There once was a man who never talked. He never got in anybodies way and he normally kept to himself/ Most of the people thought he was odd not just because he didn't speak but because he had this box that he always kept with him. None of the village children bothered him because of the stories their parents told about the man. That if they were to get to close he would snatch them up and stuff them in his box. But for all of his peculiarities the man who never spoke was a kind an gentle man. On his rare occasions with people he would always smile and when he would eat at the local tavern he would always tip a little more than the other patrons.
One day while sitting in the tavern a beautiful woman walked in. She had dark brown hair and her gaze would melt your very heart, had you found yourself fortunate enough to be caught in it. She sat down next to the silent man and ordered her mead, while she waited for her drink she noticed the small man sitting next to her staring at his box intensely and holding it like as if he were to let go, then he would lose it forever.
"I'm Jun", said the woman "What's your name?".
Everybody in the tavern started laughing at her a if she was crazy/ The small man looked at her and flashed her a big smile and said...nothing.
Trying to start a conversation again she said "That seems like quite the box you got there, whats in it?" The man just looked at her and shook his head and continued to stare at his box. "I am impressed", she said "You have quite the way with words".
The quiet man looked at her and let out the tiniest chuckle anybody had ever heard and he bought her next drink.
As the night went on the lady continued to talk and the silent man listened. She talked about everything, about past lovers she has had, about her future and how she wanted to be a dancer.
During the middle of her speaking one of the more rowdy and annoying villagers chimed in. " Careful there lass, he's one of the crazier ones." Then leaning in real close to her he whispered "He keeps tiny children parts in that box, I'd watch out or you might be next!" The man howled in laughter and slapped the silent man on the shoulder.
Normally, this would upset a person but the silent man just sat there stoic and unflinching gripping his box ever tighter and mouthing words to it. The lady stood up and shoved the drunk man out of the way and checked to see if the little man was OK. But all he did was nod and continue staring off.
"Aren't you going to say anything?"she inquired. The man looked at her smiled and shook his head. "Does this always happen to you?" The man nodded and the lady was surprised.
The man was always ridiculed for his inability to speak. The fact that he couldn't use words to describe what or how he felt made him different in a bad way. He was slightly outcast despite his pleasant demeanor. In fact the only reason he was allowed at the tavern is because he was a paying customer.
"How d you handle it?" she asked. "I mean if it were me i would punch somebody or yell and scream, how do you manage it?"
He looked at her cautiously as if thinking about what he was going to say. He slowly stood up and walked out the door holding his box tightly as he went out into the cold night air. The woman quickly finished her drink and followed him outside but he was gone, like he had vanished into the darkness.
With disappointment in her heart she started to tread home when she was about half way home she heard a rustling behind her and quickly stopped. She turned around but nothing was there. She exhaled deeply to clear her head but when she turned around, there he was the silent man from the tavern. He grabbed her arm and threw her into an alleyway. She was petrified with fear and couldn't utter a sound. Then the man reached under his cloak and pulled out his box.
"This was it" she thought "I am gonna be hacked to tiny pieces and put in a box". She closed her eyes and expecting something terrible, but then there was a sound a most peculiar sound. It was the sound of tiny chimes like that of a music box. The lady was so entranced by the sound she stood up and started to pirouette in place and the silent man laughed.
After the music subsided the little man looked at her and spoke in a whisper, "It is so difficult for me to express what and how I feel because words never come to mind and the ones that do are so inadequate".
"So that's why you have the music box" she exclaimed."But because nobody pays attention to you, you don't share it with anyone...is that right?" The little man smiled and nodded.
Jun stood there for a moment and then leaned in and kissed the man on the cheek. "Well" she said "If I am going to dance, then I am gonna need some music".
She took the quiet man's hand and together they walked under the starlight.
