The well keeper had been wronged. She had worked hard, carefully tending the well, removing weeds and repairing cracks. For many years she had ensured that the water remained fresh and wholesome. She felt proud of what she had achieved. Ensuring that the village had clean water was not a celebrated role like that of the mayor. She did not get the same wages as the merchants who got to travel to far off places and sell cheap goods for unreasonable prices. She didn’t get the attention that the village idiot attracted with his daily ramblings. But she was pleased with her life. She had enough money to feed her family and she knew that her job, however minor, was needed by everyone. Without her the water would be tainted and people might get sick. The merchants would not be able to travel, the king would not be able to rule and the village idiot, who was already in poor health, might die.
But last month one of the important figureheads in the village had spread judgements about her work. He told the villagers that he did not like her methods as they were different to those he had seen in other villages. There were better people out there, he suggested and he told the villagers that a replacement might serve them better.
The well keeper was sad. Maybe he was right, she thought, but the water in those villages was known for being murky and the children there was always being sick.
The day before the argument had exploded. The well keeper had agreed to give up her position and let one of the well keepers from another village take over. She reasoned that she needed a rest anyway and that maybe she was wrong that she was good at her role.
That night a thought had occurred to her. In the rusty lock-up at the end of her garden, was a small quantity of rat poison. If she poured the poison into the well the new well keeper would drink it when he was doing his water checks. He might even die and she would get her job back. The villagers might get ill too, she thought, but that would only prove that she had been good at her job. No-one had ever been ill when she cared for the well.
That morning, she set out really early. She arrived at the well before the sun had peeked above the horizon and set to work quickly and quietly. She arrived home before anyone noticed she had gone.
A few hours later, the newly appointed well keeper arrived for his duties. He set about his work and took a huge gulp of water. He gasped deeply. This water was the tastiest water he had ever encountered. It was crystal clear as well, he noticed. The old well keeper really knew what she was doing he reasoned.
He turned to head for home, but as he did he noticed a small folded square of paper. He picked it up and read the words that were written neatly on the page.
Dear stranger,
I am the old well keeper. I am writing to wish you every success. The reasons for me leaving my duties were not ideal. I thought about revenge long and hard because my feelings have been hurt so deeply.
But then I thought about the villagers that I care about so deeply. I wondered whether you had children to clothe or pets to care for or a friend or relative waiting for you to come home.
I could never do harm to the people I love. They rely on the clean water to lead long and healthy lives. You are a stranger doing your best to earn a living.
Yours, the old well keeper
The new wellkeeper smiled. He turned back and did a few last checks on the well. He hadn’t realised until now, how important his job was and he had some very high standards to live up to.
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