{"id":573,"date":"2026-08-17T16:12:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:12:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=573"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:40","slug":"what-his-grandmother-left-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=573","title":{"rendered":"What His Grandmother Left Him"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> If something powerful is rightfully yours by inheritance, does having the right to possess it also give you the right to use it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren inherited a jar of rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His grandmother left everyone else sensible things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister received the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His uncle received three acres of orchard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The grandchildren divided jewelry, furniture, books, and several boxes of clothing that smelled permanently of lavender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren received a blue ceramic jar with a cork in the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A note was tied around its neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DO NOT OPEN INDOORS.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren turned it over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister looked over his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cApparently rain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then saw his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;re serious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGrandmother was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat doesn&#8217;t mean you should be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren shook the jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thunder rumbled inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister stopped laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their grandmother had come from somewhere east of the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was almost everything Oren knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She rarely discussed her childhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked where she&#8217;d grown up, she said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked why she&#8217;d left:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked whether she missed it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she changed the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a child, Oren had assumed adults simply became grandparents at some point and whatever happened beforehand ceased to matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now she was dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suddenly the missing years seemed enormous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He took the jar outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Set it in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Removed the cork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cloud came out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It poured from the opening and expanded above him until it covered perhaps twenty feet of sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rain fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only beneath the cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren stood completely dry three steps away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He put the cork back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cloud collapsed instantly and rushed into the jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then opened it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Closed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren began laughing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within a week, the entire village knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was partly because Oren demonstrated the jar at the tavern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was also because he was incapable of keeping an interesting secret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The farmers immediately understood its value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan it rain longer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow much water?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDoes it refill?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan you move the cloud?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The oldest farmer stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat <em>do<\/em> you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDon&#8217;t open it indoors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That summer was dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then very dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then frightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The river dropped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wells became shallow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crops curled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren began using the jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At first, carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One field at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ten minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Twenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cloud watered wheat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then beans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then orchards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The jar always seemed full afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody understood how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody cared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren became extremely popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Villages nearby heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They came asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren helped them too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then towns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then estates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People began offering money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren refused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His grandmother hadn&#8217;t sold rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At least he assumed she hadn&#8217;t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He actually knew almost nothing about her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That thought returned often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A representative from the provincial governor arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need the jar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe drought affects thirty thousand people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m already helping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRandomly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;m helping whoever asks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The representative unfolded a map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe can distribute the water efficiently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren looked at the colored marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reservoirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Population centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crop regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The plan made sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That worried him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf I give it to you, when do I get it back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The representative hesitated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAfter the emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen is that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen the drought ends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat if it doesn&#8217;t?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren kept the jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then people began dying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An old man from a southern village walked two days to find Oren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur well is dry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren went.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then another village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stopped sleeping properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everywhere he arrived, people needed rain more than the last place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everywhere he left, someone asked him to stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One evening, Oren&#8217;s sister found him staring at the jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat has been apparent from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He almost smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI decide who gets rain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause Grandmother left you the jar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat isn&#8217;t a reason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt is literally the reason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy did she leave it to me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His sister shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMaybe because you&#8217;re the only person in the family foolish enough to open a jar labeled rain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren began searching through their grandmother&#8217;s belongings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Old receipts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most meant nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he found a book written in a language he couldn&#8217;t read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inside the cover was a map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">East of the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A village circled in blue ink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren packed the jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The journey took twenty-three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The village still existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps sixty people lived there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Oren showed the jar to an old woman, she slapped him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He nearly dropped it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat was that for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She shouted something in a language he didn&#8217;t understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A younger man translated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe wants to know where you got that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy grandmother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said her name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman went silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she began crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her name had not been Grandmother here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Obviously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She had been Sava.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keeper of the Western Rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren listened while the villagers explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There had once been four jars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One for each direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They were used during drought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not to make rain whenever people wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To move it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman took him outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She opened his jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rain fell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then she pointed east.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Far away, beyond the horizon, clouds thinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren felt cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt doesn&#8217;t create water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The younger man shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt brings water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom where?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSomewhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren looked at the rain falling around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every field he&#8217;d saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every orchard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Somewhere else had lost that water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy didn&#8217;t she tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The translator hesitated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe says perhaps your grandmother thought you knew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren laughed bitterly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow could I know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman spoke again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This time the translator looked uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe says that is a question for your grandmother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe&#8217;s dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are arguments that become impossible because one participant has died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren discovered they remain arguments anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He wanted to leave the jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman refused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The translator said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt belongs to your family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know how to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe says then learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;ve already hurt people with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The old woman shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren became angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat doesn&#8217;t bother her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The translation came back:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe says being bothered does not return the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He disliked this woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also suspected his grandmother had been very much like her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He stayed for a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He learned the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learned the weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learned what the jars had actually been for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The keepers watched clouds across enormous distances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They did not ask merely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Who needs rain?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Where can rain be taken without creating another drought?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes the answer was nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the hardest lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A keeper could possess the power to help and still decide not to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, Oren returned home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The jar came with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A farmer arrived almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy barley needs rain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren looked at the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The farmer stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou used to help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI used to open the jar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is the difference?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren smiled sadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cQuite a lot, apparently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The farmer became angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou have water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren touched the blue ceramic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have a way of moving it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People liked him less after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Oren had been ignorant, he had seemed generous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that he understood the jar, he often appeared selfish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He refused requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked irritating questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studied maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes crops died while the jar remained closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People cursed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If his field were dying, he might have cursed himself too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many years later, Oren taught his daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He placed the blue jar between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis will belong to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She touched it carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan I make it rain?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI&#8217;ve seen you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can make it rain <em>here<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s what I said.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He opened a map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat difference is the first thing you learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She looked disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good, Oren thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disappointment was better than ignorance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho does the rain belong to?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When he was young, he would have said whoever owned the jar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Later he might have said everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now neither answer seemed sufficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don&#8217;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His daughter looked surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou&#8217;ve had it all these years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd you still don&#8217;t know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat&#8217;s the second thing you learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pushed the jar toward her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thunder murmured inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She reached for the cork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere will the rain come from?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oren smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was why the jar was hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If something powerful is rightfully yours by inheritance, does having the right to possess it also give you the right to use it? Oren inherited a jar of rain. His grandmother left everyone else sensible things. His sister received the house. His uncle received three acres of orchard. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What His Grandmother Left Him - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=573\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What His Grandmother Left Him - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: If something powerful is rightfully yours by inheritance, does having the right to possess it also give you the right to use it? Oren inherited a jar of rain. His grandmother left everyone else sensible things. His sister received the house. His uncle received three acres of orchard. 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