The Sharing Tree

Once upon a time, in a sunny meadow surrounded by soft, green hills, there stood a tall and beautiful tree named Tessa. Tessa wasn’t like any other tree. She had a special gift: she could grow all kinds of fruit, from juicy apples to sweet oranges, to even peaches that smelled like honey. But what made Tessa even more special was her generous heart.

Tessa loved to share. Every season, as her branches filled with fruit, she would spread her leaves wide and call out to the creatures in the meadow, “Come and share my fruit, little ones. There’s enough for all of you!”

The animals, from bouncy rabbits to curious birds, loved Tessa. They would gather under her shade and enjoy her delicious fruit. But there was one creature who was always late to the party: Benny, the squirrel.

Benny was a little different from the other animals. While they would eagerly rush to Tessa’s tree to pick the fruit, Benny would often wait until the others had finished and left. He would then scurry up to the tree, hoping there would still be some fruit left for him.

But one day, Tessa noticed that Benny was looking particularly sad. His tiny paws clutched his empty basket, and his fur seemed a little less shiny.

“Tessa,” Benny said softly, “I’m always too late to get any fruit. By the time I arrive, everything is gone.”

Tessa thought for a moment, her leaves rustling in the breeze. “Oh, Benny,” she said warmly, “you know, there’s enough fruit for everyone, but sometimes, it’s important to share even when you have just a little.”

Benny blinked, not quite understanding. “What do you mean, Tessa?”

Tessa smiled, her branches stretching out to the sun. “Let me show you.”

The next morning, instead of waiting for the others to pick fruit first, Tessa decided to do something different. She dropped a few apples and pears onto the ground beneath her branches early in the morning, just as the sun was rising.

Benny saw the fruit and rushed over, excited. “Thank you, Tessa! You’ve saved me some fruit!”

Tessa nodded. “Of course, Benny! Now, I want you to take one apple and leave the rest for the other animals. This way, we’ll all have a share.”

Benny’s eyes sparkled. He took one apple, but before he could scurry off, he stopped. “Tessa, can I invite my friends to come and pick fruit too?”

Tessa smiled even more. “That’s exactly what I was hoping for, Benny. When we share with others, we all get a little bit more happiness.”

And so, Benny dashed through the meadow, calling out to his friends: the rabbits, the birds, the deer, and even the tiny ants who scurried around. “Tessa has fruit for everyone! Come and share!”

The animals gathered quickly, and Tessa, with a heart full of joy, watched as they all shared the fruit together. Benny was the first to pick fruit, but this time, he didn’t keep it to himself. He handed an apple to a rabbit, a pear to a bird, and even shared a peach with the ants.

As the sun began to set, the creatures of the meadow, filled with gratitude, smiled at each other. Benny realized that when everyone shared, there was more than enough for all. From that day forward, he made sure to share everything he had, knowing that kindness always made the world a happier place.

Moral of the Story: Sharing is the key to happiness. When we share, we make the world a better place for everyone.