The Other
from:  Grandpa's Ashes
 

The old man summoned the young lad and bade him, “Sit next to me my son.” The young lad did as he was told. They sat in silence for a while, then the old man asked, “Was there an argument today?”

“Yes sir.” The lad replied.

“What was the matter?” The old man was examining his face as he answered.

“The Other tried to sit with us.” The lad said casually.

“The Other?” The old man asked. He did not understand.

“Yes sir. We decided he was the Other.”

“Who is we, and how is he the Other?”

The boy looked up at the old man, “He is not like the rest of us, so he must be the Other. That's what our group decided.”

“I see that he is not allowed to sit with the group when it is time to eat.”

“No sir, because he is the Other.”

“I see that he is not allowed to sleep inside the tent at night.”

“No sir, because he is the Other.”

“So how is he to eat?”

“Oh, he can eat all that he wants, just not with us.”

“And how is he to keep warm and safe?”

“He can warm himself in the small tent, and there he can keep his own fire.”

“Is there not room enough at the table for him?”

“Yes, I suppose.”

“Is there not room in the tent so that he may be included?”

“Yes, I suppose.”

The dinner bell sounded, so the boy was excused.

The next morning the old man summoned another young lad. The young lad approached the old man, then sat as he was instructed. They also sat in silence for a while, then the old man asked, “I understand that you have a difference among you?”

“Yes sir, we have the Other.” The lad said in a whisper.

“Why do you whisper, son?”

“I do not like to call him the Other.” The lad said.

“Then why do you?”

“If I do not call him the Other, or treat him differently, then I will be forced out of the group.”

“Is being part of the group that important?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because if you are not part of the group you cannot eat at the table with the group or sleep in the big tent.”

“Is that the only reason you treat the Other differently.”

“Yes” he said, then added, “I tried to let him in the tent one night when it was really cold and the group called me names.” The bed time bell sounded, so the lad was excused.

The old man summoned a third lad from the group. “I hear you have a difference among you?”

“Difference, oh, you mean the Other.” The lad replied.

“Yes, the Other.” The old man repeated, then asked, “What makes him the Other?”

“He is different.”

“Yes, but how is he different?”

“He is not like the rest of us.”

“How is he not like the rest of you?”

“I am not sure.” The lad said a little puzzled.

“So how did he become the Other?” the old man asked.

“Because the group decided he was different.”

“Did you vote?”

“No”

“Did you meet and talk to one another about how he was different?”

“No”

“How then was it decided that he was different?”

“The group said so, and I am of the group, so, so do I.” the lad replied, proud of his answer.

Frustrated, the old man allowed the lad to leave.