anxiety because Boy's mandatory enlistment date for the army was drawing near and looming over his head.
Boy liked working at the bakery. Kneading dough gave him a sense of fullness and contentment. The hours were tough, but once Boy got used to it, he found that he could focus on baking bread and enter a meditative state, which greatly relieved him. It grounded him, and he enjoyed working with his hands. Kneading dough made Boy feel connected to a tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years. Boy felt as though he was participating in a ritual that joined past with present.
The bakery's name was "Life Bread." Boy couldn't think of a more fitting name for a bakery. Bread was a basic staple of life. It sustained life, and creating something so basic and yet so essential was invigorating to Boy.
"Bread is life," Boy thought to himself as he thoroughly mixed flour, salt, and yeast in a bowl, creating a well in the middle and slowly adding water, stirring slowly with a butter knife. Boy let the dough rest for ten minutes and then gently worked it into a smooth ball. Then Boy lightly poured olive oil on the working surface, grabbed the dough with oiled hands, and gently stretched and folded the dough several times before letting the dough rest and rise for about an hour. After that, Boy very lightly floured the working counter and spread and folded the dough again, forming a smooth ball by grabbing the edges and tucking the dough under itself, turning as he smoothed and rounded the ball of dough. Boy let the dough rise for about another half an hour, slashed a fairly deep cut across the center, and placed it into the waiting oven. When it had a nice dark crust, Boy removed it from the oven and put it on a wire rack to cool down.
"Perfection," Boy thought to himself.
"You need nothing more than a fresh piece of bread with butter," said Girl's father.
Dear reader,
You are invited to put down
the book and go eat a
piece of bread.
Cherish the moment and feel
how lucky you are to be given
the gift of life.
After work, Boy and Girl spent time together, and Boy felt a warm feeling of home. He liked the simple life.
"I feel I've found my place with you and working at the bakery," said Boy.
"I feel I've found my place in you," said Girl as she put her head on Boy’s chest.
Boy hugged Girl in her attic room on their single bed. It was nighttime. Girl lay on her side as Boy hugged her. Girl took Boy's hand and placed it on her breast. He could feel her heartbeat and she could feel his. And they peacefully slept under the sheets with the moon looking down on them from the attic window. Boy and Girl floated into a deep serene sleep. Boy hadn't slept this peacefully in a long while.
Moon smiled at the loving couple from high above and bathed them in protective moonlight.
"Everything is alright my loved ones. Sleep tight," whispered Moon as it shed a tear of excitement. "Notice how the cosmos is in perfect harmony," Moon said to the stars. And the stars twinkled in agreement.
Morning came as birds chirped. The sun was shining, and Boy was glad to see Girl by his side. He lay by her side, trying not to move so as not to disturb her. He lovingly looked at every feature of Girl's face as he synchronized his breathing with hers.
"Thank you Moon, thank you Stars, thank you Sun," Boy whispered.
Meet My Friends
Boy and Girl were cleaning up the bakery at the end of a day's work.
"Listen, there're two friends I'd like to bring over to stay with us," said Boy to Girl.
"Who are they?" asked Girl.
"Snail and Sunny," said Boy.
"Snail and Sunny!" Girl laughed. "Those are peculiar names."
"Well, Snail is a snail, and Sunny is a dog," said Boy with a smile.
"A snail and a dog?" asked Girl with surprise.
"Yes," said Boy. "They are at the orphanage, and it would be great if we could bring them over to stay with us. I'm sure you'll like them, and they aren't a hassle at all."
"OK," said Girl. "We can build Sunny a dog house, and I'm sure Snail will enjoy the lush garden."
The next day, Girl and Boy went to meet Snail and Sunny at the orphanage. Sunny was lazily basking in the sun, and Snail was busy chewing on a savory leaf.
Sunny ran and jumped on Boy and licked his face the second he noticed him.
"Hey you," said Boy as he hugged and patted Sunny. "So good to see you. Meet Girl, she's a friend of mine."
"Hi, Sunny," said Girl as she gently and lovingly patted him. "What a cute dog you are."
Sunny smiled and wagged its tail as it gave in to Girl's gentle strokes.
"So this is the girl who stole you away from us," said Snail jokingly. "I really missed you."
"I missed you, too," said Boy as he gently picked up Snail from a bobbing leaf and placed Snail in the palm of his hand. "And that's why I've come to take you and Sunny back with me to my girlfriend's home where I live now. Meet Girl. She's my girlfriend." Boy looked at Girl and translated what Snail was saying during their telepathic conversation.
"That's very kind of you," said Snail. "What do you think about it, Sunny?"
Sunny barked twice and wagged its tail.
"Well, that's a yes from Sunny, and what about you?" Boy asked Snail with apprehension.
"I, I really wouldn't want to impose," said Snail shyly drooping down its head.
"You're not imposing at all," said Boy. "We would love you to come. But only on one condition."
"What's that?" asked Snail as its antennas jumped to attention.
"There's a lush garden waiting just for you, with vegetables and even several fruit trees," said Boy.
"Yes, and..." said Snail full of suspense as its whole body threatened to pop out of its shell.
"Just don't touch the tomatoes," said Boy.
Several quiet seconds went by as Snail was in shock, then slowly smiled, and then burst out laughing. At which point everybody laughed and giggled until their tummies hurt.
When everybody was able to catch their breaths, Snail said, "I'll gladly come with you, and promise only to eat vegetables set aside especially for me."
Boy took Snail with him.
Time was ticking down for Boy, and in a few months he would be drafted into the army. Both Snail and Girl knew this as they spent many hours thinking about the situation. He felt the clock ticking. But he also felt the calling of the wind in his heart to make a change. Action was required…
Boy had set his mind - he in no way was going to serve in the army. Instead, he would fight for peace. A peace warrior. A peace advocate. The time had come to act and put his passion into social action. He didn't quite yet know where he was headed, but he knew one thing for certain: he would stay true to his values. He needed time to hold still. He had a hunch an action plan would come to him.
"Sometimes you just have to hold still," Snail had told him once. "When you're stuck, you just have to weather it out until inspiration hits you, knocks you down, and shows you the way to go. The river needs one more hard snowy winter to flow in the summer."
Spring
Springtime came.
"Why don't you come dancing with me?" Girl asked Boy as she took his hand. And so they went out dancing, gazed together at the night stars, and ate out at food stalls. Boy felt as if he was floating each time he walked with Girl. Everything inside and outside of him appeared in vivid colors. When Boy sat with Girl in silence, he felt comfortable, and Girl felt the same.
One evening when they were walking hand in hand Girl said, "You probably miss your family."
"Yes, very much," said Boy. "I think of them often, and it saddens me that I'll never see them again. But aren't we all in a way orphans in this world. Constantly seeking warmth. Seeking to be loved and to feel secure in the bosom of a mother, in the hug of a father. Wanting to belong?"
"You can rest now," said Girl, "you have me. We have each other." She hugged him tightly, and Boy started to cry uncontro
llably. He felt home again after so long.
One evening, the sirens started to wail. Boy and Girl were in the middle of town. With no bomb shelter nearby, they quickly dashed into the closest building they could find. It was a bar, and people were dashing to the cellar, some taking wine glasses with them. In the cellar, people looked joyful despite the grim situation, as if they accepted their fate. Songs were sung. Someone played a guitar.
Boy hugged Girl…her skin shone forever in the pail light. Her touch was softer than he could ever have imagined….her warm body pressed against his skin as they embraced. The world stood still as bombs flew by. Nothing seemed to matter as Boy whispered in Girl's ear, "Love will conquer all."
The Oak Tree
Boy took girl to the big old oak tree. Girl noticed for a moment how Boy blended in with the tree and seemed to radiate. A haven of peace in a violent, insane world, Girl thought to herself.
Girl touched the oak's thick trunk and felt consoled. This ancient tree inspired confidence and hope. Like the oak, Boy seemed to have an inner quiet at that moment as if he was connecting with the oak. And like the oak, Boy was a refuge of serenity, gentleness, and acceptance.
"Even though the gusty winds snapped this oak's branches and carried its leaves away many times," said Boy, "it could never touch the deepest part of the oak's roots. And thanks to the wind, the oak found out just how much it could endure."
Girl sensed that Boy also felt stronger and that he was growing stronger every day.
Boy looked at Girl and was amazed by her beauty and, just like the oak's branches, he felt she was forever searching for radiant