Sheltered's Journey By JamesI wrote this as a mythography essay last year for English class....it got an A and I thought you might enjoy it....
Sheltered’s
Journey
Once upon a time,
there lived a young boy named Sheltered.
He was named such, because of the way his parents raised him. For you see, the parents of Sheltered wanted
him to grow up strong, with well established morals, so that when he did enter
the world, he would be ready for anything that was thrown at him. His home was in a valley surrounded by high
mountains, where other families with a similar philosophy as Sheltered’s parents
lived. Here they lived peacefully, the
parents raising the children to be moral citizens and examples to the world outside
the valley. This valley’s resident’s way
of life was shunned by the outside world, yet they never let it get to them for
they believed in the teachings of a sacred book.
This
book of teaching was called The Way of Life, for it illustrated how one must
live. It showed everything you would
ever need to know in your lifetime, and what would happen in the next. Many things were taught in The Way of Life,
most of it having to do with relationships.
It showed how we must relate to one another, and to the one who wrote
the book, Immortal, who would never die, and who lived on top of the world. The people of the valley worshipped Immortal. He was good to them, and his teachings made
sense to them. However, those outside
the valley, known as the Lost Ones did not know about Immortal and his
teachings. And the few who knew, didn’t
agree with what he taught.
Because
of this, the people of the valley took it upon themselves to spread the word
about Immortal and his book. Not only
did they have this desire but it was commanded of them by The Way of Life. So this was the way that Sheltered was raised
until he became a man.
“Sheltered! Do you have everything ready? Are you ready for your journey?” Sheltered’s mother, Protective asked him. Sheltered’s father, Cautious stood next to
his mother.
“Yes,
Protective, everything is ready for my journey.
I have an ample supply of food, a warm cloak, and The Way of Life.” Sheltered told his mother as he entered the
room and began lacing up his boots.
“Very
good, Sheltered,” Cautious said, looking at his son with pride. “Do honor to
your family, this valley, and most importantly Immortal. Remember what you have learned. It is now that you will find out how firm
your foundation really is, outside the comfort of this beautiful valley. Many things you have learned here, but out
there among the Lost Ones there is much more to be learned. Don’t ever compromise, stick to what you know
is right, and one day you’ll return to this valley with honor.”
Protective
nodded her head at the words of her husband, tears were beginning to glisten in
her eyes. She could hardly believe that her son was leaving the valley on his
journey.
“Do
not forget us, Sheltered.” She said softly.
“I
will not forget you. Never worry about
that, for I will return.”
Having
said this, Sheltered kissed his parents, and bid them farewell. He walked out into the blinding light, for it
was midday, and began his journey.
Looking
around him, he could see other young men and women starting out on their
journeys also, and seeing this filled him with determination. He would make this valley proud of him, and
he would bring honor to Immortal.
Straight
ahead of him he saw his only route out of this valley, the Mountain of Doubt. It rose so high that Sheltered could see
wispy clouds resting upon its peaks like white hair. Sheltered trudged forward
until he was at the base of the mountain.
He started to make his way up, but instantly he was barraged with
thoughts of quitting. “What difference
are you going to make? Maybe you should
stay in the valley.” Thoughts like these
slowed him down, but he maintained a steady pace up the side, and hardened his
resolve to defeat this foe. After a
great struggle, Sheltered made it to the top, and down to the other side.
Taken
aback, Sheltered could only stare at the sight before him. The plain set before him was so ugly, so
uninviting, it made for an ideal contrast to the beautiful green valley that he
was used to. What trees were there, were
twisted and sickly. The grass grew in
yellowish patches, and there was litter strewn everywhere. Why would anyone choose to live here?
“Beautiful
isn’t it?” Came a voice from Sheltered’s right.
It startled him, and he spun around to look at who said it. A man in tattered clothing stood there
smiling.
“The
name’s Ignorant. Welcome to
paradise.” Ignorant said holding out his
hand. Sheltered shook it, but was
surprised at how cold it felt. Could
this man be serious? This place looked
like everything but a paradise.
“Hello,
my name is Sheltered.” Sheltered told him.
“Oh,
you’re one of Them, the sons of Immortal.
I should have known, seeing as how near the Mountain of Doubt
you are. Don’t tell me, but I can guess
that you think this place is the farthest thing from beautiful. All the sons of Immortal think so at
first. Some after awhile come around,
but some never do.” Ignorant said this with look of haughtiness, no doubt
thinking Sheltered was probably crazy.
“You’re
correct, I see no beauty in this barren wasteland.” Sheltered said, almost
ashamed of himself.
“Well
maybe you’ll come around.” Ignorant said this and then walked away.
Sheltered
walked for days without encountering another human being. He crossed the plain, and then made his way
over hills with sharp stones. Finally,
one day, late in the evening, Sheltered saw he was approaching a large
city. As he moved closer, he could see
myriads of people coming in and out of large neon lit buildings.
“It
must be one of the cities of the Lost Ones.” Sheltered thought to himself as he
entered the city. Some people saw him
coming and ran out to meet him. They approached him and invited him into a
nearby building.
“Try
this, you’ll like it.” One woman said to Sheltered, handing him something that
resembled a cigarette.
“No
thanks. I’m good.” Sheltered told the
woman.
“Why
not, it won’t hurt you, at least not immediately. Come on, you’ll enjoy it. Everybody here does it. It must be okay.” The people around her
nodded their heads.
“I’d
rather not.” Sheltered told the group, though he was in fact curious.
“Alright,
but you don’t know what you’re missing.” The woman said as she walked away.
“Hey
man, look at this.” A man said excitedly, shoving pictures in front of him.
Sheltered
looked at the pictures, and at first felt abhorred by what he saw. But the man looked so excited, Sheltered
looked again. He could feel himself
enjoying looking at the pictures. He
felt the desire to see more, yet deep down he knew he shouldn’t.
“Good
aren’t they?” the man said grinning widely.
Sheltered could see he was missing three teeth from his smile.
“Yeah.”
Sheltered mumbled.
Over
the next few days he found himself trying many new things, though some things
he still held fast to never doing. Every
time he did something they asked him to do, he found himself more accepted by
them. Yet at the same time, Sheltered
felt guilty about what he was doing. For
awhile he didn’t fight at all, but soon he knew in his heart that he must do
what Immortal would want him to do.
Sheltered
gathered his things together and began to leave the city.
“Stay
with us! Enjoy life to the fullest
here!” They called out as he walked away.
Ignoring them, Sheltered left the city.
Once
far outside the city, Sheltered looked back.
“That
must be the city of Temptation.”
He said out loud.
“Yes
it is. A very nasty place, full of
people who think they are happy with material things.” A voice said.
Sheltered
looked around, and saw a man dressed in the same clothing as he was, looking at
the city also. A look of disgust was on
his face, and also one of pity, as he looked at it. This man must also be on his journey.
Sheltered
introduced himself.
“The
name’s Steadfast. I just left the city
also, but I did not linger. I would not
stay in a place so empty as that. I hope
you too did not stay.”
“Only
a little while.” Sheltered said ashamed.
“Well,
at least you made it through. So many of
us on our journeys stay there forever, content with what they have to offer
us. I though, do not believe that
Immortal would approve of such a place.
He says so in The Way of Life.” Steadfast explained.
“You
are completely right.” Sheltered said quietly, while deep in thought.
So
Sheltered and Steadfast walked together for many days. They did this until they came to a fork in
the road they were upon. To the left was
a narrow and rough road, rarely tread upon.
However the road to the right was wide and well worn with travel.
Steadfast
went to the left and Sheltered went to the right. They wished each other luck and went on their
way.
Sheltered traveled
for many days and he met many different kinds of people. With every person he met, he altered his
character just a little bit, hoping that they might accept him. He did this with the Lost, and with the ones
who also were on their journeys. He went
on this way for many months, yet he never had friends who truly knew him. He slowly began to forget why he was on this
journey in the first place, and rarely ever read from The Way of Life. He never told anyone about Immortal anymore,
afraid that it might complicate the relationships he was in, and that it might
create awkwardness among his friends.
And so Sheltered lived like this, content on the outside, but deep down
not really happy at all. He felt a
hunger for something, yet he didn’t know what it was.
One day while
walking around, Sheltered ran into an unusual looking character. Wherever this man walked he blended in with
his surrounding, whoever he talked to he acted different around them than the
previous acquaintance.
“Hello there. My name is Chameleon, very pleased to meet
you.” The man said shaking his hand.
“Mine is Sheltered.”
Sheltered told him.
“What are you
interested in, Sheltered?” Chameleon asked, looking genuinely interested. Sheltered told him a few things.
“I’m interested in
those things too! We have a lot in
common.” Chameleon said eagerly. They
talked for awhile, but everything that Sheltered talked about, Chameleon
quickly agreed to. After a long period
of this, Sheltered found himself getting fed up with their conversation and
made to leave.
“Going so soon?”
Chameleon asked him sadly.
“Yes, I have
things I have to attend to.” He told him, even though he didn’t. But at this point, Sheltered would do
anything to get rid of this guy.
“Oh well, so do
I.” Chameleon said, and then walked away.
“Kind of wears on
you doesn’t he?” Someone said to Sheltered.
A man wearing a beautiful robe was standing near him. Sheltered could tell that he was a follower
of Immortal, for he carried The Way of Life with him.
“Yes he does.”
Sheltered said wondering where this was leading. They talked of many things, and he found out
the man’s name was Counselor.
“I have been
observing you, Sheltered for awhile now; and I must say I feel a burden to help
you. That man Chameleon is the way he
is, because of how he lived his life. He
never was true to himself, and probably doesn’t know who he is. He tries to impress everybody with things
here and there, and is quick to agree to everything anybody says. He used to be a follower of Immortal, and too
went on a journey like you. Oh yes, he
did indeed” Counselor said seeing Sheltered’s disbelieving look. He then
continued.
“He too walked a
path like yours, choosing the wide and easy path, where he wouldn’t be
compelled to share your beliefs, and wouldn’t be asked about Immortal. He also stopped reading The Way of Life. The beginnings of this I am starting to
observe in you, Sheltered. If you
continue to walk the path you are walking, no longer care for Immortal, never
read The Way of Life, and never be true to yourself, you too shall become as
Chameleon is; a shadow of his former self, and another one of the Lost Ones.”
Counselor finished saying these things, and watched Sheltered closely. Sheltered just stood there for a moment and
then he began to weep.
“You are
right. I have not been living up to the
standards of one of Immortals sons. In
fact, I haven’t been trying. Thank you,
Counselor for showing me this; so that now I may correct my ways before
becoming too deeply rooted in the ways of the Lost.” Sheltered cried, as he wept bitterly.
“Be true to
yourself Sheltered, and live a life Immortal would be proud of.” Counselor said this and walked away.
Greatly
encouraged, Sheltered stood up, and dusted himself off.
“I will do as he
says, for his words are words of wisdom.
Immortal would not be proud of the way I’ve been living, and my parents
would certainly not approve. Today I
start anew, and will try harder to do what is right.
Having said this,
Sheltered began to walk, encouraged and ready for whatever might lay ahead.
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