Compassion

The pale beige skin, glistening oval eyes, blinking each time as the annoying flies tried to make a temporal landing on the black long eyelashes. She stood there amongst her kind, looking at the commotion going on at the big white tents. Men and women wearing impeccably ironed uniforms sat at the VIP seats, deep in conversation with each other. The villagers, young and old, with colourful scarves draped across their shoulders, chattered away excitedly. Children were running around in their tattered clothes, occasionally peering over to the tents. Everyone was waiting for the event was start.

There she stood quietly. Soon, her days would be spent down at the fields, ploughing through the stubborn soil, dried by the harsh sun shining down on the little village deep in the north eastern part of Thailand. With her hard work, the farmer’s care, and with the grace of Mother Nature, this place will be filled with a golden sea of wheat. Water is scarce and the droughts have been putting frowns on the humans’ face. She must do her duty to serve the humans, and in return, she will be fed and protected from being killed for meat.

Suddenly, the crowd became noisier. Their guests have finally arrived, led by a smiling monk dressed humbly in bright saffron robes. The English teacher of the village school made the announcement through the microphone and the whole village erupted with cheers. They quickly removed the colourful scarves from their weather-beaten necks and draped them around their benefactors’ waist. It was a gesture of welcome and gratitude. The offering of cows to the villagers brings new hope and may this village see a prosperous future of bountiful harvests.