In the heart of Grandma’s orchard, under the shade of the towering blackberry tree, a group of children gathered every afternoon to listen to Uncle Augustine’s stories. The tree, always laden with sweet blackberries, was a special place. But one day, something extraordinary happened: the leaves began to rustle.
At first it was a soft murmur that only the most attentive could notice. But soon, everyone clearly heard the words: «What is true friendship?», «What does respect mean?», «Why is it important to take care of nature?» The children, surprised, looked at Uncle Augustine, who, with a knowing smile, explained to them that the tree was testing their wisdom.
«This tree is magical,» said Uncle Augustine as he adjusted his straight-brimmed hat. «Every time you answer one of its questions correctly, a new blackberry will bloom, as a gift for your effort and honesty.»
Intrigued, the children accepted the challenge. First, Sofia, the youngest of the group, answered: «True friendship is helping others without expecting anything in return.» Immediately, a bright blackberry appeared among the leaves, as if the tree were applauding her answer.
Then, Thomas, with his hands full of dirt from having been playing near the well, dared to answer the next question: «Respect is treating everyone as you would like to be treated.» Instantly, another blackberry blossomed, larger and brighter than the previous one.
Each child took a turn, reflecting on the tree’s questions. They talked about the importance of sharing, patience, and the need to take care of their environment. With each correct answer, the tree filled with blackberries, until all its foliage looked like a starry sky of small, shiny black fruits.
Uncle Augustine watched them with pride. «Did you notice?,» he said at the end, «the tree has taught us that the best answers are not in books, but in our hearts and in how we live our lives.»
As the sun began to set behind the mountains, the children, satisfied and happy, picked berries to share with their families. Before saying goodbye, they thanked Uncle Augustine and promised to return the next day to hear more stories and learn from the tree’s questions.
«Thank you for joining us in this wonderful story under the berry tree,» Uncle Augustine said with a smile as the windmill turned gently in the background. «If you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to subscribe to the channel, leave a ‘Like’ and ring the bell to receive notifications of our upcoming stories. See you next time!»