THE ARROGANT TREE

WRITTEN, ILLUSTRATED AND PUBLISHED BY: BodhaGuru Learning Private Limited VERSION: 0.8 Copyright 2012 by BodhaGuru Learning Private Limited

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Children Fun and Learn Book Subject: Science Topic: Dispersal of seeds

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CHAPTER 1 Arrogance leads to loss of friends

Once upon a time, there was a garden in which there was a huge green tree. It was full of fruits & flowers and looked very beautiful. This had made it very arrogant.

There were other trees in the garden, but they were not so beautiful. They tried to be friend with the arrogant tree but it was very rude to them. One tree said to the arrogant tree, Hello, Miss Beautiful! How are you? The arrogant tree replied, How dare you talk to me? I am so beautiful and you are so ugly. The tree said sadly, What can I do? I am like this only.

Suddenly, a strong wave of wind started to blow. The arrogant tree shouted in anger, Stop, Stop! You bad wind!! You are taking away all my flowers. Go away and blow somewhere else. The wind stopped blowing in the direction of the arrogant tree.

Some birds came and sat on the tree. They tried to eat the fruits of the tree.

The arrogant tree yelled at them also, Go away from here. You are spoiling my beauty. Dont ever take my fruits. The birds flew away from there.

Soon, some children came and started playing under the tree.

Now the arrogant tree shouted at them, Hey! You kids, why are you shouting? You will make me deaf. Go away. The children got scared and ran away. One child said complaining, Let us go and play under another tree, this tree is so mean.

The arrogant tree thought, Everybody seems to be jealous of my beauty. These people just use my huge shade, eat my fruits and pluck away flowers without my permission. They all try to do things that will make me less beautiful. Soon the arrogant tree was all alone. The arrogant tree thought, It is so peaceful now. I am so happy. Now, no one can spoil my beauty. CHAPTER 2 The struggle for survival

As time passed, all its fruits fell nearby the tree on the ground.

And then with time, seeds came out of the fruits and went inside the soil. The tree thought, I am so happy. I will have so many baby plants from my seeds.

As time passed, all the seeds of this tree started to fight under the soil. They began pushing each other as there was no space. One seed said, Hey! Move a little. I have no space. The second seed resisted strongly saying, What! Even I dont have much space here. You have taken up all the space.

Another one complained, I cant even breathe here. The first seed agreed readily, Me too, me too.

The second seed cried, I am thirsty, where is the water? Then the seed saw another seed that was drinking water and yelled at it, Why are you drinking so much water, give me some.

Another one complained, I am hungry. You selfish stop eating! Will you finish all the food? Leave something for us. The second seed argued, Hey! You are enjoying the sunlight. I am not getting any. It is so cold here. The first seed supported it saying, Same here, same here. CHAPTER 3 The self-realization

After few days, a small plant came out of the ground. The arrogant tree was happy to see a plant growing from its seed and said excitedly, Welcome to this world my baby. Where are your brothers and sisters?

Little plant replied sadly, I am alone mom. Most of the seeds had died. Only one seed germinated and grew. The arrogant tree started crying, Oh No! What is wrong? Very few of my children have survived.

A small boy, Aman who was playing near by, came walking near the tree. He asked, Dear Tree, Why are you crying?

The tree answered with tears in her eyes, My babies! I had so many seeds and only one grew. I dont know why! Aman thought for a while and then asked, Why is it so quiet here? Why is there no chirping of birds? Why no kids are playing here? The tree replied with guilt, It is my mistake. I was so rude to everyone. I fought with everybody. They all hate me and have stopped coming to me.

Aman said, Dear friend, you should not be so selfish. Beauty is not everything. You should also have a good heart and help others. Then only people will come to you else all your life you will remain without friends like right now. The arrogant tree said, Oh No! I was so stupid, so selfish. And see what has happened to me! Now I will not behave badly with others. I will call all my friends back.

The tree called all the birds, wind and the children and apologised to them saying, Come back all my friends, I am sorry I behaved rudely with you all. Everyone forgave the tree. CHAPTER 4 The fresh start

Soon, the tree was full of birds chirping on it, eating its fruits and carrying the seeds along with it. The children started playing beneath its shade, eating fruits and throwing away seeds everywhere. The wind was blowing around the tree and carrying some of its seed to far off places.

After sometime, some more seeds came out of the fruits of the tree. All the seeds of the tree were now spread far apart in the soil and they all were very happy. One seed said with content, This is so nice. I have enough water to drink. The other seed replied with approval, Yes, the food is also sufficient for all of us. No need to fight for it.

Yet another one said happily, I can breathe easily. The first seed exclaimed with pleasure, I feel so warm and cosy in the sunlight.

As the time passed, all of the seeds grew into healthy small plants.

The arrogant tree was very happy and said, I am so happy! All my children are growing well. Why couldnt I see this before? I was so obsessed with my beauty. I never realized that even others help me too. I cannot even move from my place. But because of all of my friends like birds, wind, human beings now all the seeds are far apart and have grown into healthy plants. Thank you everyone for all your help. Thank you birds, Thank you wind, Thank you children. From today, we all will live happily together in harmony.

Aman came to meet the tree. He was delighted to see the trees happiness and said, This is the beauty of nature. Everything is so nicely dependent on each other. Plants are dependent on us for getting carbon dioxide & seed dispersal. And we human beings are dependent on plants for getting oxygen and food. God is great. Moral of the story: Politeness wins friends, arrogance brings loss. CHAPTER 5 - Food for thought 1. The arrogant tree was obsessed with her beauty. But were the wind, the air and people really spoiling her beauty? 2. In the story many seeds survived and grew into new plants after getting scattered. Why was getting scattered important? 3. If you had a friend who is like the arrogant tree, obsessed with his beauty, what would you advise him? 4. The arrogant tree didnt want to talk to the lesser beautiful trees. Is it necessary to be beautiful to be a good friend? 5. What might have happened if the arrogant tree hadnt listened to Aman? 6. Can you tell why it is important to live in peace and harmony with the neighbours? 7. It is not easy to share things with others which we are very fond of. But sharing is always

good. Is it true? 8. Whenever there is of scarcity of food, water or shelter, people start fighting amongst themselves to get it. How can this be resolved? Feel free to imagine, generate new questions, think and discuss the answer to all the questions with your friends, teachers and parents. Have Fun! ***** THE END *****