Chase of Wisdom

Charlotte adored playing hide-and-seek with Lena. It was a delightful pastime until it spiraled into an excess, a transgression of sorts, that transpired in a manner I must recount with due detail.

One glorious August day, Manuel, Artemia, and little Charlotte Sambrano embarked on a week-long vacation to the island of Etteniram, seeking respite from the humdrum of everyday life. This island teemed with tourists, offering an array of activities and diversions: cinemas nestled within grand houses overlooking palm trees; performances by talking Maine Coon cats; journeys into the realm of anime; the ability to temporarily transform into a two-dimensional being; restaurants where dishes levitated, inviting families to partake in a delightful culinary adventure; the opportunity to converse with any celebrity in the world; and much more.

But the most captivating feature of the island was a unique ritual observed on the penultimate day of one's stay: each visitor received feedback on their conduct throughout their sojourn. This feedback was delivered by their very own personal angel-mentor. Etteniram was an extraordinary place where individuals had the chance to engage in face-to-face encounters with their celestial guides! This meeting took place in a special chamber on the island, where one had to enter in a state of complete purity for the angel to manifest.

Six days of relaxation passed, and the day of the angelic encounter arrived. Some visitors received positive feedback, while others fell short of their celestial mentor's expectations. Manuel and Artemia Sambrano, it turned out, were praised by their angels for their exemplary partnership in all aspects, for they cared deeply for each other and for their cherished daughter. Their angels were exceedingly pleased with them.

However, the same could not be said for little Charlotte, as her angel expressed only an 80% level of satisfaction. Here's why.

On the third day of their vacation, Charlotte and Lena, in their usual fashion, decided to play hide-and-seek with their parents. Each time Charlotte concealed herself in a different corner of their apartment, her mother and father easily found her, making the game all the more exhilarating. But now, they were on an island, a vast expanse! How could her parents possibly guess where their daughter had hidden herself? This crucial point, unfortunately, slipped Charlotte's mind. She ventured into the forest, discreetly concealed herself behind a thicket, and patiently awaited her parents' discovery. But twenty minutes passed, and Charlotte remained undiscovered. Artemia Sambrano began to worry. She realized that her daughter was playing hide-and-seek again, but how could she possibly search such a vast location? She called out for Manuel. He had been asleep, and awoke with a start, fearing that Charlotte had decided to hide underwater! After all, she was a child, capable of anything. Moreover, she had been missing for over half an hour! Terror gripped the parents, and they enlisted the aid of others to join the search for Charlotte.

A thorough search of the forest, the beach, all entertainment centers, every dwelling, and even a plunge into the depths of the water in case she had accidentally drowned, proved fruitless. The three-year-old girl was nowhere to be found. After an agonizing hour and a half, Charlotte reappeared and announced to everyone:

– Why is everyone so inattentive today? I was hiding behind the bushes, watching you all. I got bored because no one could find me properly. So many people, and none of you could play hide-and-seek correctly, – Charlotte said with a mournful face. Immediately, her parents rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Artemia, overcome with joy and relief that, thank Allah, Charlotte was safe and sound, let out a sob of happiness. Charlotte could not fathom the fear she had instilled in everyone. She was so young that could not grasp the gravity of the situation. But it was on the sixth day of their vacation that Charlotte's angel-mentor explained that he was 20% dissatisfied with her due to the terror she had inflicted on her parents while engrossed in her game of hide-and-seek. The angel, of course, did not scold Charlotte but simply clarified the situation in a language she could comprehend.

Charlotte realized that day scaring her parents in such a manner was unacceptable. She also understood that it is essential to avoid getting carried away by any pursuit in life. These lessons, imparted by her angel-mentor, were forever etched in her memory. And so, on the seventh day of their trip, the Sambrano family took flight, returning to the city of Loyalty from the island of Etteniram. Though parents had been shaken by the incident, they were overjoyed to have their daughter back by their side, joyful and healthy. The vacation, despite the scare, had been an enriching experience.

The fall, winter of 2005, and spring of 2006 passed peacefully. Charlotte adhered to all the important rules without any significant transgressions. Therefore, on the 24th of May, 2006, as Charlotte's flash drive unfurled on her fourth birthday, the following lessons were inscribed in the same purple notebook:

"Dear Charlotte! This past summer, you learned how perilous it can be to become overly engrossed in hide-and-seek. Previously, you hid for a few minutes, making it easy for your parents to find you, and it was a joyful pastime. But this time, you hid for an hour and a half, frightening your parents terribly. And this applies to all aspects of life. For instance, consuming an adequate amount of food is beneficial and necessary for health. But overeating can lead to weight gain, which, conversely, poses health risks. A little fire keeps your home warm during winter. But just a smidgen more than needed, and the house could catch fire! Therefore, your first lesson for the years 2005-2006 revolves around the importance of maintaining a Golden Mean in absolutely everything you do!

Your second lesson emphasizes the importance of never doing anything that could deeply frighten your parents. Do you want them to live long, healthy, and happy lives? Then cherish them and avoid causing them such distress. Of course, not everything in life is within your control, but your actions do have a significant impact on the quality and longevity of your parents' lives. These are the takeaways for this year, Charlotte. Until your next birthday!"

And before us, dear readers, lies a world of new experiences. We trust that Charlotte will spend her fourth year in full enjoyment, acquiring yet another lesson, one that we shall soon unveil.

CHAPTER IV

Summer's warmth graced the year 2006. Since their daughter's birth, Artemia had devoted herself entirely to motherhood, cherishing every moment with little Charlotte. However, as she observed a hint of monotony creeping into her daughter's days, she decided to enroll Charlotte in a kindergarten, returning to her career. At the time, Manuel served as a distinguished agent for the National Security Service of Lafem, while Artemia shared her expertise as a neurosurgeon at a local clinic. Both were highly regarded in their respective fields, deriving immense satisfaction from their work.

Charlotte took to kindergarten like a duck to water. She quickly befriended her peers and her thirst for knowledge blossomed. The kindergarten curriculum included rudimentary lessons in reading and writing. Although Artemia had already initiated Charlotte in these skills, her daughter embraced the opportunity to reinforce her knowledge. Charlotte's fondness for kindergarten was such that she attended with unwavering enthusiasm from June 2006 until March of the following year. Everything flowed smoothly until a new teacher, Eloisa Gonzales, joined the staff in March 2007.

Eloisa possessed a rather severe demeanor, perpetually radiating an air of discontent and maintaining an unyielding grip on the classroom. She expected impeccable behavior from each child, and any infraction, however minor, resulted in the offender being relegated to the corner. If, for instance, during a music lesson, one child's singing voice soared above the rest, while another struggled to find the melody, she would pronounce her characteristically monotonous reprimand in front of the entire class:

"You there! Do you see how beautifully the boy in the front row is singing? You, my dear child, are a disappointment! Is it truly so difficult to emulate him? Observe and learn!"

Eloisa employed this comparative tactic across all subjects. Instead of fostering a spirit of camaraderie, her methods sowed seeds of rivalry among the children. It was a sorry sight to behold. Her relentless scrutiny not only instilled fear in the children but paradoxically fueled their desire to act out. It is possible that her intentions were noble, yet her pedagogical approach had a detrimental effect on the young minds entrusted to her care. The children lived in fear of her.

Even when her comparisons were intended to motivate the children toward excellence, her actions yielded the opposite effect, extinguishing their desire to engage in any activity under her watchful eye. A gentler approach, offering quiet guidance and encouragement, would have been far more effective. Each child is unique, a precious gem with their own individual brilliance. Instead of subjecting them to relentless pressure and comparisons, a nurturing environment would have allowed their unique talents to flourish.

Distressed by this turn of events, Charlotte confided in her parents about the unpleasant situation at kindergarten. Manuel and Artemia, without hesitation, withdrew their daughter from the kindergarten. Charlotte felt a pang of sadness at having to bid farewell to a place she had grown fond of, all because of Eloisa Gonzales.

Charlotte spent the month of March at home with her mother, her days filled with games, reading, singing, and dancing with her parents in the evenings. During the day, she accompanied her mother on various outings, and on weekends, Manuel would whisk them away to different cities. There was never a dull moment! Then, on the 3rd of April, 2007, a wondrous event unfolded: the Sambrano family welcomed a second daughter, whom they named Sarah. Baby Sarah became Charlotte's little sister, filling their home with even more joy and laughter. This was a truly blessed time for the Sambrano family. With the arrival of the newest member, Charlotte felt a sense of responsibility wash over her. She had a premonition that as sisters, they would share a special bond and be pillars of support for each other.

On the 24th of May, 2007, Charlotte celebrated her fourth birthday. Her flash drive materialized (a phenomenon visible only to her parents), and along with it, the familiar purple notebook and white pen, ready to record the summary of the past year:

"Greetings, our dearest girl! We celebrate the triumphant completion of your fourth year, Charlotte! You have conducted yourself admirably this year, avoiding both past and potential pitfalls. This demonstrates a commendable ability to learn from your experiences. Keep up the excellent work! This year has presented you with a series of events so rich in life lessons that it would be remiss not to add them to your ever-growing treasury of wisdom. Let us delve into the wisdom gleaned from the years 2006 and 2007.

The first lesson underscores the importance of never comparing loved ones, friends, family members – indeed, anyone – to another, especially when such comparisons lead to diminished self-worth, resentment, or a sense of superiority. Every individual is uniquely and incomparably remarkable.

The second lesson reminds us that we have the capacity to learn not only from our own missteps but also from observing the experiences of others. Eloisa Gonzales's conduct serves as a prime example. By embracing this ability, we can make our journeys through life significantly smoother.

Finally, it is crucial to recognize that excessive control over others only breeds a desire to flee from the clutches of such manipulation. Once again, moderation is key. It applies to every aspect of life. Happy Birthday, our dearest Charlotte! Until next year!"

Charlotte's fourth year had been an enlightening one. The Sambrano family, bathed in contentment, embraced the beautiful tapestry of their lives, eagerly anticipating the many pleasant surprises that lay ahead.

CHAPTER V

The summer of 2007 brought a joyous occasion to the Sambrano household: the arrival of their grandparents from the city of Lemari, in the state of Lafem. Their visit was planned to last until the spring of 2008. Upon hearing this news, Charlotte was beside herself with glee! She had only spoken to her grandparents over the phone, and they had never met in person. This encounter was destined to be a truly special one.

On a bright summer morning, the entire Sambrano family set off to the airport to greet their beloved grandparents. Charlotte's grandfathers were named Meliton Castro and Sofron Moroco, while her grandmothers were Alicia Castro and Florentina Moroco. Charlotte adored them all dearly. As soon as their eyes met, the grandparents embraced their children and grandchildren, overflowing with affection for this long-awaited reunion.

Once they arrived home, the grandparents showered their children and grandchildren with an assortment of remarkable gifts: Manuel received a talking scarf, Artemia was presented with levitating boots. Charlotte was gifted a magical book capable of transporting her to any galaxy she desired. Little Sarah received a miniature super-tree that could produce any kind of pure, natural fruit in a single second. Everyone expressed their heartfelt gratitude for these extraordinary presents.

Summer unfolded like a perfect symphony for the entire family. Autumn arrived, ushering in a season of unpredictable yet idyllic weather. One moment, rain would cascade down, transforming the landscape into a scene of golden leaves and shimmering streets reflecting the downpour. The next, the rain would cease, replaced by a gentle sun that illuminated the fresh, pure air cleansed by the downpour. This enchanting weather prevailed throughout the autumn in the city of Loyalty.

One autumn evening, a thought struck Charlotte: since her flash drive was programmed to receive new lessons every year, why not discuss the matter with her grandparents? They had lived such full and rich lives; surely they could share at least one crucial life lesson, she mused. She approached her grandfather, Meliton Castro, first, saying:

– Grandpa, Grandpa, you've lived so long in this world. What, in your opinion, is something that we should change about our society? What should people pay particular attention to?

– Well, to be honest, there's one thing that's been weighing on my mind for a long time. In our town, there are funerals happening very often. And it's not because a lot of people are dying, no. It's just that there are too many days of mourning for one person. For example, when someone dies, their relatives provide food for the guests for 100 days straight. And the guests come to read prayers in honor of the deceased. That was the first side of the situation. Secondly, when greeting each guest, the deceased's relatives have to shout and scream, supposedly to show how sad they are about the death of their relative. If you shout at the top of your lungs and scream loudly, then you really love your deceased relative. But if your heart aches and you don't have the strength to stand and shout near the guests, then you didn't love your loved one very much who recently passed away. This is how funerals are discussed among the women in our town. And the last thing I want to describe is that after a person passes away, you need to be dressed in black for two years. You cannot wear any colorful clothing or jewelry. Otherwise, it's seen as disrespect to the deceased. Now, I want to say this: Who invented these rules in the first place? No religious texts say you need to provide food for guests for 100 days after a funeral. Religious texts only say that our prayers in honor of the deceased will help this person on Judgment Day. And that's it. I don't know with what intention the other rules, which are of no benefit to anyone, were invented at all. So, if you want to pray in honor of the deceased, then pray at home. It's enough that only Allah knows about your prayer. This is considered the best help for a person who has passed away. Of course, funerals, wakes, and everything that needs to be done for the body of the deceased are fine. This can take a maximum of three days. But why do we need the other 97 days? In my opinion, that's too much. Moving on. What we said about the relatives' screams. If, at the entrance of each guest, the relatives don't scream very loudly and don't fall down, then the women immediately start discussing it for several years. Apparently, they didn't love their relative very much, since they didn't grieve from the heart. What does "didn't grieve from the heart" mean? Is this how we determine a person's emotional state – through dramatic screaming? If a person is truly suffering, they won't have the strength to scream like that, first of all. Secondly, why are people discussing this? Even religious texts say that you shouldn't cry too much or too loudly after a person dies. We are only hurting the deceased's soul by doing this. We should cry quietly and without any hysteria. Lastly, let's talk about clothing. They invented some kind of creepy uniform to wear for two years straight. If you see a person in such clothing, you can get scared. This clothing looks like a long black bag that starts to scare those around you from a distance. And the most ridiculous part is this: people use this to show how much they loved the deceased. Where's the logic here, tell me, Charlotte? Is it really necessary to show and prove to strangers how much we care about our relatives? Do people have nothing else to think about? They should all look at themselves. Live your own life! And then you won't have time to look at someone else's mourning attire.

– Wow, thank you so much for this extensive and important information, Grandpa! I didn't know that such things were happening in the town of Lemari. I hope that there will be more people in our society who think exactly like you. And then they will all together make the right decision to conduct funerals in a cultured and correct way.

– I sincerely hope so, too, my granddaughter. It's very valuable that you understand me, Charlotte.

– Of course, I understand you, you're telling the truth, Grandpa! – said Charlotte, and joyfully ran to her grandmother – Alicia Castro:

– Grandma, dearest, I just spoke with Grandpa Meliton, and now I'd like to ask you something. In your opinion, what needs to change in our society?"

– Ah, that's a wonderful question, my granddaughter. I have a very important opinion on this matter. Let me begin from afar. We all know that there is only one Allah, whom we must worship. We all love him and trust him. If our faith is strong, Allah will always protect us from all the bad things that could happen in this world. So, if everything is in the power of Allah Almighty, what are these superstitious people afraid of, who think about useless rules of superstition at every step? For example, people say: "Don't sweep after the sun sets. You might never get rich." What can the broom do? It's just a household item, that's all! Or there are sayings like: "You can't wash clothes on Saturday, it's a bad omen", "A black cat crossed my path! Oh, everything's over now, it's a sign of bad luck!", "Don't kill this spider, it's a bad omen", "You need to make chicken borscht and eat it with seven women so that the baby is born healthy", "Bring a chicken tomorrow. The newborn baby needs to touch the chicken so that he grows up well" and so on and so forth, this kind of nonsense. All this is nonsense, there's no other way to call such a superstition. Let these superstitious people explain to me what these animals and objects of theirs can do! They can't do anything, neither bad nor good. Only Allah can do everything. And if you ask him, he will give you everything you want, if it is beneficial for everyone. That's it! You can't be so superstitious, it's harmful to everyone. I wish, my granddaughter, that these superstitious people would finally understand that their path is completely useless. That's it.

– Amazing! I completely understand you, dear Grandma! I hope that your words reach all the people who mistakenly consider themselves superstitious, – said Charlotte. She hugged her Grandma Alicia, thanked her for such a sincere conversation, and ran to speak to the second grandfather – Sofron Moroco:

– Grandpa, Grandpa, I have an important question for you. Is there anything that you personally would like to change in our society?

– Absolutely, my granddaughter! Look, we all went to school as children. And you will go there soon, too. You know, the system there is that, starting from the first grade, children are forced to learn and simply memorize, for the most part. There's also this exercise among elementary school students – speed reading. Pay attention, not expressive reading, not reading and reasoning about the text, but speed reading. Why is that? Or let's see what else happens. When entering a Higher Educational Institution, applicants need to correctly solve special tests that are prepared in advance according to school textbooks. Once again, we are brought to the point where we simply learn facts. Why, do you think? If all smart children graduate from school with critical thinking skills, it's good for the state itself, isn't it? So why not pay attention to the school education system? Children are forced to learn things they don't want to. And if they don't learn what they're not interested in, they're immediately called passive students, which can have a very bad effect on their self-esteem. You can't treat children like that. Every person has some kind of peculiarity, some kind of talent that needs to be developed. So why not inspire children and help them develop where they are truly interested? Of course, it's not just the school, but parents should also be interested. Someone has to start, right? That's what I've been thinking about for a long time, Charlotte. I want the school system to change in our town. I believe it would lead to a fundamental development not only of our town, but of our entire country.

– That's incredible, Grandpa! Thank you so much for sharing your opinion! I'm going to talk to Grandma Florentina now, – said Charlotte and went to the last interviewee of the day – Grandma Florentina Moroco:

– My dearest Grandma, can you tell me what troubles you about our society?

– Well, last month, my cousin invited me to her grandson's birthday. I went. As soon as I entered their house, all our relatives, and there were about 10 of them, started greeting me. It took more than five minutes. Each relative repeated the same line, which sounded like: "How are you? How are you doing? How are the family members? Aren't you tired? How are your children…?" And I, consequently, answer everyone absolutely the same, even though no one even paid attention to my answer: "Yes, everything is fine with us. Everything is fine, thank you. Everyone is doing well…" Okay, this is somehow digestible, Charlotte, because we still have to endure the continuation. So, finally, we greeted each other and went into the living room to sit down at the table. Oh my God, and then the second round of lines comes: "Let's sit over there, please! I can't sit there, it's disrespectful to you. You're our guests, you can't sit close to the door. Oh, come on, sit next to the elders, you're at our house for the first time…" And so the whole ceremony called "sitting at the table" went on for the next 10 minutes. I came for the birthday; it's been 20 minutes, and I still haven't figured out where I can sit. Okay, I said, and sat down in one place that they chose for me. As soon as I wanted to have some tea, you know what happened? 5 more women walked into the living room! All 15 of us got up from our seats; we started stupidly repeating our lines from the first round again; then came the second round of lines, after which my place was taken by someone else. And I had to sit down again in another place, where I sat in hopes of having at least one sip of tea. I look at my watch: it's been over 45 minutes. In about 20 minutes I'll have to go home, and I can't even have my tea. Now tell me, please, my dear Charlotte: why are these female habits needed? Who do they benefit? And who invented all this? I dream of the day when these completely useless, and moreover harmful, customs disappear among our people. This trait of our society doesn't appeal to me at all, to put it mildly. I simply can't stand to hear these "lines".

– How I understand you, dear Grandma. I sincerely wish that these customs would disappear from our society. Thank you for sharing these opinions with me, my Grandma!

– Thank you for listening to me! – said Grandma Florentina, and joyfully hugged her granddaughter.

And so, all the members of the Sambrano, Moroco, and Castro families spent their time together in such an interesting and cheerful way. They chatted almost every day, shared different points of view on life, and lived life to the fullest. They spent autumn, winter, and spring in this way. And, on that most important date, May 24, 2008, our Charlotte turned 5 years old. The flash drive came out from under Charlotte's neck again, which only her parents could see; a purple notebook opened, and a white pen began to write the following: