Under the Baobá's shade

*by arath_8, a four-handed story.

Once upon a time there was a foot. A tough foot, I must say, ready to face the world bitterness and able to regenerate. But as the world is really though, some help is always appreciated.

One day, Foot met a nice black boot. Boot was shinning black and made of cow's leather. After a long life giving milk and feeding others, Boot accepted a whole new purpose in life. In fact, it was mainly forced to - a purpose to protect feet. That’s the meaning of life, one cycle ending and another begins.

Foot and Boot became good friends, protecting one another and giving a good reason for being together.

However, as most of  relationships have surprises and good moments, some deceptions are inevitable. And here is what happened:

Foot was protected by the heat, dust and wind, but isolated from the sunlight and fresh air.
It was a good fellow, but… it smelled a bit bad. Boot helped Foot but got back a bad smell as a reward. And, as far as we know, some rewards are hard to get rid of.

On the other "hand", Boot was worn, dirty and not that comfortable anymore. Even though, Foot loved their conversation, now it needed a new shelter.
One day, Foot got a ride together with Boot on a long long trip.

As men spoils nature, t         hey can’t control its power.

While the car was driving by an straight and dusty road along the savannah, Foot begged for a break, needing some fresh air. Boot could also get some rest, or at least it was what Boot thought. By the way, there were rumors that Boot was the smelly one.

Suddenly, it was decided that Boot would retire. And, in the middle of the savannah, they threw Boot on the pickup’s rear. There, Boot was feeling lonely. F    oot kept in silence, while mouths and noses whispered gossips about the poor Boot : - Could you smell that? It is too old, it can be used anymore!

The road was full of holes and knolls, the car jumped at each hole and Boot couldn’t grip and hold itself for obvious reasons.

Suddenly, the car bumped into the roots of a huge Baoba and Boot was thrown out of the car.

Boot found itself alone in the middle of an African Savannah just wondering what did it do to end up in this situation, being treated so careless...

Looking around, there was only dust and perhaps some bushes in a far distance. It was so warm the weather. So much sadness prevented Boot to notice a humongous tree near by. This tree one could see from miles of distance.

This wise tree - a Baoba - started a conversation with sad Boot.  They became good friends spending a lot of time telling secrets and exchanging stories. After a long time, they didnt have any stories to tell so they started creating new stories together. Boot was transpiring Foot smell and the cow´s leather awaking Lion´s nose. Besides the smell, Lion was curious about it because he never crossed such a distinct smell. 

Lion get carefully closer to Boot. Baoba knew Lion for many years now. Always giving its shade to the noble crownless king. In that moment, Baoba tells Lion that Boot was not real food. 

After so many years, the old Lion also learned that one gets nowhere for being in a hurry and in this moment, sadness took place in its heart, after realizing, in the eye of its own solitude, all its wisdom wouldn´t be of any use if it didn´t have a soul to share the lessons life have thought him. 

And so Lion decided the zebras could wait a bit, and controlling the hunger, Lion started to contemplate Boot. Boot had interesting stories to tell. Things which Lion never heard of.  Lion was wise but his wisdom would only be limited to the Savannas. Boot would talk about crowdy streets, paved roads, cars and elevators. Lion was enjoying Boot stories and was feeling bad about the though life Boot had until now. For this reason, Lion carefully pushed Boot a little bit more under the Baoba´s shade. 

Lion was mesmerized by Boot´s tales and deluded by saying that hunger can be ignored. Being to weak to hunt, Lion would only hear and enjoy Boot´s stories. 

Now when someone passes by the road with the huge Baoba, there a lion lies in a deep sleep. You can also see a boot crying, because Lion is lying there, with eyes closed, listening to the stories in an eternal sleep.