The Root Bridge
Transcript:
The Root Bridge, by Imtijungla Ozukum and Lanu Tsudir.
“I was born a Morning Root. The first thing that I heard was chirping. Later I found out this was the sound of the birds singing the arrival of the morning sun.”
“Some days later, I felt a cold sensation for the first time. Later I found out that these tiny droplets of water are called rain. I felt my tiny being getting stronger every time the rain would touch me. The rain always made me feel at ease.”
“One day, I heard sounds that I had never heard before and saw some unusual figures that I had never seen before.”
“Why do we build bridges, Pa?’ I heard the smaller figure ask. ‘Watch carefully and learn, dear Pynn. We do this so that this root bridge can help us cross the river to help us get to our paddy field safely,’ came the response.”
“The older roots told me that these creatures are called human beings and they help shape young shoots like me to become a part of the mighty root bridge! Ever since that day, I longed to be a part of the root bridge as I also wanted to be helpful.”
“Many summers and winters came and left. I grew steadily as I watched my friends start their journey of being a part of the mighty root bridge.”
“I waited patiently each year to be picked, but Pynn’s father would say, ‘this one is not strong enough yet.’ I felt embarrassed that while my friends made it, I still was not good enough to join the Mighty Root Bridge.”
“One day, there was a huge storm. It was by far the strongest storm I had witnessed. The root bridge took a lot of damage. Some of my friends came loose and others drifted away because of the wind and the rain.”
“I was heartbroken. The always calm mother nature, whom I loved dearly, had destroyed the bridge and taken away my friends.”
“The next day after the storm had passed, I heard Pynn making her way towards us with her father, carrying bamboo sticks. I watched as they started repairing the bridge.”
“As Pynn and her father repaired the bridge, Pynn came close to me and held me up to her father and said, ‘Look, Pa! This root withstood the strong storm, it is a strong root in my eyes.’ Smiling, I heard the father reply, ‘You are right. I think it is time for it to join the bridge.”
“I had never had anyone tell me that I was a strong root, ever! Despite the storm, Pynn’s words that day made me feel warm and accepted.”
“I was finally a part of the Mighty Root Bridge!”
“As I look back on the decades that have passed by, I am a strong root, a part of the Root Bridge, because Pynn saw the strength in me that day. I help hundreds of people each day to cross the river, and serve a purpose.”
“Today, Pynn visits with her child and grandchild to repair this bridge and help hopeful shoots like I once was, become a part of the Mighty Root Bridge.”
The End.