The Jaguar and the Boy
The sun shone brightly in the sky. The sounds of the jungle woke up Daniel. He rubbed his eyes and looked about the window. The Amazon jungle dominated the view. He could see birds flying and looking for food. The jungle had always fascinated him. It was so full of life. Daniel stood up and went to help in the kitchen. His chore today was to cook. He could hear his sister, Maria, doing laundry at the back of the house. Then Daniel remembered that today was his day of fishing with his dad. He wasn’t particularly fond of fishing. He knew it was a way of spending time with his father because the rest of the week his father traveled to Rio to sell their hunt. Daniel finished their breakfast and went to find his dad. His village was located about a marathon to the west of Manaus. There were 25 houses located in a circle. Water was installed about 2 years ago. He knew everyone of the village. Suddenly he heard someone a voice. He looked around and saw no one. Daniel shook his head and kept walking. He had a special gift. Since he was little he had heard things others couldn’t. When he asked if anyone heard it, they would all say no. When he grew up he realized that he could read minds. He had tried to deny it but the more he grew the more thoughts he heard. As he was pondering all of this, he didn’t know that this trip would change his life forever.
Daniel found his dad preparing the boat. They had to travel a little bit upriver. Their boat was a long canoe. The Amazon River dominated the view from where I was standing. Dad got in the boat and motioned for me to get on. My dad started rowing upriver. I had heard that there were new boats that ran on coal. His village wasn’t very advanced. The year was 1956. They were starting to build a new capital. They said it would be a really big city. They were making good progress. Suddenly, the boat lurched. Daniel was launched of the boat and into the water. He fought against the current but it was too strong. The last thing he saw was his father shouting at him and he was enveloped by blackness.
Daniel coughed and woke up. He rubbed his eyes. The first thing he saw was trees. Immediately he stood up and checked his surroundings. He didn’t recognize a single landmark. He was lost. Daniel was really scared. He was alone in the jungle which had many dangers. When he looked up he saw it was almost dark. He got some wood and made a fire.
He had been watching the boy since he came from the river. By sheer luck, the boy wasn’t bitten by any fish of the river. Jaffara had come up by the boy lying unconscious in the beach. He lied down and watched the boy light a fire.
Daniel woke up to find large yellow eyes staring at him. He immediately froze. On top of him was a large black jaguar. The jaguar was looking at him with curious eyes. Then suddenly Daniel heard a voice. There was no human near. He realized that those were the jaguar’s thoughts. He had asked who he was. By instinct, Daniel expanded his thoughts to the jaguar and told him his name. The jaguar looked surprised that this kid had that ability. The jaguar told Daniel his name was Jaffara and he had something to offer to him. The jaguar would teach him how to survive but Daniel had to teach the jaguar to fish. Daniel readily agreed.
Over the course of the year, Daniel and Jaffara became inseparable friends. Jaffara was the most able jaguar in the whole jungle and Daniel had learned to survive. Also Daniel learned a lot of each animal in the jungle and which to stay away from. Many other jaguars were jealous of Jaffara. While they were fighting for food, he was happily fishing. They wanted Daniel to teach them also. But he didn’t because they were rude to Jaffara. The jaguars decided to kill Jaffara. One day, Jaffara and Daniel were enjoying a meal when they were attacked. Jaffara received a mortal blow. Daniel had just lost his best friend. The jaguars were about to attack Daniel when they heard a shout. The jaguars escaped and Daniel saw something he hadn’t seen in a year. A man was looking at him with curious eyes. The man took Daniel but he didn’t want to leave Jaffara out there. The man dragged him and Daniel left with a sad face at leaving his friend behind.
The story of the boy who had survived a year in the jungle was known all over the world. Daniel grew up and married. He had 2 kids. But he always remembered Jaffara his greatest friend. He yearned to leave this world and go to the next so that Jaffara and he can be together again. And this time forever.
sebastiandesoto 