I will now tell the most important part of my story. These events changed me forever. They made me the person I am today.
Spring came very fast. The weather was beautiful. The sky had no clouds. The land was not dark and sad anymore. It was full of beautiful flowers and green grass. I liked the sweet smells and the beautiful views.
One day, the family rested from their work. The old man played his guitar. Felix and Agatha listened to the music. Felix looked very sad. He sighed many times.
The old man stopped the music. He looked at Felix. He asked why Felix was sad. Felix tried to speak with a cheerful voice. The old man started the music again. Then, someone knocked on the door.
A lady on a horse stood outside. A man from the country was her guide. The lady wore a dark suit. She also wore a thick black veil (a piece of cloth that covers the face).
Agatha asked the lady a question. The lady spoke one word with a sweet voice. She said the name "Felix." Her voice was like music. Felix ran to the lady.
The lady lifted her veil. She was very beautiful. Her hair was black and had braids (hair twisted together in a pattern). Her eyes were dark and kind. Her skin was very light and her cheeks were pink.
Felix was very happy when he saw her. All the sadness went away from his face. His eyes sparkled with joy. At that moment, I thought Felix was very beautiful too.
The lady cried a little. She gave her hand to Felix. He kissed her hand with love. He called her his "sweet Arabian." She did not understand his words, but she smiled.
Felix helped her get off the horse. He told the guide to leave. Then he led the lady into the house. The lady knelt at the feet of the old man. The old man hugged her with love.
The lady spoke, but her language was different. The family did not understand her. She did not understand them. But her presence made everyone happy. She was like the sun in the morning.
Felix was very happy with his Safie. That was the lady’s name. Agatha kissed Safie’s hands. Agatha showed Safie that Felix was very sad before she arrived.
A few hours passed. Everyone in the cottage felt great joy. Safie began to learn the language of the family. She repeated the sounds that they made.
I decided to learn the language with her. Safie learned twenty words in her first lesson. I knew some of these words already. But I learned the new words too.
Night came. Agatha and Safie went to sleep early. Felix kissed Safie’s hand. He said, "Good night, sweet Safie." Felix talked to the old man for a long time.
They talked about their beautiful guest. I wanted to understand their words. I tried very hard, but I could not understand everything yet.
The next morning, Felix went to work. Agatha finished her work in the house. Safie sat at the feet of the old man. She took the guitar and played.
The music was very beautiful. I cried because I felt happy and sad at the same time. Safie sang with a rich voice. She sounded like a bird in the woods.
Then, Safie gave the guitar to Agatha. Agatha played a simple song and sang too. The old man was very happy. He thanked Safie for the music.
The days were very peaceful. My friends were not sad anymore. Safie was always happy. Safie and I learned the language very fast.
In two months, I understood most of the words. The ground was green now. There were many flowers in the woods. The sun was warmer and the nights were clear.
I walked in the woods at night. This gave me great pleasure. But the nights were short now. The sun came up very early.
I never went out during the day. I was afraid of the people in the village. I remembered how they hurt me before. I stayed in my hovel and listened to the family.
I wanted to learn the language perfectly. I learned faster than Safie. Safie spoke only a little. But I understood almost every word.
Felix used a book to teach Safie. The book was about the history of the world. Felix explained everything in the book. I listened and I learned many things.
I learned about old empires (groups of countries ruled by one person). I learned about history and different religions. I heard about wars and kings.
I heard about the discovery of America. I cried for the people who lived there first. These stories made me feel very strange.
I thought about human beings. Humans are very powerful and good. But humans are also very mean and bad. It is a great honor to be a good person. It is very low to be a bad person.
I did not understand why men kill each other. I did not understand why there were laws. The stories of blood and death made me feel sick.
The family talked about many new things. Felix explained how society works. I heard about money and poverty. I heard about rich people and poor people.
In this world, people respect money and a famous family name. If a man has no money and no family, he is nothing. He is like a slave.
I thought about myself. What was I? I did not know who made me. I had no money and no friends. I had no property.
Also, my body was very ugly. I was not like other men. I was faster and stronger than them. I could eat simple food. I did not get sick in the cold. I was much taller than other men.
I saw no one like me. Was I a monster? Did all men hate me? I felt a lot of pain because of these thoughts.
I wished I was still in the woods. I wished I only knew hunger and thirst. Knowledge is very strange. Once you know something, you cannot forget it.
I wanted to stop thinking. But there was only one way to stop the pain. That way was death. I was afraid of death because I did not understand it.
I loved the kind manners of the family. But I was alone. I could only watch them through a hole. The kind words of Agatha and Safie were not for me.
I learned other lessons too. I heard about men and women. I heard about babies. I heard how fathers love their children.
I heard how mothers care for their babies. I learned about brothers and sisters. I learned how families love each other.
But where were my friends? Where were my parents? No father watched me when I was a baby. No mother smiled at me.
I was always big and ugly. I never saw anyone who looked like me. What was I? I did not have an answer. I only felt pain.
I will soon explain more. But now, I will tell the story of the family. This story made me feel angry and sad. But it also made me love the family even more.