The Golden Coffee Beans

In a certain asphalt jungle lived two peasants, blood sisters; one was poor and one was rich. The rich one went to live in the inner city, built an enchanted manor, and runs a fortune 500. But the poor one, she can barely rub two nickels together. She lives in a little run-down shack in a ramshackle part of the city. Her children would scream and weep because no food could be found in their home. One day she said to her children: “I will go into the city and ask my sister for help.” She came upon the rich sister’s business. The building was as large as a castle with ruby windows, and gold trim along the outside. As she entered this magnificent building everything was covered in marble. When she turned to her left, she saw a giant mirror and a message appeared in flame lettering “go up the marble steps, I am on the third floor, and my office is the third door to your left.” When the poor sister came to the rich sister’s door, the rich sister was dressed in couture “Ah, my sister, help me! My children are hungry and we have not had food for days or clean running water to bathe in or drink.” “Help me around the office, then I will see how I can service you.” The poor sister set off to work.  She cleaned the toilets, made copies, scheduled appointments, and made coffee.” On the seventh day, the rich sister gave her three golden coffee beans and said: “Thank you for your help!” The poor sister ran out of the building and fell to her knees and wept. A rainbow falcon swooped down and grabbed her and took her back to her little run-down shack. When they arrived at her home the falcon gently placed her on the ground and said: “Master, listen to me. Pluck one of my bright red feathers and wave it over the three golden coffee beans. I promise you will weep no more.” The peasant answered: “I have no strength left.” The Falcon replied, “What do you need strength for? I see that you have tweezers, but what of use is it? Take the tweezers and pluck a bright red feather.”

The peasant used the tweezers to pluck a bright red feather from the rainbow falcon. The falcon then flew away. 

The poor sister threw one of the golden beans on her one-legged table and waved the bright red feather over the bean wishing for a feast that her children could eat. All of a sudden, a feast appeared! There was enough food to feed the city! They ate and drank until they could no more. She did not want the leftovers to go to waste so she preserved them as best as she could. Everyone was merry, loud, and sang songs. Once the celebration was over, everyone went to bed.

The next morning came when the rooster crowed, and everyone awoke she thought long and hard for her next wish. The poor sister threw the second golden bean on her one-legged table and waved the bright red feather over the bean wishing to have a business right next to her rich sister, so she too could wear couture and be successful. A horse with a rainbow mane waited for her outside her little run-down shack. She jumped on the horse and they took off for the city at a rapid speed. She came upon her new business. Almost identical to her rich sisters. The building was large as a castle with diamonds for windows, and gold trim along the outside. The horse with the rainbow mane turned and said: “Master, listen to me. Go through the diamond-encrusted door, then make your way up the marble steps. Go to the third floor, your office is the third door to the left.” She reached her office and fell to her knees and wept. Three little mice all dressed in couture came running to her carrying a giant book and said: “Master, listen to me. Read this red leather-bound book. I promise you will weep no more.” The mice then scurried off. She opened the book and started to read. It was an instruction manual on how to build a successful fortune 500. When she was done reading, she built a plan on how to operate her own business. She became twice as rich as her sister. 

After some time, it was more of a long time rather than a short time she kept monitoring the funds of the business to make sure her empire was in the black rather than the red. This calls for a festivity! She ran over to her sister’s office and invited her for a celebratory feast! The rich sister said to her “I accept the invite, but where did you get the money to build such an empire? Just a few months ago you were begging me for work.” “Ah, sister it was the golden coffee beans you gave me.” 

The rich sister began to worry as she noticed her funds after some time, it was more of a short time rather than a long time were drastically plummeting into the red rather than the black. She had no idea that her sister was taking away from her business and it was due to her reason. She refused to live a restricted lifestyle. The next day the rich sister drove her Porsche to the celebratory feast. There was plenty to eat and drink! The rich woman was jealous, she thought to herself: “If I find that last golden coffee bean then I can destroy my sister fully.”  The dinner has ended, as the guests began to rise from the table, and thanked the hostess. The guests were singing a drunken song as they left the lavish restaurant. The rich sister offered to take the poor sister home. As they arrived at the little run-down shack the poor sister offered the rich sister to come in. When the poor sister had her back turned the rich sister noticed a shiny glow coming from the coat pocket that was hanging near the door they entered. The rich sister grabbed the last golden coffee bean, threw it on the one-legged table, and waved her hands and said: “I wish you to be rich no more.” Both sisters were startled. The rich sister stormed off due to frustration. The poor sister grabbed the golden coffee bean and placed it under her pillow, and went to bed. 

The next morning came and the rooster crowed, and everyone awoke. She thought long and hard for her next wish. The poor sister threw the third golden bean on her one-legged table and waved the bright red feather over the bean wishing to have a handsome prince to love and marry. A few seconds later there was a loud knock at the door. The girls jumped and shrieked and they all rushed to the door. A handsome prince awaited with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and beautiful dresses for all the girls. The prince got down on one knee and asked for the poor sister’s hand in marriage. She wept and screamed “YES!” As the prince was ready to sweep his new fiancé off her feet, she said wait “please, take me to the city. I have to make things right with my sister.” The handsome prince obliged, and the girls followed behind. As they approached her sister's business it no longer looked shiny and new. As she entered the building the marble looked dull and dirty. She ran up the marble steps to the third floor and barged into the third door that was to her left. There, her sister laid disheveled and distraught. The poor sister said to the rich sister: “Ah, my sister, here is an invitation to my wedding, here are the keys to my business that I no longer need, and here is the bright red feather that I plucked from the rainbow falcon that would have made your wish come true.” She turned and walked away. 

The prince then whisks his future princess away. After some time, it was more of a short time rather than a long time the wedding ceremony had taken place. All the guests wore lavish clothes, the women wore lavish gowns with fur coats, and diamonds are pearls draped the fine couture. The men wore expensive tuxedos and their shoes glistened. Savory dishes were served along with several meads and wines. 

The rich sister ran into the poor sister, both sang a celebratory song, they both lived happily ever after.

Natalie is the author of The Many Colors of Natalie, a book of poetry.  She holds an associates degree in Specialized Technology Le Cornon Bleu Pastry Arts and in her spare time is an artist and percussionist.