The Simpleton’s Treasure Box

In a small Javanese town, a burglar became a menace. He would enter houses so stealthily that even the most careful households remained unaware of his presence. The Sultan announced that whoever could catch the thief would receive a reward of ten thousand rupiah. Days passed, and the burglaries continued, but the thief remained at large.

In this town lived a simpleton named Kyay. One day, people saw him walking through the bazaar, carrying a tin box on his head. “What is that?” curious passersby asked. “My maternal grandpa died, leaving his money for me in this box,” answered Kyay. “How lucky you are! How much is there?” they inquired. “I don’t know. I am forbidden to open it before an auspicious day,” replied Kyay. His well-wishers warned him, “That’s fine, but don’t announce your luck. Beware of the burglar!”

However, Kyay confidently responded, “But how can the burglar take away anything? The box is locked!” People laughed, but no one was surprised, as they knew Kyay to be rather foolish. At midnight, Kyay’s neighbors heard a piercing cry. Lanterns in hand, they rushed into the street. Someone was rolling on the ground in front of Kyay’s house, blinded and in terrible pain. To their astonishment, Kyay’s famous box lay open.

The box contained a beehive. Kyay had obtained it from a friend in the honey business. His announcement had unwittingly attracted the thief’s attention. The thief had broken open the lock to pour the contents into his bag, as carrying the entire box proved to be inconvenient. In the end, Kyay learned that sometimes, what seems like a treasure can lead to unexpected consequences.