Triumph over Troubles: Kizler's Journey of Strength and Faith.

*

There were two men that were not men who were in town. It was because of them that the tall woman came to visit me, and I am grateful for that.

I had heard rumors of the two, but never truly believed them until they appeared in my home. They were the first people to enter my home in an age. Inside they were a man and a boy, both pale and odd looking, with no markings or clothing to speak of. The man wore a hat, but it had no feathers on it, and he wore no clothes except for his long skin, which looked as soft as a rabbit's belly. His feet were bare and his hair long. He smelled strange and I almost wished he hadn't entered my home, but he did not stay long.

The boy was strange looking as well, but not so strange as the man. He was short like the others from the north--the ones who have left the land--but his hair was different than theirs. It was blacker than mine or any other person in town. His skin was pale like his father's but he had markings on his cheeks, around his eyes and on his arms and legs like mine. He wore clothing unlike either of his parents: a tight-fitting shirt and pants beneath a brown cloak with a hood that covered many more markings upon him. The boy was shy but polite, unlike his father who didn't say much at all; this made sense later when I learned that he could not speak our language natively.

The woman who visited me was the tallest woman in town...and the widest too! She weighed more than any other woman or man in town put together! But her weight did not slow her down; she moved quickly just like any other healthy person I knew! She brought with her meat as a gift for me for letting her into my home: beef from the cows that roamed around outside of town! My mouth watered when she set it down on my table; I haven't tasted beef since before I became mayor! I thanked her for her generosity and offered her water from my well which she accepted with delight. Our conversation lasted longer than any other conversation I have ever had with someone who is not an old friend or family member. She asked about my health, how my work went at being mayor, how my mother (who is also mayor) was doing...and then she asked if she could meet the two men who call themselves John and Peter. When I told her that they are here now inside my house she seemed surprised! "You're friends with them?" She asked incredulously when we walked into my house together.

I shook my head while smiling wide at her question! "No," I said slowly while shaking my head no vigorously in order to drive home the point: "They are not friends of mine." The three men inside looked up at us when we entered; one of them smiled politely at us while another frowned at us harshly and growled something at us angrily under his breath! The small one smiled and talked to me softly in their language while pointing to himself first then at each of our guests inside; it didn't take me long to realize that he wanted to introduce himself to them! That made me laugh happily! What a strange little creature he is! Suddenly he took off his cloak revealing even more writing on him underneath it! He then removed something from around his neck--a chain?--and put whatever it held onto one of our tables before introducing himself to each of our guests in turn! When he got to John who stood closest to him he pointed at himself first then waved his hand towards John before saying something softly that sounded like a name; maybe Kiz [ki] something? Then he pointed to Peter, pointed at himself again saying another strange sounding name before saying something else softly that ended with -on [an] something? Finally he pointed over towards himself once again saying yet another strange sounding name before waving goodbye and taking off back out of the house where we stood watching him curiously as he left us all standing there stunned at what just happened!

The tall woman laughed loudly after him joyfully before turning back towards us again with a smile on her face: "That child is adorable!" Then she turned towards me: "That's your son right?" Her question caught me off guard making me laugh heartily along with her because how could anyone think such a thing?! Me have children?! That would be impossible!! But thinking such thoughts made me feel sad because why would you think such things?! Why would you ever think such things?! Me knowing how ridiculous such thoughts were made me feel angry inside so I turned away from her without answering her question by asking some questions instead: "How do you know those men? Do you know why they're here?" And then I added: "Why are you here?" Her smile faded slightly when she saw how upset I was getting over those thoughts inside my mind, so she told me why she came: "They're looking for someone." She paused before adding: "Us." At this she looked back over towards those two men who stared coldly back at us through dark eyes filled with anger before continuing: "Peter wants answers about these markings..." Her words trailed off as if she realized something important only just now so she quickly added: "...and John wants answers about this place!" And with that she gasped quietly before raising both hands up in front of herself defensively as if anticipating something terrible happening next which made me begin laughing loudly again causing her to start laughing along with me again after seeing how crazy the idea sounded when spoken aloud between us both! We laughed together like old friends enjoying each other's company until I finally calmed down enough to ask more questions about what they meant by that statement which suddenly made her stop laughing abruptly leaving behind an awkward silence between us which lasted for quite some time until suddenly someone started coughing loudly inside my house making us stop laughing abruptly leaving behind an awkward silence between us which lasted...well...you know how this goes by now don't you?!