The Muslin Curtain

Once, there was a beautiful white muslin curtain. Its soft prints of tiny blue flowers,golden vines, and border of mint green lace were altogether pleasing to the eyes. It was very proud of its position by the window of the tailor who made it.

Day in and day out, the muslin curtain observed life inside and outside the shop. Everyday, the curtain grew more and more disappointed and disgusted.

"Filthy humans! They're defiling everything! I do wonder why they have to heave out lots of thick black air from their big rolling boxes, and why that man had to chuck the food wrapper on the streetside when there is a trash can five feet away from where he stands. Yuck! There's a snotty boy wiping his nose on my folds! Aaaaaarrrggh!!", the poor curtain sighed in disgust.

One day, the tailor made a yellow curtain with red and brown diamond shapes. The white, blue-flowered, gold-vined, green-laced muslin was taken down and stored in a box.

"Thank goodness!", the muslin curtain exclaimed in relief. "Now I no longer have to gaze out of the window miserably and bear witness to people's faults and failures."

Weeks passed, and the muslin curtain grew bored. As much as it hated the outside world's ugliness, it also missed the latter's beauty. It missed the warm sunlight on its folds. It missed the gentle wind that flowed in and ou the window. It missed the flowers and butterflies and trees and birds and clouds.

"It's lonely in here after all. How I wish I could go back to my post by the window. I don't care how grimy I'll become. I'd rather go through all the dirt and pollution and filth to see the beautiful outside world than stay holed up in this box and not see anything at all."

One day, a rich old lady found the box and instantly fell in love with the curtain. She bought it, took it home, and hung it by her garden window. Never again did the muslin curtain comment on filth and dirt, but instead was basked in beauty and warmth for the rest of its days.