El Comienzo de la Vida

"But the middle people? They have enough. They are healthy. They sleep well at night. Even kings wish they had been born in the middle class. The wise men of before said it too. They only wanted enough. That's what you have, my son."

I was moved by what he said. What son wouldn't be moved? I decided to stay at home. I would forget the sea. I would make my father happy. But my decision didn't last. After a few days I wanted to leave again.

I waited a few weeks. Then I talked to my mother. I thought it would be easier to convince her than my father. "Mother," I said to her, "I'm eighteen years old now. I can't stop thinking about traveling. If I stay here I'll be unhappy forever."

"Please talk to Father," I continued. "Ask him to let me go on just one trip. If I don't like it, I'll return home. I promise. I'll work twice as hard to make up for the lost time." But my mother got very angry.