Destination Destiny
Once upon a time in the quaint little town of Harmony, lived a humble shoemaker named Theodoro. Theodoro was renowned throughout the town for his exceptional craftsmanship. His handmade shoes were not only worn by locals, but his reputation extended to the neighbouring towns as well. However, irrespective of his talent and fame, Theodoro harbored a profound dream- to witness the denizens of the royal court wear his shoes.
Next to Harmony was the grand kingdom of Luxuria, a land filled with wealth and opulence. Nevertheless, its royalty had a unique quirk. They never wore the same pair of shoes twice, citing that their royal dignity demanded novelty. Despite his dreams, Theodoro was never invited to present his work to the royal family of Luxuria. This unfulfilled dream turned into a longing that ate at him every day.
One day, the town crier of Harmony delivered news from Luxuria. The king, in his ever-growing desire for new shoes, had declared a contest among shoemakers. The grand prize - a lifetime contract to provide the royalty with their unique shoes, fulfilling their oddball requirement. This was exactly what Theodoro had been waiting for. Filled with joy and excitement, Theodoro started working on plans to create the perfect pair of shoes to impress the king.
Days turned into nights, and nights into days, as Theodoro labored. He used the most expensive leather from the rarest breeds of deer, the highest quality silk for the inner lining, and the most lustrous pearls for decorating the shoes. After days of toiling, the masterpiece was ready. The result was a splendid pair of shoes, fit for a king.
The competition day finally arrived, and shoemakers from all corners of the kingdom came, each confident in their creations. Theodoro looked around nervously, surrounded by extravagant stall setups and opulent designs, feeling like a small fish in an ocean. He was losing confidence when he noticed the king entering the hall. The king started reviewing each entry one by one. He wore each pair, walked a few steps, and then moved to the next.
Ultimately, the king came before Theodoro's modest stall and looked at his creation. He sat on the golden stool and slid his feet into the shoes - once, twice, and thrice. He walked back and forth across the marble floor, his eyebrows knit in thought. After several nerve-wracking minutes, he nodded, had one last scrutinizing glance at the shoes, and moved on.
The whole room waited with bated breath as the king returned to his throne. He cleared his throat, and the room fell silent. ‘The competition saw many unique designs and master craftsmanship. However, the winner of this contest is Theodoro from Harmony.' A wave of cheer erupted, but for Theodoro, it was as if time had stopped. His humble dream was now a grand reality.
From that day on, Harmony was bustling with newfound activity. Theodoro’s shoe shop was now a shoe empire, creating unique designs for the king and his royal court. Theodoro’s signature shoes became an envy of royalty across the globe, causing a diplomatic stir for the possession of these marvels. Not a day went by when anyone mentioned Luxuria without crediting Theodoro’s craftsmanship. A humble dream had not just provided Theodoro with fortune and fame, but with fulfilment and contentment.
Theodoro's journey of determination and resilience to realise his dream teaches us all a powerful lesson. It is a testament that no dream is too big to realise if one has sheer will, hope, and perseverance. The triumph of a humble shoemaker who became the royal shoemaker is a reminder to us all that our destination is indeed our destiny.