Felipe's Queer

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Part of The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People

Title: Felipe's Queer
Year: 1935
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Fulltext: April 1.985 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 57 Felipe's Queer Adventure By Antonio C. Munoz FELIPE was only twelve years old but his unusual strength was admitted by all the boys in his neighborhood. When a qual'l'el arose among his playmates, it was always Felipe who settled it. They all loved him but at the same time they feared him. It would not take him long to bring a stubborn or waywai·d playmate to subm1ss10n. He was honest and trnstworthy in that he never touched things which did not belong to him without the owner's pernuss1on. He was kind to animals, particularly the smaller ones like the frogs and the lizards. He lived with his foster parents in a hut. On one side of his home was the sea, and on the opposite side at a .distance of about five kilometers was a dense forest inhabited by wild animals. Felipe had an extrao1·dinary appetite. The biggest prnblem of the poor couple from day to day was how to secure enough food for their adopted son who cared for nothing else but a good meal. Although they kept domestic animals and a poultry in their home, both of the foster parents devoted much of thei1· time to fishing. Thei1· catch, however, would not meet the food expense of the family due to the excessive meals of Felipe. At last to help solve all these difficulties, they began to sell their cows and chickens. This went on from year to year and when Felipe was sixteen years old, they had prncticaily nothing left. ~The only things left in the home were the . ~ fish net and the hook and line with which ~the father would not part. j It was at this time that the foster fathe1· and mother thought of a plan. After a long conference, they decided to get rid of q;: their adopted son who had caused them ~ misery and brought them to that pitiable ~ condition. They decided to kill him in the forest by having a t1·ee fall on him. On the day fixed for the death of Felipe, the fisherman and his wife called their adopted son. "Felipe," the fisherman said, "you are old enough to help us. You are strong and healthy. Let us go to the forest today and cut trees for the posts of a new house that I shall build. You see this hut will soon fall. Will you go with us, Felipe?" "I will, father," the boy answered. "Are we ready to go?" "·Yes," said the fisherman, "we are." So off to the forest they went. Their chance to kill Felipe did not come until they came to a big tree. "Felipe," called· the fisherman, "stand on that side while I cut the trunk of this ·t1·ee. Catch the middle part when it falls so that it will not break. It is heavy, perhaps, but you are strong. I am sure it will not hurt you." Felipe understood the purpose of his foster father but feeling confident of himself, he made no objection. He walked 58 THE YOUNG CITIZEN April 19.J.S directly to the spot indicated. The father cut the trunk and when it began to fall, he closed his eyes. After the crash, he opened his eyes only to find Felipe smiling with the upper part of the trunk 1·esting on his shoulder. "I knew your purpose, father," he said, "and I also knew why you wanted to kill me. You are tired of feeding me but I never thought that you would get rid of me in this way. I pity you and I pardon you for what you have done. Now let me ask you a favor. Give me leave to go out and see the world. Some day, if luck comes to me, I shall make you and mother happy till the end." The fisherman could not answer at once. He was ashamed of what he had done. He embraced him and finally he said, "Go, my son, and may God be with you. We've done you wrong, and once again we ask you to pardon us." "I pardon you," repeated Felipe, "and now good-bye." The couple went home sad. Felipe took the opposite direction and soon disappeared in the thick forest. Night came. Felipe sat down under a tree to rest. Soon he heard the piercing shriek of a frog. Up he jumped and was just on time to save a little frog which was starting on its journey into the stomach of a snake. "Thank you, Felipe," said the frog. "You have done well for saving my life. Take this little stone with you for you will need it in time of trouble and difficulty. If you put it in your mouth, you will become invisible." Before Felipe recovered from his surprise at hearing a frog talk, the latter had already disappeared. He sat down again and examined the stone. It was round and smooth. He put it in his pocket and climbed the tree close by. There on the flat surface of the first and biggest brnnch he slept soundly. At dawn, after he had .eaten a part of his provision, he resumed his journey. Late in the afternoon of that day he came to a city. He begged for lodging from an elderly woman who gladly received him. From her '- , Felipe learned of the · queer customs of their rule1; whom they called the Count, and of the beauty of his only daughter whose name was Menia. The woman also told him that the Count was a sickly old man and that he had made up his mind to marry his daughter to the man who would pass certain tests. "These tests are not made known to the public," said the woman. "Anyone who t1·ies must eithe1· pass all of them or forfeit his life." "And has no one 1·isked his life for such a beautiful girl?" asked Felipe. "Oh, son," the woman sighed, "many have tried but they have all failed. Not one of them has come out of that castle again." "Tomonow," Felipe exclaimed, "I shall present myself at the palace and I assure you, my good woman, that I shall succeed." The woman said, "I like you, son, for you look honest, and honesty is something very rare in this place. I hate to see you doomed like the rest but there is something in you which makes me feel assured of (Pleose turn to page 76) 76 THE YOUNG CITIZEN FELIPE'S QUEER ADVENTURE your success. Go, my son, and may God bless you." Felipe turned around and there stood before him the queer-lookAp1'il 1.935 (Continued from pcigc 58) "I am," replied Felipe. "Do you see that castle at the The follmving morning Felipe ing person. end of the ga·rden ?" the Count was at the castle. A queer- "That's fine wo1·k," continued asked him. "Yes," answered Felipe. looking person took him to the the man. "I'll leave now for I Count. have duties to perform. So HI understand you have come long." "In that castle lives Menia, to take the tests," said the Count. Felipe was again alone in the my daughter. 1 want you to go "Tomon-ow at this time you will room but he noticed that all the there and get the ring which my daughter keeps in a tiny box. either live or die." doors and windows were open. You will find the bOx 011 the "Now, Cosco," he continued He looked out of the window. table in her room. As soon as dd . th 1 k' The streets and garden were you come to me in my room with a ressmg e queer- 00 mg per- deserted. Not a soul was in son, "take him to his qua·rters." sight. He went to the door. the ring, I shall call all my people and before them my daughter Felipe was conducted to a well~ Nobody was there except a coach and you will be united in marfurnished room. As soon as he and two white horses all ·ready riage." had sat down in a comfortable for anyone who would want to 'When the Count was gone, Felipe started fol· Menia's castle. At the door of his room he heard chair, the servant withdrew make a trip to a place far away. closing and locking ihe door be.. Felipe \vent back to his room. hind him. Felipe found himself On the table he saw bags of gold alone in the room. As there was coins. In a box he saw a collec .. one of the guards say, "Here he nothing to do, he lay down on tion of precious stones. There comes. Be .sure that you get the couch nearby. \Vhen his were diamonds, emeralds, rubies, him." back touched the cushion, the and many others. Anyone could "Don't worry," said another, light in the room became dim. have gotten away "with 'all those "for as long as I have this spear The things around him took on valuable things but the idea in my hand, that fellow will weird outlines. The doors and never came to Felipe's mind. never cross the line." window shutters creaked on He sat down and busied him- Felipe saw that the space betheir hinges. Felipe was not self looking at the pictures in the tween the two castles was well afraid. Soon he heard groans. room. gua1·ded. It was impossible for At last one of the pillars swayed him to reach the castle of Meand fell towards him. It \Vas "You are wonderful!" again very heavy and would have Felipe h~ard the same mocking C'rushed him io death had it voice. nia. He went back to his room and sat down. He was discouraged, not been for his superhuman strength. He caught it and it remained suspended in the air for a short time. Then again it slowly descended. Felipe use<l all his strength to check its downward progress. Now it went up as Felipe pushed it. Then it went down again as Felipe's muscles relaxed. At last with all the strength left in him, he gave the pillar a push and it fell to his side crushing the table nea·rby. He looked in the directi011 from "I'll g·ive it up," he sighed at which the voice came, and there last. Felipe quickly jumped up and immediately the room was flooded with light. Everything was in its proper place just as if nothing had happened. again stood the same queer-looking person. "Tonight," the man told him, "my master will come to visit you. He will give you the last test." Thereupon the man disappeared behind the curtain. Early that evening, the Count came to Felipe's ·room. "Good evening, greeted him. sir," Felipe "Good evening," returned the Count. "I see that you have proven yourself to be a man of extraordinary ability and I am 14 Well done, my friend!" mocking voice was heard. a beginning to like you. Are you ready for the last test?" "No!" cried someone behind him. Felipe turned around. There stood a frog smiling at him. "The stone, the stone! Felipe, have you forgotten the stone?" asked the frog. Immediately the frog disappeal'ed. Felipe was alone in the room. He thrust his hand into his pocket and drew out the small stone wh.ich the frog gave him. Then he put it in his mouth. \\'hen it touched his tongue, his hands, feet, and even his clothes disappeared. He knew he was there but could not see himself. He went to the mirror but there was no reflection there.