The World We Do Not Know 76 What Is Life - 04

Faust is standing outside with an unsure face. Clara went inside the house, asking Faust to wait outside. It's been fifteen minutes and no sounds of human movements can be heard from inside.

"Ahem! I see, leave it to me!" Clara is seeming to walk outside, beside her is an old man, seemingly in his sixties. 

The old man has a lean looking body with a small grey beard without a single strand of hair on his head.

His eyes travelled from top to bottom on Faust, scrutinizing his body. "Eh! He looks too little, are you sure he is 10?" He asks in a surprise.

"Yes! Trust me dad! he is. Just give him the work, pleaseeeeeee?" Her eyes suddenly goes round as she lowers her head pouting her lips.

"Ah ah! I get it, stop with those puppy eyes already." He arrogantly gestured a stop sign with his hand. 

"Yay!" Clara bends lower to plant a kiss on the old man's cheeks. She hurries towards Faust, bending down with her hands resting on her knees she continues. "You can stay here with my dad if you like. You need to just help him in his work and I will pay your school fees."

"Not a bad deal huh? I hope you both get along." Clara says with a bright smile, her face is so pure and innocent.

*"Is she the same age as that kid or what? Acting like a little kid. Tsk!"* Her father mutters under his breath.

"Th-thank you! I will do my best. I will never forget your help." It did not take a second for Faust to lower his head and appreciate the help of Clara. He is almost sure that n.o.body is going to help him out of this,  but Clara appeared out of nowhere to solvel his problem without him even asking her.

-

After two weeks, Clara visits the house again to check up on Faust. The old man is sitting outside of the house, smoking a cheap cigarette. "Dad! How can you smoke with Faust around? You are going to become a bad example to him." Clara yells at her dad as soon as she sees him fill his lungs with the warm smoke.

"I already offered him a Cigarette, he said he doesn't need it. Anyway what are you doing here?" The old man answers calmly showing his coolness and composure. 

"Huh??? Dad! Don't be so harsh with him! He is just a kid! You did these same things with my boyfriend when I brought him to introduce to you. You offered him alcohol and when he did, you kicked him out."

"But Faust here is a little kid! Stop testing him. You weirdo!" Clara bursts out of anger.

"I don't care! Men will be men! Even if it's a 10 year old. So I tested him out, he spends very little time with me though." Her father replies in a strict tone.

"What? Why? I thought he was living with you?" 

"He said he have someone to take care of in his home, so he is only spending little to with me."

"What? That can't be! He doesn't have anyone anymore. Could he be lying to escape work?"

"I don't think so! That kid!" The old man blows the smoke out of his mouth in an enjoyable manner. His eyebrows touches each other.

"He is exceptional!"

"Huh? What are you saying now? What are you saying? Did he visit you today?" Clara doesn't understand what was happening at all, her concerning sides takes over her as she sits beside her father asking about Faust.

"Yes of course! Can't you see him?" The old man points his finger towards the farming fields before him.

Clara doesn't notice anything at first. But after a few moments, she sees a small boy pulling a heavy metal fork like equipment.

"H-huh? Huh???? Huhh?" Dad! Have you gone crazy? You are making a small kid cultivate and farm our land? What are you thinking?" Clara gets up on his feet and walks fast towards Faust.

In the meanwhile, the old man grabs the hand of Clara pulling her back beside him. "What are you doing? He said he wanted to do that work, so he is working hard everyday. You shouldn't disturb his focus." He utters.

"That kid is not normal, he is not weak like you think. He is filling the ground with that huge metal tied to his back. He is raking the very ground. Shovelling it and picking it and separating the land."

"Isn't he the laughing stock of our village? He is doing this for 5 hours straight. Without a break. He is farming our land." The old man announces with a hint of pride.

Clara is lost in her own thoughts as her father is telling her what Faust is doing everyday. And while she is lost, Faust comes from the fields, wiping the dirt off his face, hands and legs.

"I have completed today's work! Let me know if you need help with chopping wood. I can help you with that too." Faust casually walks up to the old man and talks to him as if he has done nothing out of the ordinary.

He isn't even gasping for air, nor withering in pain. "Ah yes yes" the old man gets up to go inside his house, comes out with a vessel.

"That is your dinner for you and the person you are taking care of. Come back tomorrow, I will give you your lunch box." The old man hands the vessel to Faust.

Faust bows to the old man and also to Clara who is still in shock and leaves to his house.

He enters the house, turns on the lights and the chimney and places the food on the table.

"Grandpa…"