The town of Bonikua is a small, yet busy one. With only a population of around 2,000 Bonikis, nothing crazy usually happens. Well, almost nothing. Living with her single mom and a friendly cat, Genie was a girl who always had a goal. The goal could be anything ranging from catching a cricket, perfecting her mom’s delicious food, getting on top of a house, climbing a mountain, and much more. However, living in a small town, there isn’t much to do. “Mom, can you give me a task? I’m bored!” Genie said, while laying her upper body on the floor and her legs up on the wall. Genie’s mom let out a tired sigh, “ You know, a normal 12 year old would never ask this to their parents.

    The town of Bonikua is a small, yet busy one. With only of 2,000 Bonikis, nothing crazy usually goes on. Well, almost nothing. Living with her mom and a cute cat, Genie was a girl who always had a goal. The goal could be anything  from catching a cricket, perfecting her mom’s food, getting on top of a house, climbing a mountain, and much more. However, living in a small town, there isn’t much to do. “Mom, can you give me a task? I’m bored!” Genie said, laying her upper body on the floor and her legs up on the wall. Genie’s mom let out a tired sigh, “ You know, a 12 year old would never ask this to their mom."

    Genie always had to be doing something, but this time, she couldn’t think of what to do. Easton was Genie’s cat that followed her everywhere. To her mom’s bakery, the pizza shop, the river, even to the hills where Genie enjoys catching bugs, Easton is always next to Genie. Genie was still trying to get her mom to give her tasks. Her mom was busy making a fresh batch of chocolate croissants when all of sudden she yelled, “ Genie, please! Can’t you see that I am trying to work here? I work all day, baking and selling, just for us to get out of this town! Why do I even live? What is the meaning of all this anyway?” That’s when a light bulb popped in Genie’s head. “That’s it!” she said. She picked up her glitter-pink backpack that was hanging open, and grabbed a half-eaten bread. Before she stepped foot out the door, Easton hopped into her backpack with wonder in his eyes, sensing that this adventure was going to be a bit different. “Bye Mom! I’m going out! Love you.” Genie yelled excitedly as she walked out the door and took a big breath of the sunny morning. 

What is the purpose of all this?

That's it!

    But before the adventure began, Genie needed clues. Good clues. She walked to the store where she always goes to talk with the owner. “Ms. Barbara, I need your help!” Genie yelled. Confused, the short old lady asked, “What’s the matter, Wishes?” “I need to know why people exist and what is the purpose? I’m sure you know the answer to it since you’re old!” Genie replied, while Easton shook his head. “Watch what you say! However, I do know a thing or two about your question, but the answer is not so easy. Here are your three clues; Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity.” “Thank you Ms. Barbara! I’ll keep the clues in mind, but I have to get going now!” Genie said, skipping out the door. 

Thank you Ms. Barbara!

Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity.

    Genie went on her way towards the woods with Easton on her back. “Okay, so we need to go from here, cross the stream, and over that hill in order to get to the Buddhist (Boo-duhst) Temple.” Genie explained, holding up a hand-drawn map.  A few more steps later and there it was. In front of them was a red building, with huge black roofs that swooped out. 

    Around it, there were bald men and women dressed in yellow gowns doing their tasks. Genie walked through the doors of the temple, seeking for someone who can help them to their answer. There, lied an old and wise-looking man who was sitting in front of a painting of what looked like the Buddha (Boo-duh). “May I help you?” The old man asked in a soft voice. 

    “Yes. We want answers to what the purpose of life is.” “We?” The man asked. Easton popped up behind Genie’s shoulder, tilting his head to one side. “Well then, sit down and I’ll tell you what the people here know. I will bring us some tea.” He said. As the man came back, he began to talk. “There are many things of Buddhism that many of us here follow to seek the purpose of life.  I will make it an easy answer for you.”

    The man said  one of their  ideas to life is to gain inner peace and to let go of fear and anger, to find calmness and mindfulness (mined ·fuhl·nuhs) (“Finding Peace Within”). The man also added that, in life, you must see what is around you, and then decide on what the most smart actions should be (Der-Lan Yeh, Theresa). 

    Both Genie and Easton were curious and wanted to learn more, but they had to get on the move. Next, Genie found a Christian (Kris-Chuhn) church, hoping to learn more about life's meaning. “Here we are. The man from the Buddhist temple said we have to find a pastor somewhere.” She explained. As the two walked deeper into the woods, they had reached a chapel, and there she had talked with the kind pastor. The pastor spoke about love and compassion as the core of living that was handed from Jesus (Goods, Jack.). “You must connect with others and show kindness” The pastor said.

You must connect with others and show kindness.

 “It is so cool what you can learn from such religions!” Easton said, his tail swaying side-to-side. As Genie and her buddy said their goodbye to the kind pastor, a strange feeling crept up upon Easton. Their final place was a Taoist(Dao-uhst) Temple, that was on top of a hill. “Are you sure you want to do this Genie?” Easton asked, sounding a bit scared. “Yes, we must not stop here. We always finish our adventures Easton, why are you acting like this?” “It’s nothing.” He replied. Climbing, they had reached the temple where a wise Taoist master lived. The master taught them about the principle of harmony and in nature of how humans and animals should live in balance with the world (“Taoism| National Geographic Society''). 

Are you sure you want to do this?

“Thank you master.” Genie said. “As you go back to where you came from, be careful of monsters, because as the sun goes down, the beasts come up.” whispered the old man. Genie and Easton looked at each other for a second, then began to their path. 

    With these new teachings, Genie was happy and she couldn’t wait to tell her mother what she had learned. As they got near the end of their path, a scary shadow stood before them–a fearsome, furry monster with glowing eyes and big claws. “Genie, what do we do? We didn’t bring anything with us!” Easton screamed. Instead of fleeing or fighting, Genie had remembered the lessons she had learned. 

Genie, what do we do?

     “I got this, stand back.” Gene said, stepping forwards to the large being. Drawing from Buddhism, she focused on getting rid of fear and to be calm. Drawing from Christianity, she told herself to fill her heart with love and compassion. She took out a cookie that her mom baked. “I hope this works.” Carefully, she held out her arm to the monster, trying her hardest not to move. 

    The shaking in her body would not stop. She recalled the teachings from the Taoist temple. She then knew that the monster was a disruption in the harmony. Genie connected with the trees, breathing deeply, and feeling the rhythm of the forest. She finally stopped shaking and the monster came closer. “Please don’t be afraid.” Genie said quietly. The cookie was taken from her hands and then was gone. 

I hope this works.

*sniffs*