Decisions, decisions.

The monks offered to educate young Gedhun in their school at their monastery. They would be back at the market in 3 weeks time. Jampa and Pemba could think about it. If they decided to send Gedhun for an education it was just a matter of meeting the monks back at the market next month. Think about it they said. 

The monks headed back through the busy market and began their 35 mile journey back home, while Gedhun, Pemba and Jampa headed back up the path toward their place.

Jampa spoke first.

‘He’d be the first in our family to be educated.’

‘We need him to work with us, with all the farming’ replied Pemba.

‘He’s got 2 older brothers, we’ll be fine.’

‘But you and I aren’t getting any younger.’

‘20 years ago it was just the 2 of us and we handled it just fine.’

‘I don’t know, sending a young boy far away to live with strangers.’

‘It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. No one in our family has ever gone to school. You’re his father, so you decide. But I’m your father and I would have sent you if we had the opportunity.’

Pemba stopped walking, looked at Jampa, then looked at his son. ‘I’ll sleep on it’ he said. 

Gedhun thought to himself about what it would be like to live with the monks in a far way place, away from his family. He thought about school, and learning, and education. He didn’t know too much about it but he found it interesting.

The 3 of them trudged up the hill toward home. 

They stopped at Chokey’s home again, just as they had done on their walk down to the market. She had some black tea boiling and offered it to them. The group sat around in a small circle outside, in front of Chokey’s place, drinking the tea. She told Jampa about one of their neighbors, Dorje, who had died suddenly a few months ago. And Dorje’s wife, who had been living alone since the death of her husband, had decided to relocate to her sister’s family’s home on the other side of Chusul. Anyway, the wife had 2 water buffalo that she was going to take with her to her sister’s place. Unknown to her the cow was pregnant and had just produced twins, a rarity, but it happened. So now she finds herself with 4 animals instead of 2. And obviously the calves must stay with the cow until they are weaned. 

‘So’ Chokey said, ‘Are you interested in 3 water buffalo? She’s only taking the bull along to her sisters.’

‘How would we possibly buy them?’ asked Pemba.

‘She’s just looking for a good home for them right now, you can work out something with her’ replied Chokey.

‘We’ll take them’ said Jampa, ‘and we’’ll take good care of them.’

‘OK’ said Chokey ‘I’ll let her know.’

They said goodbye to Chokey and turned back up the path.

Jampa stopped and turned toward Chokey.
‘I almost forgot’ he said, pulling a few of the candles from his bag. ‘Try some of these. They’re pre-made, from the market.’

Chokey took the candles. She turned her head sideways a bit and inspected them closely. They looked perfect she thought. 

‘Thanks’ she said.

As they hiked up the hill back home Jampa thought about the water buffalo. The milk, cheese, ghee, butter, and yogurt they could supply. One of the calves were male and he’d grow up to help plow the fields. And then there was dung, which could be dried, and stacked and used for fuel. He was excited.

Pemba thought about Gedhun going off with the monks to be educated. He wasn’t sure if it was the right decision, but he did realize that it was the opportunity of a lifetime. What were the chances of them crossing paths with the monks today at the market? And speaking with them. And having a young son who was primed for an education, a free education at that. He was happy but anxious.

Young Gedhun daydreamed about the music box that the man in the market had. The strange and funny music that was blaring from it. And how the ladoos and the fried mozzarella balls were the same shape and size, but were made of something completely different. He certainly wasn’t hungry.

They arrived home back home just as the sun was setting. Gedhun looked across the valley and noticed it had rained. The last rays of the sun reached out to touch the moist air over in the valley, forming a rainbow.