23/09/2025
The Big Dream
By Ba Thomas Tarr
In a region surrounded by hills, freshwater bodies, and dense forests, a certain village was filled with excitement as villagers raised their javelins and prepared to crown a new king. That morning, the sun was shining brightly; the streets were decorated with colorful flags and flowers. Amid the festivities, a man named Youdy was troubled by a disturbing dream.
Youdy dreamed that he was in the ground room of the king's palace; he saw the king sitting at his dining table. After he was sent away, he noticed three human heads on the table. Youdy was troubled by the sight and hurried to warn the villagers of the impending doom.
As Youdy recounted his dream, the villagers were skeptical and amused. One villager scoffed at him, "What do you know about kings and their affairs?" He said, "Those heads are obviously your imagination!" Others spoke up, believing they had connections to the king and insisting that nothing would affect them directly. Youdy's dream was considered speculation, which made the dreamer feel isolated and anxious.
As the days passed, everything went on as usual in the village. However, a month after the new regime came to power, tragedy struck. The head of a village elder was separated from his body, which caused panic throughout the village. Despite the grim reality, many villagers did not still believe that the king’s anger would reach them. “It’s just a coincidence,” they explained, shaking their heads in disbelief. Yet, it's clear that some villagers use their closeness with the king to undermine their colleagues in the village.
As the king entered the eighth month of his reign, the atmosphere became tense. Fear and uncertainty filled the air, but the villagers refused to accept that the situation was deteriorating. They believed that the connection with the royal family would protect them from harm. By the twelve month, the unthinkable happened; this time, the head of the chief elder and guide chief were cut off, paving the way for the king to reconnect his allies into the palace, disregarding qualifications and experience of individual farmers in the village.
As they realized the seriousness of the situation, panic swept the village as they were confused about who could be the next person. The once lively celebrations were suddenly replaced by whispered conversations filled with fear. Youdy, who was concerned about the terrible situation, also felt both sorrows. He saw the warning signs, but the villagers chose to ignore them because they thought they were safe from the king’s cruel rule.
The villagers realized that their dismissive attitude toward Youdy's dreams cost them dearly. The moral of their story is clear: never ignore anything that affects others, because the consequences can be disastrous. From that day on, the villagers have learned a lesson and promised to listen to each other and stick together in times of adversity if their village should be a better place. They discovered that the bond of community is stronger than any illusion of security and that the fate of one can affect the fate of all.
