A Promise

An adventurer came to a boy with a gift. It was the boy’s seventh birthday, and she came from far away to hand him this gift.

It was a snowglobe in the size of an apple. But instead of miniature landmarks and the surrounding buildings, a glowing smoke keeps moving inside the globe.

She said to the boy, “Smash this snowglobe and something amazing will happen to you…”

With much eager, the boy lifted the globe and ready to throw it to the ground. But then the lady gently stopped him

“Yet…I wish you can keep the snowglobe this way; clear, unblemished and intact. Until one day, I will return and tell you the secret behind it”

Hearing such a request, the boy was confused. A part of him wanted to know what would happen if he broke it. Instead, he said to her, “What an amazing gift! Since it's your wish, I will keep it the way it is”

Years passed and the snowglobe sits neatly on top of the boy’s desk. There were times he stares at it, simply admiring the gleam. Other times he imagined what will happen if he breaks it. And as time goes by, his curiosity grew more and more. And there are days he almost could not hold on.

Finally, the day comes when the woman returned from her adventure. She saw that the snowball is still intact, even the smoke was still glowing radiantly just like the first time she gave it to him.

The lady smiled at him.

“Today is your seventeenth birthday. And I have a gift for you” She then gave him a little hammer, heavy enough to break a snowglobe.

“Finally, it’s time!” The boy, now already a man, was very excited.

As he was about to swing the little hammer, he stopped.

“Actually, I won’t break it. Over the years of staring and imagining, I actually grew fond of it”

The lady’s smile grew wider. “So you understand”

“I do…

This snowglobe… I don’t have to break it to get my gift. The moment you saw it sitting safely on my desk, you have already given me your gift”

The lady nodded “My complete trust… That is my final gift to you, my son”

The son who is now a man shakes the lady’s hand. “After this, will you take me in your adventures, mother?”

“No… You will take me in yours now… It’s time for you to lead the adventure!”