Min tibetanska barndom i Zorgay - Life and Culture on the Tibetan ...

for me because I only knew the stories she had told me. I sat
sullenly <strong>and</strong> angrily, wearing an expression that suggested the
sky was about to fall.
Then Gr<strong>and</strong>mother said seriously, "Silence means
consent. My dear, I'm sure you have an interesting story to tell
me, right?"
I still said nothing. I wanted to say, "No," but I made no
reply.
"Oh, come on, my dear! Don't be sullen. It is a joke
between us. Who would have imagined this would upset you?
Of course, I'll tell you a King Gesar story. And later, your father
will come <strong>and</strong> you may now ask him to tell you more stories,"
said Gr<strong>and</strong>mother as she hugged me to her bosom. That day,
Gr<strong>and</strong>mother told me how King Gesar exorcized ghosts <strong>and</strong>
killed the demon people <strong>and</strong>, in so doing, she mentioned bows
<strong>and</strong> arrows.
When Father joined us, I did not ask him to tell me
stories but instead, I asked him to make me a bow <strong>and</strong> some
arrows. I did not know what a bow <strong>and</strong> arrow looked like.
Nevertheless I implored, "Please, Father, I beg you."
"Sorry, my dear son, today I can't because I'm sick," said
Father.
"It's just an excuse. You're old <strong>and</strong> strong. The truth is
you don't want to make them for your son. After all, you are not
that sick, it's only a cold. Colds are nothing. Making a bow
won't kill you," I said unhappily, then burst into sobs that did
not stop.
"My Three Jewels! 7 Just look at my son! It's a shame
that he cries like a three-year-old boy," Father said in a kidding
voice, <strong>and</strong> coughed several times. "Stop crying," he said.
I sobbed, "I won't stop, unless you tell me that you'll
make a bow for me."
"OK! I'll make one. Now stop," said Father, with no
other way to stop my tears.
When I looked at Gr<strong>and</strong>mother with teary eyes, she said,
"Don't be naughty in front of your father. He is ill today." Then
I felt sorry for Father, but it was too late because he'd already
7 The Three Jewels are the Buddha, the Dharma, <strong>and</strong> the
community of believers (disciples).
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