mindcandy pennies from the overgenerous lunatic

Chapter 1: a friend to talk to

During this time, it was just 100 years after Jesus was crucified by the Romans, and paganism was still the main religion of the people. Everyone lived in a self-sufficient fashion. There was rarely any wars, let alone politics to rip apart people and mess up their hearts. It was a simple enviroment where people need only pay tribute to the king when he asked for help.

In a small peaceful land in europe, there was once a small millet field by the edge of a forest. In this wooden hut, lived a 13 year old boy with his parents. His parents were, of course, like everyone else, farmers. But very poor farmers. When other farmers had animals, this farm had none. Tho the parents have always been happy, but the son did not. This was because the young lad was growing up and had developed his own emotions and dreams to pursue after.

"Joey, stop going to the forest. It's filled with vile creatures!" yelled the mother to the poor boy, as she does the household chores. Although Joey has never even stepped out of the forest, he is scolded as if he has because life to his parents are kind of stressful as they were far too simple minded to consider about having a more comfortable life. To them, the current one is already sufficient as they can live...although in poverty. Joey would then sulk alone in his room that consists of a straw bed with a blanket, with a metal mug perched on top of a wooden cabinet. Joey's life has always been this lonely since he was young.

His dad was a simpleton by all means. Improving the family's living conditions never came across his mind. He just wanted to plant mullet to feed the family, and if there was any surplus, he would sell it to the nearby market. However, instead of selling it himself, he would sell it to middlemen who would pay him only a few stalks of rotten cabbage and and shrunken tomatoes for a whole bushel, which was then sold for a whole piece of gold. Although this meant Joey had some side dishes to go with, he was not happy at the prospect of his father being cheated and being ok with it.

"Dad...farmer Tobiah has been selling OUR bushels for a gold piece!" Joey would often stammer.
"Son, dont ever question what your daddy does. It's for your own good!" His dad would often reply, often in a rage, scaring poor Joey back in his room to sulk, as what is a child to do over matters like these? So, you can say that Joey was also mistreated by his parents.

Joey did went to a missionary school, usually during 2 in the afternoon and ends at 4. In this school, he was usually taught about God and Jesus by the monks, who, truly believed that children should know basic things such as these to be good people. Even in school, Joey had no friends, as his parents, being too overly concerned with Joey's future, as well as not being able to accept Chirstianity, yet wanting Joey to go, forsake his feelings and caused the little boy to be miserable and sad as everyone else around him teased him about his family's reluctancy to convert. He was often ignored. They would often call him dirty child, since the monks, tho virtous, does lack symphaty towards those who do not believe in God, would often tease him and ridicule him in front of his classmates, who in turn looks down on him. As expected, no one would sit beside Joey during class. No one would even come near to even say hi for fear of being associated with a dirty child like him. Because of this, Joey would often spend his days sulking at the corner of his room when class was over instead of playing with his friends as he should.

In his small room, he would sulk. But one day, as he was sulking, thinking of how good would it be if he could have a friend that would play with him, talk with him and be his shoulder to cry on instead of his dirty blanket, a voice came out.

"Oh dear. Look who is crying now. Such a sad little child. Why not come play with me?"

Joey turned around. There was no one there. He continued crying.

"Hey, dont be a spoilsport. Look over here. Cant you see me standing by the window? The weather today is so nice, would be great to play a game of hide and seek, dont you think? Hugging the trees, enjoying the fresh air."
The voice continued, in a clear and distinct tone, similar to the voice of a child about his age.

"I...I...just need someone to talk to...really..." sobbed Joey, now looking towards the window with teary eyes.

Suddenly, he felt an embrace from behind.

"I'll be your friend to talk to Joey. I wont ever scold you or tease you in anyway. I'll always be here, beside you, no matter what happens so you can talk to me. I will never betray you." The boy whispered into Joey's ear, with his chest pressed against Joey's back and arms looped around Joey's neck, locking into a pendant at his chest. He had a soothing voice, as if he knew what Joey was going through and wanted to help him out of it.

"Geo...George today made fun of papa and mama saying that they were the devil's slaves again...everyone laughed at me...and...throwed stones at me!" Joey broke out with lots of tears, as well as a lot more painful stories to his new found friend, who sat patiently by his side and soothed him.

It lasted for 30 minutes, before Joey finally stopped pouring his heart out to someone, after all those years of keeping it inside of him. Finally, he had found a friend after 13 years of life. He hugged his friend tightly and cried, who then patted his back with a smile. That was soon over, and both were smiling.

"Erm, my name's Joey...what's yours?" Joey asked sheepishly

"It's unpronouncable in english, but you can call me Yvon. It's easier to pronounce" Yvon replied with a smile. It gave Joey the warmth that he was lacking.

"The day is not waiting for us Joey, and because of that, we will be going to a place where you will always be happy and never shed a tear...how does that sound?" Yvon looked at Joey with a smile. "I'll be waiting for you outside okay?"

Joey beamed for the first time in his life, and rushed outside the door, towards the direction of the forest where Yvon stands and waits. For the first time in the 13 years of his life, Joey felt alive and full of hope, to a new friend and new beginning in the story of his life.

Author’s note

I've always wanted to escape into my little own world of fantasy, so I hope you dont mind me using my own name here.

Special project: sanctuary is gonna be something that you guys have never really encountered before, because personally, it is my own fantasy more than anything else, so I guess it can be very original in this way of concept and story as well as the elements. Unlike my normal style of doing 1st person view, this is going to be a 3rd person view of the story. And, there wont be any adult elements in this story either.

I have always been facinated of the past, of medival times, of ancient times where things were so much more simple than it is now, the time where an adult's world was simply black or white, where kids can play and learn about life by experiencing it, where mythical things exists and people really believed in them....where standards were not really set by society, but by your own imagination as there wasnt really a society during that time, and also, where you have the space to do and be what you want without limitation.

And when you are ready, welcome to my world...my sanctuary...