An innkeeper's story

 

I heard a story the other day.  It was a good story.  Here it is.

Many years ago, in the days of kings and queens and knights and noblemen, an innkeeper and his wife had run their inn for many years.  A small group of customers had been there from the very beginning.  But one of them had gone on a long trip, and had not returned.  The innkeeper hadn't heard from this one for many years.   Finally, the innkeeper learned that he was in trouble.  So the innkeeper went on a long journey to find him.  And he found him, and brought him back to the town.  A gathering was held with this original group and the innkeeper prepared some foods.  But he was not able to prepare the foods most wanted.  And the other customers were disappointed that the returning customer did not receive the most desired foods.  They were unhappy with the innkeeper.  And they left, although they remained polite and cordial.  The innkeeper was very sad.

But then through the windows of his inn in the coming days, he often saw the returning customer with the others of this group and they all were happy.  Once again, the innkeeper could see that this group was connected as before.  And that turned his sadness to joy.  The innkeeper wondered if things would ever be as they were for him.  But his joy at seeing this group of customers, this group of comrades, together again was most important to him.  

So as each day passed, he continued making cakes and cookies and bread and stews, and he ran his inn as before.  And he watched through the windows of his inn every day as his favorite group of customers walked through the streets of the town.  His wife stood with him as he watched through the windows, worried about him sometimes.  But every time he smiled, she smiled, too, knowing that he was happy to see this group reunited and safe together.