In the morning, once all the ships had been sunk or captured, all the pirates had been jailed and the all-clear had been given, the boy’s aunt finally allowed him out (he’d been champing at the bit since the battle had died down).
The boy made for the port, soon found his father and gave him a huge hug, asking what had happened. The reunion was brief, though, and the boy quickly carried on to the water to look for his Merlion.
But he was nowhere to be found (and neither was his lady Merlion friend). The boy spoke to many Merlions, journeying on the back of one around the island.
Eventually, in the early evening, as the boy sat on the beach where they had first met, the Merlion approached looking a little shame-faced.
“Sorry, young friend, I was otherwise engaged for a while,” hastily adding, “Ensuring all the pirates had been dealt with.”
“That’s ok- I thought you might have gone back. Forever.”
“Oh no, Singapore will always be my home. I must soon return to the island to help complete the struggle there,” adding sternly, “You must stay this time. I’m planning to remain living here, but not as the only Merlion. And anyway, we don’t know what will happen when we get to the island. I might not return.”
The pair were quiet for a moment. And then they swapped stories of the battle into the evening until the boy’s father appeared and took him home.
The boy made for the port, soon found his father and gave him a huge hug, asking what had happened. The reunion was brief, though, and the boy quickly carried on to the water to look for his Merlion.
But he was nowhere to be found (and neither was his lady Merlion friend). The boy spoke to many Merlions, journeying on the back of one around the island.
Eventually, in the early evening, as the boy sat on the beach where they had first met, the Merlion approached looking a little shame-faced.
“Sorry, young friend, I was otherwise engaged for a while,” hastily adding, “Ensuring all the pirates had been dealt with.”
“That’s ok- I thought you might have gone back. Forever.”
“Oh no, Singapore will always be my home. I must soon return to the island to help complete the struggle there,” adding sternly, “You must stay this time. I’m planning to remain living here, but not as the only Merlion. And anyway, we don’t know what will happen when we get to the island. I might not return.”
The pair were quiet for a moment. And then they swapped stories of the battle into the evening until the boy’s father appeared and took him home.
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