In a far time and a far place, there was once a quaint town. In this town, was a forest called the Schlack Wald. Said forest was heavily feared by the residents and many adults had warned their children of the malevolent spirits looming in that area. Every child was told, except for Little Boy Barry.
Little Boy Barry was but the age of twelve. Yet, for his age, he had encountered many travesties. By the age of three he had become motherless due to a thick plague of disease. Then, he was left fatherless two years after because of cowardice. He was then situated in a small orphanage that was utterly horrible for a weak boy such as he. However, Little Boy Barry was determined to continue on, for he was solemn that it would be the correct thing to do. However, the other children made it difficult to keep that ideal. Many jeered him for his parentless state, or on his small frame and slow uptake on conversations. The children were ruthless to Little Boy Barry, but Little Boy Barry was foolish to forgive them every time.
The most interesting part of the tale of this boy begins when the children had one day decided to play a trick on the poor child. They had called out to him in the town plaza one day and ask him to fetch an apple from one of the stalls with some money they gave him. The poor boy didn’t know what he was getting into, and accepted the quest.
Little Boy Barry walked through the marketplace to see that there were no such apples in the area. He was fearful that if he didn’t complete the job, the children would not accept him. So he continue on, this time he asked around for apples for the quite heavy bag. Unfortunately, no one possessed such things. So, he walked back empty-handed and head down in shame.
The children, of course, knew of this, but still scowled at him in rage. They looked at the pitiful boy in a condescending stare, before they huddled up and seemed to be discussing. Little Boy Barry could only watch as they whispered in soft voices.
In those whispers, one boy had said, “What should we give him as punishment?” quite loudly. Little Boy Barry shivered to think of a greater punishment than the last (it consisted of being in wet clothes for an entirety of a week, dreadful it was) and twiddled his thumbs and he continued to listen.
A girl had whispered, at the same volume as the boy. “Maybe we should let him roam about with only a dress and take him to the drunks!” She giggled playfully. Barry didn’t like that option either, he thought with a shiver.
“No.” The leader boy had chimed in. “Why don’t we let him find apples in the forest.” He said with a grin. Barry had thought none of it at the time, and failed to see the relevance of it. However, before he could hear their agreement, the leader had walked to him in a steady face.
“Alright Barry,” He said with a smug grin. “I have deemed you worthy of redemption. Therefore, your new task is to find apples in the forest at the edge of town.”
Little Boy Barry was a bit curious to the task, so he asked, “Why in the forest at the edge of town?” The leader had frowned.
“No questions!” The boy had said in a growl. Barry had yelped and back away a little, shriveling in his boots.
“Right!” He managed to stumble out. “No questions! Get apples from the forest! I got it!” The other children silently giggled from behind the taller boy in front of him. Little Boy Barry chose to ignore it and start walking, or, more like jogging to the forest before the other boy had called to him again.
“Don’t come back until you get us that apple, you hear?!” Barry had called out something that wasn’t that audible and rushed into the slender trees.
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