In the ocean, right in the middle of deep and dark blue waters, sat a small island. The flora and fauna here were diverse. Countless different birds, exotic animals and other creatures had lived here for many years. The island also had many beautiful and unique plants, painted in all the colours of the rainbow. Palms grew here, along with enormous cacti, and even baobabs.
People also lived on this island, and among them lived a very lazy boy named Herman. He didn't like working at all, and spent the whole day lying down, rolling from one side to the other.
When all the locals gathered to go fishing, to catch fish for lunch, Herman would lie under a lush tall palm tree and say:
Off you go, off you go, get to work. And when you've caught heaps of fish, then you can call me, because I'm really hungry.
How can you be like this? You do nothing all day, but you're the first to turn up for a feed. That's not right, because there are many elderly people on this island who find it hard to fish and hunt.
The locals protested.
Well, I don't want to work. I'm doing just fine as I am!
The lad replied with a cheeky look.
And so the months and years passed. Herman not only didn't help his elders, he flat-out refused to learn. On the island was a small school, where only seven children studied. They were taught literacy, writing, maths and nature studies. But Herman never attended lessons. He had completely different plans. The boy desperately wanted to find work where he'd hardly have to do anything, but would earn loads of money.
There's no such thing, Herman, as a job where you don't have to do anything.
Everyone around him said.
Well, I'll definitely trick everyone and find exactly that kind of work — 'doing nothing'.
One fine day, a thick fog settled around the island. The ocean completely disappeared from view, only dense mist rose above the shore, and even at arm's length nothing could be seen.
The people had nothing else to do but go to sleep. In such weather they couldn't fish at all, and it was impossible to go hunting — there was only fog everywhere.
The night passed. Early in the morning everyone slowly began to wake up and saw that not far from the island rose strange, previously unknown, tall rocky mountains.
Everyone, look, what's that?
One of the island's inhabitants exclaimed.
Stretching lazily, Herman crawled out of his hut. He stretched, scratched his head, and said:
Ah, this must be a dream! Crikey, I've fallen asleep so deeply that I'm dreaming all this!
No, this isn't a dream, it's a real island. But where did it come from? It wasn't here before!
The people marvelled.
Then Herman, rubbing his eyes properly, looked more carefully into the distance. And indeed, on the horizon he saw a new island, on which rose large rocky mountains.
Blimey! Maybe someone even lives there?
He shouted.
We must definitely sail closer and find out if there's anyone there, or if this island is uninhabited.
Oh, count me out. That means having to row a boat with oars, and I wasn't born for that. I want to do 'nothing', and these physical exercises with oars aren't for me at all.
Herman declared gloomily.
Several mates grouped together, carried the boat to the water, grabbed the oars and rowed towards the new island. A day passed, and finally the people returned.
You won't believe your ears! People live on this island, but they're completely different from us!
One of them shouted.
What do you mean completely different? Have they got four arms or two heads?
Herman laughed.
No, their arms and heads are the same as ours. But their hair, eyebrows, eyelashes — it's all white. So interesting, I've never seen people like that!
One of the lads reported.
I remember! A long time ago someone told me that people with that colour hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are called albinos. They're a bit different from us in appearance, but generally they're the same as us. They can talk, they can work, study, speak, eat, sleep just like us. But today there aren't as many people like that in the world as there are of us.
Suddenly came a voice from under a small palm tree.
Oh, this is my chance! I've thought of something to do. I'll sail to this island, lure one of these albinos back to us, put them in an enclosure, and show them to everyone for money.
Herman suddenly shouted.
What are you thinking? How can you treat people like that? Don't you feel sorry for anyone except yourself? To live well, you don't have to be lazy and treat others badly, you just need to work and be happy.
One woman protested.
No way! If I put him in an enclosure, I won't have to do anything else. The money will just flow into my pocket, and I'll just lie around and give orders.
Herman stood his ground.
All the people on the island just waved the boy away. No one could have imagined that one dark night Herman would actually go through with it and sail to the new land for a unique albino.
The boy moored the boat, climbed onto the shore and set off in search of these people unknown to him.
Who are you?
Suddenly a frightened voice was heard.
I'm your friend! I've come to invite you to visit me. There are lots of people on our island, and we can be mates.
Herman quickly replied.
The boy's voice was so sneaky that the albino suspected something. So the white man decided to be cunning too. He invited Herman to taste some delicious fruit and only then go to visit his new friend.
They went into a small hut, where the albino suggested Herman rest a bit. The lazy boy agreed, as this was his favourite activity. Closing his eyes, he immediately fell asleep. And when he woke up, he discovered that his legs were chained to a large palm tree.
Now I'll be showing you to everyone!
The albino laughed.
And so lazy Herman lived out his whole life on the island of albinos under a large green palm tree.
