The Country’s Good Son by Minn New Thein [Lin Aung's mother had a shop in the Mingaladon market, whore she sold slippers. Lin Aung ‘helped his mother in the shop during his school holidays. As the Mingsladon market was an army ‘market, soldirs could be seen shopping there cally It was more crowded on Sundays, Many soldiers ‘could be seen moving about busily. It vas Sunday, and Lin Aung was sitting in front of the shop; “Younger Brother, do you have real Sinkyo' No. $2” A young man, wearing trousers, entered and askod him. Quickly Lin Aung took a palr of ‘Sinkyo' No. 9 slippers and showed them. “How much are these siipoers, Young Brothor?” ‘Twenty -one Kyats, Elder Brother.” "Can | take only the right side slipper and pay you ten Kyats and ‘ity pyas?” ‘The young man’s question mace Lin Aung's eyes become wide. If he sold only the right side, hhow could he sall tho loft sida? And why did he want only one sliopor? "You can’t do that. IL sell only the right side, the one left in the shop will boceme useless. “Yes, but | want only the right side. But walt, TIL go and look for a partner.” Lin Aung was let behind, coking at the back of the young man, Who walked away, limping. ‘Soon, the young man came back. He had another young man with him. The first young man ‘asked Ling Aung for the sliopers, and gave the lef side slipper to the young man we had come with him. Ke Iftedthe log of his trouser and put on tho slipper. Then he nodded with satisfaction. ‘Only then did Lin Aang understand. They were buying and sharing one pair of slippers. The {irstyoungman hada false let leg. and second young man had a fais right leg. So everythina was al Fight because there was one who warted only the right side, and another who wanted only the left ‘se Ln Aung was sorry to see the condition of the two young mon. They were quite young, and ‘thoy each had s leg missing. Don't you fea! sad that you have only one leg?” Lin Rung as inquisitive ‘and asked them. “Why should wo be sad?" the first young man smiled. “We are soldiers who offered ‘even cur own lives for our country. Wie are proud to lose a leg in protecting cur county.” When Lin Aung heard the frst young man’s answer, he respected them. They were very tterent trom the young drug addleis about wtom he had offen read in the newspapers. They were ‘wasting heir lives and kiling themselves. ‘These young mon were the country's good sens who wore protecting the country trom Ks enemies. Their alms and intentions wore 2s dilfeent trom those of the addicts 2s east from west, orth trom south. although these young men had one leg missing, they still wanted to serve thelr ‘county. The two young solders told Lin Aung that they planned to werk In the disabled soldiers ‘cooperative shap. “| rospect you and henor you. You good sons of the country are the jowels of cur county. ‘When! grow up, I wil wy to be aggod son ofthe country like you” ‘The two young soldiers smiled to hear Lin Aung's words. "We acmire your intention. Our ‘county's future wil really bo bright if there were more young people in our country with the samo aim and intontionas yours. Allright, we will go now. ‘The wo young soldiers sald goodbye fo Lin Aung ard went away. Lin Aung wes filed with the ‘desire tobecome a good san ofthe country.