Short story: When the worthless bum roared

It was as busy a day as any in the streets of a large metropolis. People went and came like ants, each carrying in their thoughts the long list of “to do’s” for the day. One man was in no hurry, he wore no shirt and a necklace made of seeds. He didn’t wear shoes either. His hair was long and his beard a bush to behold. He looked as if he had been recently rolling in the dirt.

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He sat on the side of a small fountain with crossed legs and did a small weak “OM” sound. People passed by ignoring him. Some even took the time to look at him and think how pitiful it was for a person to be in those conditions. Some processed enough energy in their brains to say “worthless bum” to themselves.

The man chanted a second “OM” but this time it was a bit louder and sustained for a longer time. A child stopped to look at him in amusement and curiosity. A dove landed at his feet and fluttered it’s wings energetically.

A third “OM” came and then a fourth, each time more intense and for a longer time. More doves arrived to the man’s concert and a few dogs gathered around as well. Children that passed by felt the urge to stay and listen but would get tightly pulled away by their parents.

Fifth, sixth and seventh “OM” were of similar intensity and length. The man remained went silent for a few minutes breathing deeply and concentrating his energy on the belly. After exactly 369 seconds he opened his mouth widely as if to swallow the world.

“OOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM”, he shouted with such fierceness the ground began to shake.

The people passing by looked at him with fear and a police officer began to approach him, but the sound became more and more intense and it was impossible to walk without losing balance. The cement beneath him started to break apart and plants shot up from the ground forming vines that surrounded the chanter, entangling his arms and legs and lifting him into the air.

Vines kept coming out of the ground extending their perimeter more and more. People dodged the plants and ran in desperation, cars crashed and everything became chaos. Flocks of birds came out of nowhere and begin to land all around. Every stray dog and cat in the city seemed to have gathered for the event as well.

The police officer desperately called the central to request assistance and soon the place was surrounded by patrols with guns pointed at the chanter, waiting for the order to fire.

But the man was no longer alone for many who witnessed the event saw it as a miracle. Nature had finally began to reclaim it’s legitimate space in such a magical way that it had to be worshiped. Their voices joined in the large “OM” was still taking place.

The police begin firing at the man but no bullets could reach him. Thick layers of vines would act as shields and the wilderness just kept spreading.

A tree begin to erect itself from the ground growing nearly half a mile tall. The vines pulled the chanter into the tree which begin to absorb the man. Before he had been fully taken by the tree, the man shouted: “This was only a warning!”.

The tree and the vines were all sucked back to the ground in a matter of seconds. The streets remained wrecked. No one who witnessed the event ever looked at a bum the same way.