The Country’s Good Son
by Minn New Thein
{Lin Aung's mother had a shop in the Mingaladon market, where she sold slippers. Lin Aung
helped his mother in the shop during his school holidays. As the Mingaladon market was an army
‘market, soldiers could be seen shopping there daily It was more crowded on Sundays. Many soldiors
Could be soen moving about busily.
1 was Sunday, 2nd Lin Aung was situng in tront of the shop; "Younger Brother, do you have
ral 'Simkye’ No. 8?" A yourg man, wearing trousers, entored anid askod him. Quickly Lin Aung took 2
Dar of ‘Sinkye" No. 9 slippers and showed them. “How much are these slippers, Young Brother?"
Twonty -one Kyate, Elder Brother.” "Can take only the right aldo slipper and! pay you ton Kyais and
Atty pyae?”
‘The young man’s question made Lin Aung's eyes become wide, If he sold only the right side,
how could he sell the loft sido? And why didhe want only one slipper? “You can't do that If sell caly
the right sido, the one eft in the shop will become useless. "Yes, but | want only the ight sido. But
wait, I'll go and look for a partner.” Lin Aung was left behind, looking at the back of the young man,
who walked away, limping,
‘Soon, the young man came ack. He had another young man with him. The frst young man
asked Ling Aung for the sippe’s, and gave the let side slipper to the young man who had come with
him. He lifted the log of his trouser and put on the slipper. Then he nodded with satisfaction
Only then did Lin Aung understand. They wore buying and sharing one pair of elippors. The
first young man had a false leftleg, and second young man had a false right leg. So everything was al
right because tere was one who warted only the right side, and another who wanted only the left
siee.
Lin Aung was sony to see the condition of the two young men. They were quite young, and
they each had leg missing. “Don't you feel sad that you have only one log?” Lin Aung as inquisitive
and asked thom. ‘Why should we be sad?” the first young man smiled. (We are soldiers who offered
{even our own lives for our country. We are proud to ose a leq in protecting our country.”
Whon Lit Aung hoard the first young man's answer, he respected thom. They were very
dierent from the young drug addicts about whom he had offen read in the newspapers. They were
wasting thelr lives and kiling themselves.
‘These young men were the country’s good sons who were protecting the country from Its
onomrios. Their aime and infontione wore as diforent fram those of the edaiete a0 oaat from woot,
north from south. Although these young mon had ono log missing, they atl wanted to s0rve their
County. Tae two young soldiers told Lin Aung that they planned to work in the disabled roldiers
‘onperative shop.
“respect you and honor you. You good sons of the cauntry are the jewels of our country.
When | grow up, I will ry to bo 2 good son of the county like you.
‘The two young soldirs smiled to hear Lin Aing's Words. "We admire your intenton. Our
country's future wil really be bright there were more young poop In cur country with the samo aim
and intontionas yours. Alright, we will go now.
“The to young soldiers said goodbye to Lin Aung and went away. Lin Aung was filled withthe
desire to become a good son of the country.