"How I Was Human" - I agree, a strange title for a memoir. You might ask:
- You were human? What are you now? An animal?
But be patient, you'll soon find out all about it....
***
It all started with a fire. It was in the fire that we - me, Tinny and my younger brother Mika - lost our parents. As you know, orphaned children who have no relatives are sent to an orphanage. It would be better if we were taken there... On the other hand, if we were sent there, we definitely wouldn't end up here, so okay. Well, there I go again.
As you have already realized, Mika and I had relatives. And close ones, I should say - we came into my aunt's family. But... my aunt already had six children, and she didn't even hide the fact that for her Mika and I were superfluous mouths. Older brothers and sisters - children of aunt and uncle - also constantly hurt us. Mika was especially hurt, and I often had to protect my little brother from them.
One day I noticed a strange wound on Mika's palm. To my surprise, my brother wasn't crying, but was cheerful. I thought he had been playing near the forest and hurt himself, but Mika explained that it was not a wound, but a mark left by a forest boy.
- Forest Boy said," Micah added, "that because of this mark, they'll be able to take us away. I'd rather you and I live with them. They are kind.
I must admit, I didn't believe my brother at first. Mika had been a big fantasist all his life, and I thought he'd just made up the whole forest boy thing. And by the way, I didn't stop him.
- Let him fantasize," I thought, "it would be easier to live. But I couldn't imagine where it would lead.
Over the next two days, my brother grew a lot of hair. He got a kick out of his cousins for, in their words, having "hair like a girl. I got in trouble, too, for defending him. But usually quiet and timid Mika, this time he didn't even make a peep, but... rushed out of the house.
- Where are you going?! - I had a hard time catching up with him.
- I'll go live with the forest people - Mika answered calmly - Are you with me?
It was already serious: my brother was not only sure of the existence of the "forest people," whoever they were, but he was going to go to live with them! I couldn't understand anything, but I couldn't let Mika go somewhere alone, either, so I asked:
- And... do you know exactly where these friends of yours live?
- Sure - Mika replied calmly - Let's go.
And he took me firmly by the hand. I had to admit that Mika walked confidently and didn't exaggerate his strength at all.
We had gone quite far into the woods when suddenly Mika stopped, and said:
- Okay, we're here.
As soon as he said that, we were surrounded by some strange creatures whose faces were covered with wool and...leaves. One of them (a queen, as it turned out) even had a crown of flowers and leaves growing on her head! I noticed that these creatures knew my brother well. The elder examined Mika carefully, and asked:
- When?
- Three days ago," he replied.
- Soon you will be one of us," the Elder thundered.
- I've brought my sister Tinny to you," Mika added, "and I'll stay here with just her.
The elder squinted his eyes.
- Does your sister want to stay with us? - He asked and looked at me carefully.
And then I thought, what's in store for me? Where do I go back to? To a place where no one wants me? And I couldn't live without knowing how and where my brother lived... So there was only one answer to the Elder's question.
- Yes, I want to," I replied, and held out my hand.
After a week, Mika and I became forest people. They really turned out to be very kind, and they always take care of us. We have become really happy here, so I don't regret anything.
The end