Educational story
«When you are adults 
| A Tale of Uncle Augustine about the Future»
The sun was slowly beginning to set behind the hills, tinting the sky in shades of gold, orange, and pink. The windmill turned peacefully, as if dancing in the breeze. Under the blackberry tree, Uncle Augustine settled into his wooden chair, his hat straight and a sprig of blackberry between his lips. The children, as usual, sat around him, knowing a special story was coming.
«Uncle Augustine,» Sofia asked, «what will the world be like when we grow up?»
The old man smiled tenderly. He looked up at the sunset-lit sky and adjusted his suspenders.
«That’s a good question,» he said. «The world is going to be different. You’ll have challenges we can barely imagine. But you’ll also have the opportunity to do wonderful things.»
The children leaned a little closer, attentive.
«For example,» he continued, «water will be scarcer.» In some places, every drop will be precious. You’ll have to learn to take care of it from a young age, like a treasure. When you wash your hands or water a plant, think about that.
«And the climate?» Tomás asked.
«It will change,» Uncle Agustín said calmly. «There will be more heat, more heavy rains, more droughts. But you, who are smart and brave, will find new ways of living. Perhaps you will invent roofs that collect water, or artificial trees that clean the air. But the most important thing will be to take care of the real trees, the rivers, and the mountains.»
«And the machines?» Leo said. «Are they going to do everything for us?»
«Many things, yes. The machines will be fast, but they won’t have a heart. They will be able to cook, drive, even write. But you will have something that no machine can copy: love, tenderness, friendship. That is what will make you indispensable.»
There was a brief silence, interrupted only by the hum of the mill.
«You’ll also find good people, but also some who won’t be,» said Uncle Agustín, becoming a little serious without losing his gentleness. «There will be those who promise you easy paths, effortless riches, brilliant things that seem good… but aren’t. Maybe they’ll offer you to cheat, to stop studying, or to try things that are harmful.»
The children lowered their gaze slightly, thoughtful.
«But I want you to remember something very important,» he continued, «there are no real shortcuts. Anything worthwhile takes time. And you have something that no one can take away from you: the strength to say ‘no’ when something isn’t right, and the perseverance to keep going when something is difficult.»
«What if we make mistakes?» Rita asked softly.
«You are going to make mistakes,» said Uncle Agustín, smiling again. «We all make mistakes. What matters is learning, getting up, and moving on. Falling isn’t failing. Failing is not trying again.»
The children looked at him with wide eyes, attentive to every word.
«There will be times when the world seems confusing, where there is a lot of noise, many opinions, and little truth. But if you learn to listen with your heart and think for yourselves, you will find the right path.»
The mill turned with a soft creak, as if it also approved of those words.
«When you are adults, you will make important decisions. Some will be difficult. But if you remember who you are, if you care for others, if you work with honesty and love… not only will things go well for you, but for everyone around you.»
Uncle Agustín looked each one in the eye and said firmly:
«I know you. I know what you are made of. You are the new humanity; you will be the ones who will build a fairer, kinder, more humane world. Not because everything will be easy… but because you will be ready.»
The children applauded, and Leo approached and hugged him without saying anything.
The windmill spun a little faster, the blackberries fell gently to the ground, and the sunset continued to paint the sky with hope.
The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights 
Today I want to tell you the story of Gigi, the Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights. What do you think? Shall we begin?
In the heart of the savannah lived a young giraffe named Gigi. Although her long neck allowed her to see beyond the horizon, Gigi had a secret that embarrassed her: she was afraid of heights! While all the other giraffes proudly walked along the highest hills, Gigi avoided high places. Just looking down made her tremble.
One day, her best friends, Leo the Lion, Coco the Monkey and Lila the Zebra, decided to organize an adventure through the nearby mountains. They were all excited, except Gigi, who felt a knot in her stomach when she heard the plan. She tried to hide her nervousness, but Lila noticed it immediately.
“Gigi, are you okay?” Lila asked with concern.
Gigi took a deep breath and confessed her fear.
“I’m afraid of heights. I know it sounds strange, but I’m really scared of climbing high places.”
Her friends were silent for a moment, but they soon reacted with understanding. Coco, the most mischievous of the group, was the first to speak:
“Don’t worry, Gigi! We’ll help you overcome your fear!” he said while swinging his tail enthusiastically.
Leo suggested something else:
“How about we start practicing on a low hill? That way you can get used to it little by little.”
“It’s natural for you to be afraid of heights, Gigi,” Leo said. “Hills aren’t home to giraffes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try.”
“Exactly!” Lila added. “Goats love to climb, but not all animals are the same. Each one has its own place in the savannah.”
Gigi smiled at these words. Although the idea of climbing hills was still scary, the support of her friends gave her the courage to try.
The next day, they took Gigi to a small hill, not too high, but high enough for Gigi to start gaining confidence. Coco and Lila stood by her side, encouraging her to climb slowly. With each step, Gigi felt the support of her friends. Although she was a little shaky at first, she soon realized that being at a low height was not so scary if she had her friends nearby.
The day of the big challenge arrived. The friends were standing in front of a high hill that offered a stunning view of the savannah. Gigi looked up, and although she was still scared, something had changed inside her. She knew she was not alone, that her friends would be with her every step of the way.
“Take your time,” Lila told her with a warm smile. “There is no hurry, we are here with you.”
Gigi began to climb, slowly at first, feeling the wind on her face and listening to the encouraging words of her friends. Halfway up, she hesitated for a moment, but when she looked at Leo, Coco, and Lila, she saw in their eyes that they trusted her. She took a deep breath and kept going.
In the end, Gigi reached the top. She had conquered her fear. From the top, she looked out over the vast landscape of the savannah, and for the first time in her life, she felt not fear, but a deep satisfaction.
“You did it!” Coco shouted, swinging from a nearby branch.
“I knew you could do it,” Leo added proudly.
Gigi, with a big smile on her face, replied:
“I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for helping me be brave.”
As she came down the hill, Gigi understood a great truth: bravery is not the absence of fear, but the ability to face it, especially when you have friends who support you.
From that day on, Gigi was no longer afraid of heights. She learned that although fears can be great, courage and the help of friends can be even greater.