Emeldo

By Robert Kotlowski

Wake up from a sound sleep and begin a journey that you dreamt. Seek and find your goal and know that this change in your lifestyle will be your life’s duration.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Mar 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781489734587

Robert Kotlowski

Born fifth of nine children in a middle class neighborhood, he attended Catholic school. He has been trying to raise himself in his faith for 84 years. This is his first attempt at writing. It is fiction based on some facts.

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 Robert Kotlowski.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.liferichpublishing.com

844-686-9607

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3457-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3459-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3458-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021905028

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 03/18/2021

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1: Beginning

Chapter 2: Journey

Chapter 3: People

Chapter 4: New Life

Chapter 5: Growing Up

Chapter 6: Adult

Chapter 7: Happenings

Chapter 8: Friend

Chapter 9: Begin the End

Chapter 10: Homeward

Chapter 11: Anticipation

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Song: Lyrics and Music ODE TO EMELDO

by Robert Kotlowski

Technical supervisor

By Michael Kotlowski

Technical assistant

By Becky Lisowski

Music copyright…2000

Story copyright…2021

Dedicated to my wife, Jean (Kitty)

INTRODUCTION

The shadow rippled across the furrowed field and disappeared into the crudely constructed barn, which was built into the side of a hill. The barn owl alighted with outstretched talons onto the highest roof support-log in the rafters. This was his home and had been for the past thirty-eight years. Quiet now, he’s going to address us.

My name is Oakley. I was named by my parents because I was born in their favorite tree, the oak. I’m here because I live here. I have welcomed you to hear a story that I’m certain you will find interesting. The tale I’m going to tell you is about my dearest friend, who has led an amazing life. His name is Emeldo, and he is a donkey.

37690.png

CHAPTER 1

37692.png

BEGINNING

I MET EMELDO AFTER he and his parents journeyed up this way from the Yucatan Peninsula. They traveled in haste as they feared for their safety because of tribal battles that had erupted in their area. The various tribes of Mayan natives became hostile toward one another for different reasons but mainly territorial control. The hostilities started in small sectors of local tribes and graduated into much larger areas, quickly becoming extremely dangerous for the residents. The movement began with the people escaping to locations beyond tribal control. This led to people wandering in all directions, with many heading to southern and northern lands.

Emeldo’s masters chose to go north and spent weeks searching for a good place; safety was most important for the family and their two-full grown burros and foal. Emeldo was the infant and at times struggled to keep up with the family over this long journey.

I was very young and adventurous at the time, and since I was alone, I decided to follow this family to see where they would end up. I was concerned for my own well-being among the fighting as well. I’m happy I followed them because they settled down on a land that was perfect for farming and had plenty of lumber to build a home and a barn.

Emeldo’s parents helped to plow the fields for planting. They also hauled logs from the wooded areas and fresh water from the creek. When the dry season came, a large amount of water was necessary to keep the crops growing—corn, cabbage, beans, and others. The dry season was unforgiving and lasted eight to twelve weeks. The soil got so dry that the dirt had its own dust.

The farm was developed by Emeldo’s owner and became his as a squatter. He had constructed a log reservoir to hold water that was collected during the rainy season by trenches carved into the same hill that the barn was in. He made smaller wooden trenches to catch the water as it rolled down the roof of the barn. These trenches led to a large wooden box used to collect the rain. During the rains, the box usually filled with enough water to last through the minor droughts.

The size of the farmland was approximately eighty acres, but all of this area was not used to raise crops. Small, wooded areas dotted the land, and most of the lumber was used for the home, barn, and fencing.

The closest neighbors were a distance of about a half mile away, so privacy was abundant. Our family rarely saw others, as most people in this area were too busy with their chores on their farms.

Emeldo wasn’t quite mature enough to help with the heavy work on the farm like pulling the plow or hauling loads of fencing wood to the various locations for construction. He had a lot of time before his training began. He would spend time with me in the barn conversing about everything that happened to enter his mind. He was inquisitive on everything from the moon and stars at night to the birds and critters that occupied his surroundings. I could see Emeldo changing from a youthful foal into the next phase of his life. He was absorbing all I could give him and questioned the items he did not understand. I had to give better explanations to these.

Emeldo’s bed was right below mine, and we talked and talked until sleep overcame him and my dinner call was beckoning. Our conversations were becoming more effectual, as he began asking more advanced questions. He would relay