The structure, at the point of collapse, belonged, without a doubt to the poorest of families. The walls stood as if only by a miracle, threatening at any moment to come tumbling down. Water filtered through an improvised roof, and all kinds of rubbish against the walls of the house.

The teacher and the student were invited to stay the night in the small home. A father, mother, four children and two grandparents, thin bodies, ragged clothes, sad faces and bowed heads left no doubt that indigence had taken root deep within them.

Curiously enough, the family had a most unusual possession. They owned a cow.

The animal was not much to look at, but the family’s everyday life and activities seemed to revolve around it.

• Feed the cow.
• Make sure the cow’s had enough water.
• Tie the cow up tight.
• Don’t forget to take the cow out to pasture.
• Milk the cow.

You could say the cow played a prominent role within the family, although the little milk she produced was barely enough to keep them alive. It was the only thing that kept them from complete and utter misery.

The next morning, the two travelers set off to continue their journey. The elder teacher whispered, “The time has come for you to learn the lesson that brought us to this dismal place.” The teacher walked slowly toward the cow, slipped a dagger from the sheath he carried.