Once upon a time, there was a tall and beautiful walnut tree. This tree stood next to the road, and it had many plump walnuts hanging from its branches.
Every day, people would stop by the roadside. They would pick up stones and sticks, and throw them at the walnut tree. The branches would shake and the walnuts would fall. People would scramble to gather as many as they could, leaving the ground bare.
This happened so often that the branches of the walnut tree were covered in cuts and bruises. The pain was unbearable. Even though the tree loved to share its fruit, it didn't understand why the people were so cruel.
One day, as the stones and sticks were raining down upon it, the walnut tree cried out. "Oh, it hurts! Why do they hurt me when I give them my fruit to enjoy? Why can't they be kind?"
And so the walnut tree, despite bearing delicious fruit, was left with broken branches, feeling sad and alone. It had wished to spread joy with its bounty, but all it received in return was pain.
Once upon a time, in a spot not too far from here, there was this super cool walnut tree. I mean, if trees were movie stars, this one would be the hero, cape and all! Its branches were like arms, reaching out and showing off these super tasty walnuts. Yum!
So every day, people would walk by and go, "Whoa, look at those walnuts!" Then, as if they were playing a game of catch, they'd start tossing sticks and stones at the tree. I mean, you'd think they were trying to win a prize or something!
The poor walnut tree would shake and tremble like it was doing a funny dance it didn't want to do. The walnuts would fall down—plop, plop, plop!—and the people would grab 'em up really fast, like they were treasure.
But guess what? All this stick and stone throwing made the tree feel like a big ol' pinata. Its branches got all scratched and bruised. "Hey, what's going on?" the tree felt like saying. "I'm giving you free snacks here, and this is how you say thanks?"
One day, when the sticks and stones were flying around like crazy, the tree had had enough. "Hold up, hold up!" it wanted to yell. "Why are you throwing stuff at me? Do I look like a game to you? I give you all these awesome walnuts, and you're treating me like a dartboard!"
The tree let out a big sigh, feeling like it was stuck in a game it didn't want to play. "Why can't people be nice? Pick a walnut, say thank you, maybe do a funny dance to show they're happy?"
And so, even though this walnut tree was the coolest, most giving tree around, it felt a little bit like it had lost a game it didn't even want to play. It really wanted to share its walnuts and make everyone happy, but instead it felt like everyone was playing "Knock the Walnut Off the Tree."
So there the tree stood, still awesome but a little sad, hoping that someday, someone would walk up and say, "Hey, you're an awesome tree. Can I please have a walnut?" And maybe, just maybe, they'd even do a silly dance to say thanks.
Beneath the sun, a walnut tree so grand,
With lofty branches stretched across the land.
Its walnuts, juicy, hung in plump array,
Glistening brightly in the light of day.
Travelers passing, eyes caught by the sight,
Would aim with stones, with all their might.
They threw and threw, making walnuts fall,
Gathering quickly, they took them all.
But every throw, and every tug and tear,
Left the tree weeping, in deep despair.
Its branches scarred, its spirit torn,
Wishing it never had been born.
“Oh why,” it cried, amidst the din,
“Do they cause me pain, when I let them in?
I share my gifts, without a bind,
Why can't they, in return, be kind?”
The tree stood tall, though hurt inside,
With broken branches and wounded pride.
It hoped one day, love would prevail,
And kindness, not cruelty, would tell the tale.
A king's elephant and a dog form a friendship, are suddenly separated, but they are reunited by the king and live happily.
A farmer teaches his quarreling sons the strength of unity using a bundle of sticks.
A lion spared a mouse's life, later, the mouse rescued the lion from a trap.
A slow and steady tortoise wins a race against a boastful and overconfident hare.
A North Wind and a Sun compete to remove a traveler’s cloak, but the Sun wins with warmth.
A thirsty crow cleverly drops pebbles into a pitcher, raising the water level to drink and quench its thirst.
An ant works hard and saves food for the winter while the grasshopper plays and starves.
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