The Lazy Janek

The Lazy Janek

     There once lived a wheelwright who had a son named Janek. His wife died, so he took care of him alone.

The wheelwright was a good man, hardworking to the core. Meanwhile, the boy grew like wood in the forest.

From morning to evening, he lay on the stove and just slept.

     When the weather was bad and rainy, he lamented:

     "This is such nice weather! One can't go outside for all the rain.”

     If the sun was shining, he was upset:

     "Today the sun is burning so much it would burn my skin. I'd rather stay home.”

     And so it went round and round. Every morning, the old father reproached him:

     "Boy, you should finally learn a proper trade. I won't be here for long. Who will support you then?”

     Janek reluctantly replied:

     "Don't worry, father, everything in its time. Nothing will escape me.”

     He closed his eyes and slept again.

     Poor old wheelwright. He didn't believe Janek would ever change.

     One day, a carriage stopped in front of the house. The wheelwright went out to see who had arrived. He

saw a tall bearded man.

     "I wish you good day, wheelwright,” said the visitor, "I need your help. The wheel's tire broke on my

journey. Without it, I can't go far.”

     "That will be a trifle. I'll look at it immediately,” said the old man.

     "For now, please come inside, honored sir. You must be tired from the long trip.”

     "Well, I'd be lying if I said otherwise. Since early morning, I've been sitting on the shaft and from this

exhausting journey, I'm sore all over.”

     The men entered the house. The host seated the guest at the table and offered him bread with sheep

cheese and a pitcher of goat milk. The guest eagerly ate.

     "I'll fix your broken wheel while there is still daylight,” said the wheelwright and left.

     The guest looked around the room. On the stove, he saw the young man lying, who could break rocks.

     "That's quite a prospect,” he thought, "the old man is working hard outside and the son is carelessly

sleeping. The sun is already high above the horizon.”

     The man turned to the stove and called:

     "Hey, you up there! Come down and help your father!”

     Nothing happened for a while. Then a voice from above said:

     "He can manage on his own. I'd only get in his way.”

     The lazy boy turned on his side and fell asleep again.

     The bearded man frowned:

     "What a fine state of affairs!”

     Not even half an hour passed when the wheelwright returned.

     "Your carriage is repaired. Tomorrow you can set off boldly. Soon it will be evening anyway. Stay with us

for the night. There is plenty of room in the cottage.”

     "Many thanks, master. Without you, I don't know what I'd have done.”

     "You're welcome,” replied the old man.

     "For such work, you deserve a proper reward.”

     The stranger took three gold coins from his purse and placed them on the table.

     "My God, so much money!” the wheelwright was startled.

     "This is for the work, hospitality, and lodging.”

     The wheelwright was pleased. He didn't expect such a royal reward.

     The bearded man suddenly asked:

     "Who is that guest lying on the stove? Surely not a rare visitor?”

     "A rare visitor? No, that's my son Janek,” said the wheelwright shamefully, "he does nothing all day except

sleep and sleep.”

     "Such a sluggard! Lice will eat him alive,” said the visitor.

     The wheelwright only nodded.

     "What would you say, father, if I took him traveling for experience?”

     "Maybe it would do him good,” admitted the old man, "only I don't know if he will want to. He hasn't moved

from home for years. He is used to the stove's warmth.”

     "Don't worry about that. I'll arrange it somehow. – My eyelids are getting heavy, I'll go to sleep.”

     "Good night then,” said the old man.

     "Good night... and don't forget our agreement!”

     With that, the men said goodbye. The wheelwright went to sleep in the next room, the bearded man

stayed in the hall.

     Early in the morning, when it was still dark, the bearded man carefully picked up Janek and carried him

out of the house. He placed him in the carriage and covered him with fragrant hay. Then he climbed onto the

shaft, urged the horse, and the carriage moved.

     After some time, the carriage entered a stony path. It started to shake all over. The shaking woke Janek.

He opened his eyes and looked around sleepily. He saw a stranger.

     "Where am I? And who are you?” he was scared.

     "Now you, my son, are with me,” the man smiled, "I pulled you out of your native cottage because

otherwise you would have rotted there from laziness.”

     Janek still didn't understand what had happened.

     "Where is my stove? Where is father?”

     "Forget about the stove! From now on, different times await you. You will know on your own skin what work tastes like.”

     The landscape slowly passed before them. They arrived at a dense forest. But it was no ordinary forest! It

was entirely made of glass. Frozen glass birds sat on branches. Not a living creature anywhere. It was as

silent as in a church.

     "This is a strange land,” Janek wondered, "I've never seen anything like this.”

     "How could you, when you haven't set foot outside the cottage?”

     Janek couldn't believe his eyes. Everything around was so strange.

     "We are at the end of our journey,” said the stranger, "here our paths diverge. If you want to get out of

here, you must cut your way through this mysterious forest. This glass axe will help you.”

     Before Janek recovered, the bearded man vanished with the carriage. Janek was alone. Many times he

felt like crying. He sadly remembered his home cottage and father.

     There was nothing left but to grab the glass axe. It was so heavy it fell from his hands. The second time

he gripped the handle tighter. He swung and struck the first tree. It took a long time, a very long time, before

the first tree fell.

     "With this, I won't get out even in a hundred years,” he lamented.

     There was nothing left but to continue the work again.

     The next day, his work went better. He felled several dozen crystal giants all day. He gradually made his

way through the forest.

     After a year, he cut the last glass trunk. His heart leapt with joy. But he didn't rejoice for long. The glass

path led him to another forest. This one was made entirely of stone. He had to cut through it with a stone

axe.

     Long, very long days and weeks he made his way through this wasteland. His hands were torn to blood

from the labor. The stone forest seemed endless. A whole endless year, the exhausting work lasted.

But his troubles didn't end.

     The stony path led him to a lead forest. No use. He had to grab the heavy lead axe and get back to work.

Day by day, slowly, time passed. Another year slowly elapsed.

     Finally, the lead forest opened, and a beautiful landscape appeared. Birds sang, everything blossomed

and smelled sweet. Janek looked at the magnificent splendor in amazement.

     Out of nowhere stood before him the bearded man who had left him three years ago.

     "Your service, Janíček, is over. You've learned from your own skin that work is something different from

sleeping on a stove.”

     Janek blushed at these words. He was ashamed of his former laziness.

     "Unfortunately, such glass, stone, and lead forests await other lazy people,” sighed the old man.

     "Are there so many lazy people in the world?” Janek wondered.

     "More than you think, boy.”

     The old man waved his hand, and Janek immediately found himself in front of his home cottage. He saw

the old bent man coming out of the house.

     "Daddy,” Janek called joyfully and threw himself into his father's arms.

     "Janíček! My dear Janíček, I finally got you. I thought I would never see you.”

     Both cried tears of happiness.

     "Boy, how you have grown and become a man!”

     "Mainly that we are together again, daddy!”

     As they talked, they didn't notice a cart stopping near the farm.

     From the seat came the voice of a farmer:

     "Hola! Hola! Who's here? My wheel broke. I need it fixed.”

     "Just a moment of patience,” called the old man, "I'll be with you right away.”

     "Where would you go, daddy! Rest a bit, I'll fix the carriage,” said Janek and got to work.

     The old father couldn't believe his eyes. He hadn't expected such a change. He could hardly believe that

the lazy Janek had changed beyond recognition.

     In no time Janek was back cheerfully.

     "I'm done with the work, farmer!”

     The farmer was thrilled. He didn't expect the broken wheel to be fixed so quickly. He thanked, paid, and

left satisfied.

     When the sun was leaning towards the west, the father said:

     "Go to sleep, son! You must be tired from the hard work. I've prepared a bed for you on the stove.”

     "I don't want to hear about the stove anymore, daddy! I'll sleep in the room in a bed! The stove is for

lazybones!”

     At these words, the wheelwright smiled benevolently. In his heart, he thanked the unknown bearded man

who had visited them once.

     The news of Janek's skill and diligence immediately spread around. It is no wonder he was busy from

morning till night. He had so much work he could give some away.

     Since then they both lived well. And if they are not dead, they live happily to this day.

     Translated into English by artificial intelligence.

     Published: https://firesnake.eu