Page 46 - April 2021 Voices

GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE
What the Heart Treasures
Paul Fanning, DTM
Fellow Toastmasters, guests, and friends. Gather
ye ‘round me while I relate this tale—a tale that
may be more legend than fact, but nevertheless
a tale of a land far away in another century. A
tale of what the heart treasures and our response
to its call upon us mere mortals. A tale of the
mysterious Kingdom of the Sun and a relic of
great price. However, dear listener, not always
is understood by all that which is the treasure
of the heart.
It is a tale of two boys growing up together.
These boys were neither brothers, or cousins, nor
related to each other. But closer kin neither would
ever know as they had met when incredibly
young, began playing together, spending their
free time swimming in the waters of the port,
racing through the bazaar in a game of chase,
or skipping stones across the canal. They were
inseparable, two peas in a pod, and closer a friend
to each other than by blood.
Dawud may have been the younger of the
two, but he was wiry, thin and had the look of
a proud people living many days and centuries
from the port city. Tame, the elder, on the other
hand, resembled the local people—his skin tone
46 ONE COMMUNITY
a richer hue of the desert, well-built and solid.
Their temperament and demeanor were different
as well, with Tame being more carefree and
not serious, while Dawud was studious, patient
and often caring of his adopted brother. Whilst
young, this did not present a problem as they
were both able to laugh off their differences
and then run amid the streets and stalls in the
great marketplace. It was there where a small rift
between them began to form, ever so slowly, but
inaudibly, with neither one wanting to point it
out to the other.
One frightfully hot day they had been playing
chase and the heat gained the upper hand upon
Tame, who chose to rest next to the open door
of a shop selling trinkets and baubles. Intrigued
by the sight of the glistening objects made of
brass but looking like molten gold, he waited
for Dawud. He suggested they go and browse,
taking full advantage of the shade and perhaps
a cool drink that was oft proffered by proprietors
to their customers.
They slowly and quietly entered in as if they
were entering the house of worship. As if by
magic, the owner suddenly appeared, his long