Dusaana’s Story

A Yahgahn Family Fable

Told by Bahruven Ehkvenis

Our family has had many despairs, but yet also many miracles. My child, Dusaana, is one example.

I was much devastated when my consort, Kiinis, finally succumbed to the horrible mental disease that plagued her— she killed herself. But I tried very hard not to show my despair in public, for I am, as the Trelli ambassador to Earth, very well known. Yet when I discovered that our child, Dusaana, had the same mental disease that finally caused Kiinis to kill herself, I finally let my despair be known. I would tell you of my recovery from despair, but that is another story.

Dusaana was, like her mother, depressed always. Oh, she’d smile or laugh briefly on occasion, but then she would become depressed again soon afterward. Nothing seemed to work, and though I tried my hardest to parent her well—the Deities know I tried—I eventually resigned myself to the fact that she would most likely have the same fate as her mother, but I tried my best to show her that I love her.

It was not long after I gave up hope of her recovery when the miracle happened. Dusaana, though depressed, had a best friend: a Guiimin Trelli named Piicbahnis. One day at school, Piicbahnis pressured Dusaana into following her into the jungle, just at the edge of the playground. They went there, and began to play.

Some time during this play session, the teacher asked another friend of theirs, Fayanora Ohniahn, where they had gone. Just after telling where they were (and what she thought they were doing), there was heard a loud and long scream. The teacher and Fayanora and others ran to see what was wrong, and were surprised to see Dusaana laughing heartily and roughhousing with Piicbahnis. It was a miracle! Dusaana’s depression had been cured, and the answer was as simple as a worm. For what had happened was that a Tulon worm had sensed that she missed one chemical, and had too much of another. So the worm bored into her spine—which is what made her scream—and became a symbiont, meaning that both the worm and Dusaana were in a mutually beneficial partnership.

Dusaana and Piicbahnis are now not only friends, but also lovers. They plan to have children some day. I am very glad.

The moral of this story is to love life; for it is very beautiful, and there are miracles everywhere one looks. Koh soh la Kohrain.

The End