Het Begin van het Leven

But people in the middle? They have enough. They are healthy. They sleep well at night. Even kings wish that they were born in the middle class. The wise men of the past said it too. They wanted just enough. That is what you have, my son.

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

I waited a few weeks. Then I talked with my mother. I thought that she was easier to convince than my father. "Mother," I said, "I am now eighteen years old. I cannot stop thinking about traveling. If I stay here, I am unhappy forever."

"Please talk with father," I continued. "Ask him to let me make one trip. If I don't like it, I come home. I promise. I will work twice as hard to make up for the lost time." But my mother became very angry.