always returned with good meat after a full day stalking wild animals near his village. But on this fateful day, the chief did not return to his village when the sun had set. Everyone in the village was upset. For a few days, his family wailed and cried. But in the end, they gave up hope for the return of their father, and life returned to normal. However, the youngest son could not forget. He cried day and night for his father, asking where he was and why he did not return. Finally, when the other brothers could take no more of it, they agreed to go looking for their father. Soon, they came upon their father's hunting knife lying on the ground. Shortly after, they found his bones, which were already turning white from the high African sun. These brothers had special powers, and decided to use them to bring their dead father back to life.

One son put the bones back together into the form of a man. Another son put flesh and skin on the skeleton. Then, the eldest son knelt over his father, and breathed into his mouth to give life back to him. The chief awoke. He walked with his sons back to his village. The people were joyous, and they held a huge feast to celebrate the return of the chief. The chief declared that he would give a fine gift to the son who had brought him back to life. “ Give it to me! " cried one son. " No, to me! " cried another. The eldest cried that he should receive the gift as it was he who had done the most to bring his father back to life. But then, the chief turned to his youngest son. “ I give this gift to you, my boy. It is you who truly brought me back to life. We are not really dead until everyone forgets about us, and it was you who did not forget. "