A Cute Short Story on Beauty

Yesterday Sonam called me to narrate a cute story that grandma told her about little Jimmy, which I have slightly exaggerated the details of the story below.  Ha!  The story came on a day that I was feeling far from beautiful; I had been analyzing a new wrinkle, cringing at some white hair sprouting from my head and pouting about how someone referred to me as being fat (If you are not stick thin or if you have any curves on your body, its seems as though the Bhutanese culture would label you as “fat” and some Bhutanese people are not shy to inform you).  So I appreciated the story about little Jimmy because it shows that it doesn’t matter what you look like since beauty is really in the eye of the beholder.  Here’s the story:

A wise monk came over little Jimmy’s house and the first thing Jimmy did was pose a tough question to the monk.  With a twinkle in Jimmy’s eyes, he looked up at the tall, bald monk draped in maroon and asked, “Who is the most beautiful person in Bhutan?  No, wait, who is the most beautiful person in the world?” 

The monk thought that this was some kind of quiz question to embark on his profound knowledge from his many years of Buddhist studies.  So the monk quietly sat for a while searching his brain for the most thoughtful, intelligent response.  Meanwhile Jimmy took a seat in front of him, patiently waiting and studying the monk’s contemplating face.  Finally, the monk brought his attention upon Jimmy and sat up tall to give his best answer, “A child is the most beautiful person in the world because every mother thinks her child is the most beautiful.”  Then with dotting eyes, the monk softly smiled at Jimmy thinking that Jimmy would be very pleased to know that he was one of the most beautiful people in the world simply because he was a child.

However, Jimmy looked him straight in the eyes and sternly stated, “No! You’re wrong!” 

The monk’s eyebrows instantly lowered into squirming worms and his dreamy expression was now shattered into confusion.  The monk looked at grandma for an answer, but grandma shrugged her shoulders in bewilderment.  Now the monk was half embarrassed, but half intrigued by being told that he was wrong from a little eight-year old.  At last, he gasped, “Oh, then who is?” 

Jimmy grinned, stood to his feet and proudly claimed, “Miss Sabrina is the most beautiful person in the world.” 

Little Jimmy

Now the monk was even more perplexed scratching his head wondering who could this person be and why hadn’t he ever heard of her.  He assumed that this person must be very famous in order to be the most beautiful person in the world.  He thought maybe she was a famous actress or super model, so he said, “Sabrina! I’ve never heard of her before.  Who’s that?” 

Then Jimmy gave him a funny look like how could he not know who Miss Sabrina was and responded with a hint of boastfulness in his voice, “I know her!  She’s a teacher in Chumey and she is the most beautiful person in the world, don’t you know?”  (LOL)

Dear little Jimmy,

Although the monk has some truth to his response, I want to say thank you for making my day and seeing what I can’t always see within myself.  I love you!

Sincerely,

Miss Sabrina

P.S.  I think that you are beautiful too.