Friends in High Places

Friends in High Places, an African folklore story

Once upon a time, there was a King who had a close friend with whom he grew up. This friend had an odd habit: whenever something happened, positive or negative, he would remark, "This is good!"

One day the King was out on a hunting expedition, accompanied as usual by his trusted childhood friend whose task it was to guard, clean, prepare and load the King's guns.

Something went terribly wrong this time, however... when the King sighted a huge bull oryx, cocked his weapon and pulled the trigger, the gun exploded and blew off his thumb!

All were stunned speechless – except for the King's friend, who remarked "This is good!" Bleeding and furious, the King replied, "No, this is NOT good!", and ordered his friend to be imprisoned.

One year later, the King went hunting in an unexplored corner of his Kingdom. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village where they stacked wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

Then they noticed the King was missing a thumb, which greatly dismayed them as it was a taboo to eat anyone who was less than whole. Muttering curses, they untied the King and sent him on his way.

During his long journey home, the King marveled over his escape and recalled the traumatic event that had led to the loss of his thumb. He felt remorseful over the way he had treated his old friend.

As soon as he got back, the King visited his friend at the jail and proceeded to tell him all that had happened. "You were right after all," the King said, "it WAS good that my thumb was blown off."

"Now I am sorry for sending you to jail. Can you forgive me?" His friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean, 'This is good'?", said the King. "How is it good that I sent my friend to jail?"

"Well," replied the King's friend, "If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you when the cannibals captured you, and – cannibals being cannibals – I would not be here with you right now."

(via Victoria Falls Guide)

(image via Christiaan Triebert)