THE TWO NOSEY PARKERS

THE TWO NOSEY PARKERS

There were, in the good old days, two brothers John and Jacob. Their father was a farmer. He was proud of his sons in every respect. They boys were such as their parents could be proud of them. There, however was a failing in them. They were far too curious and meddled in everybody’s affair to know who did what. Nobody would want others to meddle in his or her affairs. Nobody liked eaves droppers. But John and Jacob were obsessive eavesdroppers.

One day, an earl arrived at the inn. John and Jacob came to know about the earl’s visit. They were bitten by the curiosity bug and wanted to see what the earl was doing. Had they openly done so, it was possible, the earl wouldn’t have liked and expressed his displeasure. But the curious brothers always did things stealthily. However stealthily they did, the earl – he ate the choicest delicacies and drank the best wine at the inn – came to know about the two boys and became aware, they were prying into his affairs. But he didn’t show his annoyance. He, on the contrary, pretended, he knew nothing and saw nothing. He went about his work as though nothing had happened. In the short while, he paid for his food and drink and left the inn in a grand coach. During his short stay at the inn, he had conducted himself in the manner of a born aristocrat. After the earl left, the brothers, who had eaves – dropped, went in. As the earl left, he muttered to himself but taking care that his words were audible to John and Jacob, “He who opens the gate of the golden city with the golden key will become the king. However, one must keep one’s curiosity in check, if one is to succeed.” The curious brothers found a silver button.

Suddenly the silver button stood up and started rolling. The brothers guessed that the rolling silver button was showing them the way to the golden city. They were elated. That was the thing they badly needed, they thought. They trailed the rolling button. It led them over a long way. They trailed it day and night. At night, it glittered in the darkness.

The brothers had little difficulty in seeing it by night. The rolling button led them to a new town where houses had roofs of gold and doors of glittering silver and, in the courtyards of houses, there were precious stones instead of pebbles. The rolling button led them to a house. There was no one inside. But the curious brothers went in. When they thought of food, a dining table and chairs appeared from nowhere! The table was laid with delicious and delectable beverages. Meanwhile, a dog and a cat came in and asked the youths if they could share the foods and drinks. They had plenty to eat and drink and slept on cozy bed. The cat and dog were very pleased with Jacob and John. The dog said – it spoke like a human being – “There is a stairway at the tower. You have to go right up to the top. You will find the golden key at the top. You can open the city gate with the key. Don’t take notice of anything on the way. If you are curious, you wouldn’t succeed in your mission”. They led the brothers to the city tower. The tower had a steep staircase. It was so tall that he couldn’t see its end. The brothers were daring and enterprising. Had it not been so, they wouldn’t have left their parents, their fields and their horses and set out on the mission. They were a highly motivated and determined lot. They went up the staircase. Midway, they saw a room to the right. But they ignored it and kept up their seemingly endless ascent. In the end, their determination and persistence paid off. They found the golden key.

They took the key and started their descent. Midway, to their right, they saw a board which read, “Inside, there is a golden chest. If you open it, you will see yourself as you really are.” You can imagine what the two brothers, who were notorious for their intrusive curiosity, would do. Wouldn’t they be curious to look at themselves and know themselves as they were? But they remembered the earl’s advice not to be overly curious. They remembered too the dog’s warning that their undue curiosity could come in the way of their becoming king.

Even the compulsive intruders, that the brothers were, stifled their curiosity to an extent. But soon their determination gave way. The two foolish people rushed into the room which they saw midway. They went in and saw a mirror covered by a curtain. Driven by their powerful impulse, they pulled down the curtain covering the mirror. Just then, a rumbling thunder was heard which heralded utter ruin. The two brothers looked into the mirror and were appalled to see their reflections in the mirror. They had the most hideous noses. They realized, it was a punishment for their undue curiosity.

They saw no golden tower now. There was no glitter anywhere. They city was in a shambles. There was utter ruin all around. The two brothers muttered, “The cat and the dog should be dead now.” Then the two animals appeared before the brothers. They said that whatever had happened – the disappearance of the golden tower, and the plain houses with no golden roofs or silver doors – was a punishment. But they could yet succeed if they would guard the golden chest for three days and as many nights, resisting the temptation to look into the chest.

Then the world’s most curious brothers sat by the side of the golden chest. By sheer force of habit, they rushed to open the chest. One said, perhaps, there was something to eat. The other said, perhaps, they could find something to drink in the chest. They were about to open the chest with, possibly disastrous consequences. But even the compulsive meddlers and born interlopers, that they were, overcame their curiosity and held each other’s hands lest they opened the chest. They remembered the punishment they had already suffered – long and ugly noses and the uglier fingers – and somehow guarded the chest for three days and three nights. They had succeeded at last, if only for once!

The dog and the cat came to them. They turned into the king and the queen. The queen gave John and Jacob a mirror. They saw their noses and fingers were normal again.

There was a thunder. But it didn’t bring down the golden tower or the golden city. The city of stone stood once again with teeming populace. It was a large city, with people actively engaged in the business of living. The city was flourishing and was abuzz with activity.

An exuberant king told the curious brothers, who had conquered their curiosity, “My good boys, your parents can well be proud of you. Take them to the castle.”

The boys’ parents started living with their sons in the castle enjoying the privileges of the royalty. In course of time, the old king abdicated his crown. John sat on the throne, Jacob was his adviser, as they had settled among themselves quite some time earlier.