A Humble Woman and Her Seven Sons

A humble woman has seven sons.

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The youngest, the most handsome, is a model.

The 6th, the most agile, figure skates.

The 5th, the most intelligent, is a professor.

The 4th, the most artistic, is a fashion designer.

The 3rd, the most caring, is a nurse.

The 2nd, the most courageous, is a firefighter.

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The eldest son, the tallest, only knows how to stand straight.

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When he stands, he tucks his arms neatly.

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When his brain fully controls all his muscles, he thinks the whole world should be in awe of his perfect self-discipline, but almost nobody pays attention to him. Not only does the world ignore him but despises him too.

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He’s a palace guard. He believes his loyal service to the monarch is an honorable job to be proud of. He guards the palace rain or shine, spring or winter, though the crown does not even know his name.

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Occasionally, some nasty tourists walk up to him and make fun of him, but he endures it in complete silence.

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Today, the mom calls all her seven sons and tells them to come. They show up indeed, standing in front of their father’s gravestone.

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The eldest son stands the straightest. He salutes his deceased father, a colonel who died in WWII for his country and the crown. He is the only son who embraces his father’s footsteps; he is the only son who disciplines himself enough to serve in the military so his brothers can model on a walkway, swirl on their skates, teach in a college, design fashionable clothing, take care of sick patients, or fight a fire.

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Seeing the eldest son’s shadow look almost exactly like his father, the mom finds comfort and smiles. Seeing their mom smile, all seven sons smile with her, but the eldest son’s smile shows the most shy.

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This story was first published here.