..The year before in GreenVille, while Roger Recycle was giving a tour of GreenVille's Museum of History....
History of GreenVille
“A long, long, time ago, in the middle of the ocean there was an island paradise hidden from the rest of the world. On it lived only a few natives who were in harmony with the land and they ate what nature provided. These people, who were unknown to the rest of the world, called themselves the Chok-ta-ho.
The ocean, while beautiful, was not where they lived. Their legends taught them that the water was powerful and strong. Their legends also said that wicked people from far away would come and destroy their island. In revenge, the earth would flood the land, except the highest mountain tops.
Because of these legends, the Chok-ta-ho dwellings were high up in the mountains, far away from the crashing ocean waves. After this terrible time, it was said a man would come and make everything good again. He would bring order back to nature.
While the Chok-ta-ho lived in the mountains, they wrote their legends on the walls of caves. These hieroglyphs told the Chok-ta-ho story. Somehow though, the Chok-ta-ho people suddenly disappeared without a trace but their legends lived on in their hieroglyphs.
***
This was a special island that had all the different climates in one place. On the far north side of the island, it was very cold with floating glaciers. There were high, snow-topped mountains that were in an upside down “U” shape, just south of this icy land, that extended to the east and west sides of the island. From the western shore of the island to the mountains, there was a desert known by the Chok-ta-ho for its yellow dirt. South of the mountains, within the “U” were beautiful rolling pastures where wildlife grazed. On the southern tip were sandy beaches, warm sun and cool breezes.
***
For a thousand years, the island was barren of humans. Huge wildlife ruled the island as they grew and prospered. Everything changed when a ship came from a far away place called Spiñia. The captain of the ship was Cleestofer Clombus.
Now, Cleestofer Clombus had actually been looking for a place called Indiñia, but he had a man on his crew who never listened to orders. He did everything the opposite of what he was told. It made for some interesting times at sea. When Clombus said to turn port (left); the man turned starboard (right). It is said that without this oddly defiant man’s determination to do the opposite of what he was told, the island wouldn’t have been discovered.
When Clombus first looked at the island, he couldn’t believe his eyes. It was a beautiful, lush green with trees thousands of years old that seemed to touch the sky. Huge clusters of grapes hung heavily on their vines, each grape the size of a man’s fist. The fruit was indescribably sweet. Species of animals never before seen elsewhere were running rampant on the land.
After a few weeks of exploring the island, Clombus discovered there were no dangerous or carnivorous (meat eaters) animals. They were actually quite friendly because these animals would come up to his men. There were no snakes, rats, or mosquitoes to be found on this beautiful island, which made him realize, it truly was paradise.
With the varying shades of the lush vegetation surrounding him, he named the island GreenVille. Knowing it was the perfect place to live, he excitedly left this paradise to go bring his entire family back with him. He went back to his home in Spiñia, but when he arrived there was trouble.
The rich man, Mr. Waste, who paid for his adventure, approached him. “You failed to find Indiñia and you can’t repay me. You and your family will be my slaves – indentured servants,” he sneered.
Clombus didn’t want to tell the man about his newfound paradise because he knew Mr. Waste would just destroy it. But, he didn’t want his family to be forced into slavery, so he reluctantly told him about the island he’d named GreenVille.
Instantly, there was a wicked gleam in the man’s eyes…a gleam of greed. “Well, I will just have to see this island for myself. If it is as you say, then your debt will be paid in full. If it is not, then you and your family will be in my service for life,” he said. Clombus was certain the man would be satisfied, so he agreed.
Mr. Waste checked out GreenVille for himself and couldn’t believe a place like that existed. He also determined he would move his entire family from Spiñia to GreenVille. Mr. Waste immediately insisted his servants cut down the trees and start building a mansion, so his family would have a place to live when they arrived.
It took a few months before everyone could move to the island of GreenVille because Mr. Waste’s family was determined to bring everything with them. They had insisted on bringing their personal collection of exotic animals from around the world. It took ten huge ships to bring Mr. Waste’s belongings. When they finally arrived, the entire Waste family fell in love with GreenVille. Not for its natural beauty, but what the land could do for them.
As a begrudging thanks for discovering the island, Mr. Waste had allowed Clombus and Clombus’ crew to have some land for themselves. Most of the land, however, was kept for himself and his two sons.
His sons were exact opposites of each other: one was generous and kind, while the other took what he felt he deserved, but always wanted more. This created problems within the Waste family. In his will, Mr. Waste divided the island in half: the eastern half went to one son, the western half to the other.
After his family was settled in, Mr. Waste bragged to his friends in Spiñia. They just had to come see what he was talking about. Most of the time, the people who came to GreenVille fell in love with it and wanted to stay, so Mr. Waste gladly sold them small parcels of land. He made a fortune selling these parcels to the newcomers, but died before he could enjoy it. GreenVille was then left in the hands of his sons.
Years later, the island was barely recognizable. News of GreenVille had spread all over the world. Some people came from as far away as Shena and tried to find work and places to live, but hardly anyone could understand them.
Since they couldn’t find work and the selfish son knew he wouldn’t have to pay them much, he had them work in his fields growing rice. They worked hard for very little money, but the Shenese (people from Shena) were able to stay in GreenVille.
As the population in GreenVille grew, so did conflicts and crimes. It was finally decided, not unanimously, that someone needed to be in charge of protecting the people of GreenVille. Mr. Green, a very honest and caring gentleman from Unklund was chosen to fill the role of GreenVille’s sheriff. All the different groups in GreenVille agreed that he would be fair and just and not discriminate.
There was peace in GreenVille until Mr. Green died. Troubles began again when the west side of GreenVille got upset with the east side. The selfish brother’s descendents were paying the foreigners coming to GreenVille a small wage (they were being cheap as always) while the east side gave the foreigners fair wages.
The workers in the west moved to the east (except the Shenese), so they could make more money. The westerners thought the easterners were stealing their workers away, so they decided to fight them. It was a nasty war with two sides of the same family fighting each other (Mr. Waste’s descendents).
In the end, the easterners won because of help from their loyal foreign workers. Because they had won the fight, the easterners demanded the westerners pay their workers fair wages. Plus, they insisted the Shenese be given a chance to grow crops on the land in exchange for half of what was grown. The westerners reluctantly agreed to this but didn’t like it, at all.
All the rest of GreenVille was happy with how the eastern family solved the problem. It was decided GreenVille needed more than just a sheriff, it needed a ruler. After much discussion among all the groups, it was decided they’d elect a king. The first king was elected from the generous brother’s family, on the eastern side of GreenVille. And this is how GreenVille’s first king was elected. Now, over three hundred years later, GreenVille still has a king. As you know, the current ruler of GreenVille is King Nature.”
***
“Wow, Roger Recycle,” exclaimed Sandra Sunburn. “That was really interesting! I’m so glad we have a good king.” Hannah Heart nodded her head in agreement.
Roger Recycle answered, “Well, through GreenVille’s history, not all kings have been as good as King Nature. Some almost destroyed GreenVille. As a matter of fact, before King Nature there was a king who almost destroyed GreenVille by allowing a lot of pollution.” He paused, then went on, “King Nature made laws to prevent us from ruining the environment. So, now we help the earth instead of hurting it. But even a good king can’t do it all alone. King Nature really needs our help now, especially since Dr. Pollution came back to GreenVille.”
“But King Nature has GoGreen Man! GoGreen Man and Professor Fusionstein will make sure nothing happens to GreenVille,” exclaimed Hannah Heart.
Roger nodded his head in agreement, “You’re right, Hannah Heart.”
“Thank you for telling us about GreenVille’s history. We really enjoyed learning about it,” commented Hannah Heart and Sandra Sunburn.
“You’re welcome,” he replied. “Any time you want to learn more, just let me know.” He laughed, “History is my favorite subject. Well, except for recycling!”
