THE MAN…

THE MAN . . . LUCK

adapted from a traditional story

Once upon a time there was a young man who felt he never had any luck.

It seemed to him that when he looked around everyone else had good fortune at some time or another, but him . . . nothing.

So one morning he awoke and he resolved that he would go out and find God and ask him where his luck was.

He climbed onto his horse and off he went.

He rode for a day,

Then he rode for a week,

Then he rode for a year,

Then he rode for a year and a day.

Until he was passing through a forest.

And there in the middle of the road was a wolf. It was so thin it looked like a greyhound. Its eyes were red and bloodshot. Its tongue was lolling out of its mouth.

“Where are you going?” It said.

I’m going to find God to ask him where my luck is.”

“If you meet God will you ask him why I’m so hungry and what I should do?”

“I will,” said the man.

So he rode on.

He rode for a day,

Then he rode for a week,

Then he rode for a month,

Then he rode for a year and a day.

Until he came to a tree.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find God to ask him where my luck is.”

“If you ever meet God will you ask him why I’m so thirsty and what I should do?”

“I will,” said the man.

And he rode on.

He rode for a day,

Then he rode for a week,

Then he rode for a month,

Then he rode for a year and a day.

Until he came to a valley. In the valley there was a cottage. Outside the cottage there was a young woman. And it seemed to him that she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find God to ask him where my luck is.”

“If ever you meet God will you ask him why I’m so lonely and what I should do?”

“I will,” said the man and rode on.

Until he came to a wall of mist.

He climbed from his horse and began to lead it through the thick fog. He found himself standing at the top of a cliff. The cliff fell away as far as he could see below him. He turned to his left and looked.

There, sitting with his legs dangling over the edge was an old man. The traveller said to the old man:

“Are you God?”

“That’s one of my names.”

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Listen – I’m looking for my luck.”

The old man frowned.

“You make your own luck in this life. You’ll find the luck that you deserve on your journey home.”

“Thank you!” said the young man. “And also I need the answers to three problems I encountered on my journey here.”

The old man gave him the answers and the young man said “thank you”, turned his horse around and set off, leading it through the mist, until the mist cleared, and he rode his horse until he came to the valley and in the valley he saw the cottage. The woman ran out to meet him.

“Did you find God?” she asked.

“I did, and he told me to tell you this . . . the reason why you’re lonely is because you are alone. You need company. Even if you don’t like your companions, arguing with them will help pass the time.”

“That’s all very well,” she said, “but there’s no-one around for thousands of miles – except you. You could stay here with me.”

He looked at her – and she looked beautiful to him.

“I’d love to, but I can’t. You see I’m busy. I’m looking for my luck.”

And so he rode on.

He rode for a day,

Then he rode for a week,

Then he rode for a month,

Then he rode for a year and a day.

Until he came to the tree.

“Did you find God?” said the tree.

“I did, and God told me to tell you this: the reason why you are thirsty is because there is a box full of gold buried underneath you. It’s preventing your roots getting down deep to where the water is. Move the box and you’ll have all the water you need.”

“That’s all very well but I’m a tree. I can’t move. I can’t shift the box. You’re a man. Dig it out.”

A box full of gold. He’d be rich!

“I’d love to, but I’m busy. I’m looking for my luck!” and he set off again.

He rode for a day,

Then he rode for a week,

Then he rode for a month,

Then he rode for a year and a day.

Until he came to the wolf.

“Did you meet God?” asked the wolf.

“I did. And God told me to tell you this. The reason why you’re hungry is because you’ve eaten all the animals in the forest and you should eat the next stupid man you meet.”

“Thank you,” said the wolf and gobbled him up. The horse too.

And so it was the man that found the luck that he deserved.