Paulo Coelho

Stories & Reflections

Your Story in my Blog by Kealan Moore

Author: Paulo Coelho

Santiago made his way back to the small village, close to where he spent time with his sheep, to see the gypsy woman who had told him of his future. The village had changed very little. As he walked towards the narrow street he saw a woman sitting by the village well, she was talking to another woman and smiling.
He overheard her saying that she had gotten married a few months ago to the butcher’s son and that she was very happy. As Santiago passed he noticed that it was the girl that he had once fantasised about while he was a Shepard returning books to the bookstore, she was the merchants daughter.
Santiago made his way through the coloured beads and sat at the table just as he had done the last time. The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus still sat on the table as if time had never passed. The old gypsy woman greeted him, sat in the second chair and began to pray as she did every day at that time.
“So young man, tell me of the dream you lived and the destiny followed,” she said as she looked from under her hat.
Santiago began to tell his story to the old woman, starting from the moment he first met her. The gypsy woman was enchanted by all the places and things the boy had seen and experienced since he left her door.
“So you found your treasure right under your nose, the powers that be work in mysterious ways. And now I would like my one tenth.” She placed a bucket on the table and Santiago filled it with precious jewels. The old woman stood up, smiled and surprised the boy as she danced the dance of a young woman, throwing her hat into the air and praising the image of the sacred heart.
“Go now boy, you are still young and have a lot more to do in your lifetime. I have to prepare dinner for my daughter.”
Santiago stood up and began to make his way to the door.
“Wait,” the gypsy woman called, “I do not want these they are not treasure.”
She placed two stones into Santiago’s pocket. When he reached the main square Santiago put his hand in his pocket to see what the old woman had given back to him. It was Urim and Thummim, the white and black stones that that came from the Kings breastplate. The gypsy was right Santiago still had a lot of work to do in his long life.

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