The balls of wishes

- August 26, 2025

Once upon a time, in a quiet little village surrounded by green fields and tall trees, there lived a poor boy named Malang. He and his mother lived in a tiny hut near the village shops. Malang’s father had passed away when he was just a baby, so his mother worked hard to raise him alone.

Every day, Malang’s mother sent him to the shop to bring home some food. But because they were so poor, he often had to beg for food instead of buying it. One day, the shopkeeper grew angry and shouted at him. He grabbed Malang by the arm and threw him out of the shop.

Heartbroken, Malang ran away and sat by the river, tears falling onto the water’s surface. As he sat there crying, something glittered beneath the rippling waves. Curiously, Malang reached into the water and pulled out three golden balls, each one glowing softly in his hands.

Malang’s stomach growled loudly as he stared at the golden balls in his hands. His lips trembled, and tears welled in his eyes.

“If only… if only we could eat something warm and tasty,” he whispered softly, his voice cracking. “Just one meal… enough to fill our empty stomachs.”

the happy boy with magical balls in his hand

As soon as the words left his mouth, the golden balls glowed brightly, and the air around him shimmered with magic.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed, and a magnificent dragon appeared, its scales shimmering like gold. “Your wish is granted,” the dragon rumbled kindly. “Go home, young one.”

Malang raced back to his hut. To his amazement, the table was covered with steaming bowls of rice, fragrant bread, sweet fruits, and roasted meat. He and his mother ate happily for the first time in a long while.

the poor boy and his mother eating belly full of food

The next day, Malang and his mother made another wish. “We wish to be rich,” they said. At once, a heavy bag filled with gold coins appeared before them. They were no longer poor and soon filled their home with beautiful things.

But as their wealth grew, so did their pride. Their simple little hut was soon filled with shiny treasures, soft rugs, and fine clothes. Malang and his mother began to forget the days when they had gone hungry. Neighbors who once shared their bread were now turned away from their grand home. The golden balls, once a symbol of hope and kindness, became nothing more than ornaments they hardly noticed.

One day, thinking they had no need for the ball because they are rich now, they carelessly tossed the last golden ball back into the river. The moment it touched the water, a chilling wind swept through their home. In the blink of an eye, their riches vanished, the grand furniture crumbled into dust, and their hut stood bare once again.

Malang and his mother sat in silence, tears rolling down their cheeks. For the first time, they realized the true gift had never been gold or food—it was the lesson of gratitude. From that day on, they worked hard, shared what little they had, and found happiness not in riches, but in kindness and love. And though they never saw the golden balls again, the village remembered them not as the poor family who lost their wealth, but as the kind hearts who had learned the value of every blessing.