Library: And so it Begins, A Lost Times Tale.

"Tell me a store, Yari ;)" "Hmm, a store, eh?" I pondered a moment, looking out over the waves, shielding my eyes against the blight glare from the sun. "I assume you mean a story, my marble-mouthed friend..." We chuckled, pausing a moment to admire the sea birds that always fly so near to a passing ship. "Yes, a store, indeed, it is curious how the mind works, that simple slip of the tongue reminds me of a tale..." Once there was a large and talented man. His talents all lay in inventing. He was creative and dextrous, a combination that allowed him to create many things, items that the average person would need. Always something of a hermit, he lived outside a small(but growing! as the new mayor would say) village, never much paying attention to the new local population. He went about, solving problems in his own life, making tools and kits that could be used for a wide variety of tasks until one day, a somewhat homely man(indeed, it was widely rumored that he had some ogreish blood running in his veins) who was new to the area, happened upon him as he was hard at work with one of his tools, and said "Hello, good man. Please, tell me, what is that tool used for? It is most curious in appearance!" "Why, it's a simple device," said our inventor, quite pleased that anyone at all was interested in one of his 'crazy inventions'(as the local nay-sayers labelled them), "it can take average meat and pack it into this compact metal container, for long-term storage." He tossed a strange cylinder of metal to the man. "I call them, for lack of a better term, 'tins'. I suppose not the most original name, but it suits them, wouldn't you agree?" The unsightly man grinned in agreement. "I must say, sir, that this tinning process is quite ingenious! Might I purchase the apparatus to make my own tins? A tool like this could serve me well, I think!" So, this tinker, he thought a moment, smiled, and said "Sure, here, take it, for free, since you like it. Never had anyone show so much interest in my hobbies, I must say, thank you for your enthusiasm." The buyer considered this and accepted the kit graciously. "Here," he said, holding a scrap of vellum out to the tinker. "I can be reached at the location shown on this small map. I am new to town, and intend to stay. If you ever wish to sell these kits on a more organized basis, let me know, I have capital to invest in a man such as yourself." The tinker accepted the paper, thanked the man again, and bade him farewell. He nearly forgot the entire encounter. Until, some years later, a great famine struck the land. Now, our tinker, he was quite prepared, with these tins of his, he could weather a basic famine. The world at large, that was a different story. He was known in town as a generous and simple man, and soon people were asking him for food. "Hopo, my good man," they would say, "do you have any tins to spare?" Well, hopo, being a kind sort, never turned them away. Soon, he realized that he was nearly out of food, himself. Villagers kept coming to ask for food, and he would turn them away. "No, I am sorry, I cannot feed you any longer. I must conserve what I have, so that I am able to survive!" He would say, all the while feeling terribly guilty that he was unable to assist these folk. His friends, such as they were, became angry, they thought he was being greedy, witholding some great cache of food. They became more and more demanding, until, one day, poor old asidonhopo lost his temper. "FINE," he shouted, over the din of a crowd that was clamoring outside his very abode. "If you want food, go make it yourself! I have these kits, you are all perfectly capable of making your own damned food!" The townspeople grinned and surged forward to snatch the kits! Old Hopo jumped in front of them and stopped them with a glare(Old Hopo was quite burly, indeed. one glare was enough to stop nearly anyone.) "NO, you are all to learn a lesson!" he roared, "If you wish to have one of my kits, you will have to pay for them! No more will I put up with your grabbing and demanding with no reward!" The townsfolk appeared a bit guilty, and the rattle of changepurses began. Hopo sold all his kits save one, his personal kit. That evening, after the folk had dispersed, Hopo pondered the day's events. He remembered the man who had so long ago asked him to sell his inventions, and decided that the time had come. No longer could he live on charity, it had gotten him nowhere. He contacted the man from so long ago, and told him of his plight, inviting him to come to his house to discuss possible business arrangements. The man returned, dressed in the finery of the extremely wealthy. "Hopo," he said, "from your generousity from so long ago, I have profited greatly. With my kit, I too stockpiled tins aplenty! However, unlike you, I have been selling my foods, so I am quite rich now." "I received your message about your situation, and my offer still stands, but I'd like to alter it a bit. In return for your great generousity so long ago, I shall give you the money to start your own store, no strings attached! Now, shall we begin working out details?" He flashed a grin(A handsome grin! His teeth were not only clean, but straighter! He was wealthy indeed!) and they began to work out the details of Asidonhopo's new store. After a long night of work, and a sumptuous meal of Haggis and fine drink, the last details were set. Construction could begin at any time. They stood, and Asidonhopo thanked the man. "Joe," he said, "any time you need a new kit, be sure to drop by, I will always have one for you, you know that..." Then, with a grin, "By the way, the haggis needs some salt!" Joe chuckled, and, with that, they parted company. To this day Asidonhopo and Joe are the most prominent businessmen in all the lands. I paused a moment, somewhat lost to the world, as I usually am after recounting tales of the old times. The sun had set, and the sky was at my favorite point, when the purples and blacks are overtaking the last bit of orange. "That's quite a tale, Y. Someday you ought write it down for all to enjoy, you know." I laughed. "Me, write a book, indeed..." Hmm, perhaps, perhaps.

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Library: And so it Begins, A Lost Times Tale.