The Little Girl's Dilemma

Once there was a little girl. She always had two voices in her head. One told her to go left, the other told her to go right. Sometimes the left voice was louder so she went left. At other times, the right voice was louder so she went right.

One day, both her voices came out again at the same time. This time, both voices were equally loud. She did not know which to follow. After five minutes, both the voices started screaming for her to take action. But the more they screamed, the more frustrated she became. She felt confused and afraid because she did not know which of the two voices was right. And they were torturing her every moment with language that became increasingly abusive.

The little girl broke down and cried. She was right there in the middle of the road junction, so people started taking notice.

They came up to her and asked,

What's wrong, my dear girl? Why are you crying?

When she heard this concerned remark more than once, she replied tearfully.

I don't know whether I should turn left or right! And the voices are driving me crazy! Can you help me?

Almost all at once, the concerned crowd chipped in their comments.

Of course to the left! That will lead you to the police station so you can get yourself sent home safely.

No, to the right! That's where I stay. If she comes with me, I will take good care of me.

No no, the right path is so isolated. What if she gets hurt? The left path is safer. Especially if I'm around

Slowly the comments started getting personal, and people began to feel that they were being challenged. One guy started a shove. He got a push in return. In a manner of minutes, the crowd became a riot.

The little girl became more afraid then she originally was. Now she had to make sure that the blows did not land on her. Tearfully and on all fours, she slowly crawled out from the fighting crowd.

When she was far enough from the crowd, she stood up slowly and rubbed her eyes. She felt so tired because she had been crying the whole day, and the crawling had hurt her knees. She saw a bench nearby and slowly made her way there. It was time to get some rest.

After a few minutes, she fell into a deep sleep. In her sleep, she felt safe. She did not hear the voices anymore. In front of her there was a bright stream of yellow light that seemed so warm and welcoming. She was drawn to it naturally. Floating through the air easily, she headed towards the light.

After a while, it seemed that the light had absorbed her and she was filled with bliss and joy just floating in that tunnel of brightness. She did not know where she was heading but one thing was for sure: the voices were not there!

Gradually she was able to make out the figures of a few people. Then it became more, and more and more! It seemed like she had come across an assembly of sort. These people looked very different. Most of them had no hair, but there were also others at the peripheries of the semi-circle who had. The little girl did not know why most of the bald people had a bare left shoulder. "Don't they get cold?" she wondered.

Now she was still floating towards the assembly and she became aware of a soft, cotton wool like cloud below her. It seemed that this cloud was bearing her weight and bringing her forward towards the front of the assembly.

Gently she was brought to the ground and left on a seat, which was empty. Interestingly, no one seemed to have taken notice of her arrival. She looked around in amazement. She had never seen so many people in her entire life! There seemed to be more than a thousand people in this assembly. They all looked beyond her to a figure seating on a raised platform. She followed their gaze and put her palms together like she saw them doing.

The person on the platform was emitting light so bright that at the first glance she was taken aback. On her second look, she became enthralled with whom she saw. The person sitting on the platform was tall and had sharp features, which told her that he was very intelligent and capable. His whole figure exuded so much love that the little girl suddenly remembered her mother who loved her so much.

She was moved to tears.

But this time, these were tears of joy and gratitude. She did not know who this man was. But she knew that she liked him and perhaps he could tell her which way to go.

A gentle yet firm voice suddenly filled the entire space. She sat up in anticipation that her question will be answered. She strained her ears, and even cupped both hands over her ears to make her hear better.

The voice continued in its melodious way. No matter how hard the little girl strained, she could not catch a single word!

She began to get a little upset. At first she thought the person teaching did not see her, so she knelt a little higher hoping he would see her. When that failed, she tried a tiny wave with her right hand. Still, the voice floated by like melodious music without words.

The little girl got impatient and prepared to speak. She cleared her throat nervously and put up her hand like she was taught in school.

But sir, which direction should I go?

The cool breeze suddenly swept past, waking the little girl with its chill. The little girl had woken up. She felt deeply disappointed and upset with the person in the dream. Even if it was a dream, she felt betrayed and angry towards the man who first gave her such a good impression.

Her hot tears rolled down her cheeks and she sobbed with resentment, her little figure trembling in the dusk.

Down the road, an old man came by and cheerfully cried out to her,

Aren?t you going home yet, little girl?

The angry little girl retorted,

How do I know if I should turn left or right? Nobody bothered about me. Not even that man who had so many students! They are all so selfish!

The old man was silent for a while as if trying to recover from the shock of that harsh retort.

You sound like someone has made you angry?

He tried tentatively.

Of course! They all bully me!

The little girl sulked and crossed her arms.

A little grin started to break out on the wrinkled, seasoned face of the elderly passer by. He leant down to touch her arm and with the gentlest voice, asked her.

But did you tell them where you wanted to go?

What do you mean where I wanted to go? It's either left or right! And they could not answer me!

Now the old man took a more serious tone and squatted next to the little girl.

You know, it's not about left or right all the time. It depends on where you want to go. After you decide the destination, you choose the path. The path sometimes turns left, and sometimes turns right. Sometimes you need to turn more than once on the path!

The little girl looked up from her arms and met the eyes of the kind old man. She said nervously,

So I don't have to decide whether it's left or right?

Already she felt a huge burden heaved off from her chest. She touched her chest as if to find something there, but it was only a feeling. She felt better already.

So where did you want to go?

The little girl felt her face warm up with embarrassment.

I... I wanted to buy myself an ice-cream.

The elderly man could not take it anymore. He burst out laughing and wiped away the tears from his eyes. He had not felt so much cheer in a long time.

The little girl laughed along, relieved that her secret was out and she did not have to decide between left and right anymore.

Still laughing, the old man took that little girl's hand and said,

Oh well, let's go and get that ice-cream and we'll send you right home.

As the twosome walked down the road towards the junction where the riot had broken out, the little girl had no problem deciding which way to turn.

She knew only too well, that the ice-cream uncle lived at the house to the left of the junction.

27 July 2003

Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:52 pm MST by peifen | Email Article |

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The Little Girl's Dilemma