Two Stories
Once upon a time, in a far away land, there lived a man with a violet growing out of the top of his head. It was warm purple with a bright cream-colored center and glossy leaves, and he found it very beautiful.
But every time he left his cottage, he covered it carefully with a hat. For he knew that if anyone saw it, they would think him cursed.
“One day,” he thought, “I will find someone like me. And then I will be able to take off my hat.”
There was also a woman who had a beautiful rose growing out of her head. She too, kept it covered.
“One day,” she thought, “I will find someone like me. And then I will be able to take off my hat.”
One day, the man and the woman found themselves walking opposite one another on the same road. The man touched the tip of his hat in polite greeting, and said “You’re looking lovely today, ma’am.” The woman placed a steadying hand atop her own hat, curtsied, and responded “Thank you, good sir.”
They walked past one another.
They are both very old now. To this day, they both think, “One day, I will find someone like me.”
Once upon a time, in a far away land, there lived a man with a violet growing out of the top of his head. It was warm purple with a bright cream-colored center and glossy leaves, and he found it very beautiful.
Everyone thought him cursed. But he never put on a hat, for he was seeking someone. “When I find someone like me,” he thought, “I want them to recognize me.” And he was very brave.
One day, he found himself walking opposite a woman on the road. She was wearing a hat. As he approached, he was surprised, for the woman did not run away screaming, or spit on him like the others, but merely widened her eyes. When they came face to face, she curtsied, and held out her hand to him. He took it very gently, and haltingly bent to kiss it, noticing with confused joy that she did not recoil from his touch. His heart fluttered as she began to speak. “Sir,” she said, “We —“
But before she could finish, there was a shout from the bushes. “There he is! The cursed one!” A group of townspeople seized the man, dragged him to the town square, and burnt him to death.
The woman no longer hopes to find someone like her.