The selfish giant

relatos (36)in #english • 6 years ago (edited)

Many years ago, in a small town, there were five very friendly children who went out to play in the forest every afternoon. The little ones scampered through the grass, jumped into the trees and bathed in the rivers with great happiness. In fact, they were very close and liked to feel in the company of the animals and the heat that the Sun offered them. However, one afternoon, the children left the forest and came to find an immense castle protected by high walls.

Unable to contain their curiosity, they climbed the walls and entered the garden of the castle, and after several hours of play, they felt a terrible voice coming from within. "What are you doing in my castle? Out of here!".

Assaulted by fear, the five children stood motionless looking all around, but immediately a ghastly selfish giant with yellow eyes appeared before his eyes. "This is my castle, ruffians. I do not want anyone to hang around. Get out of here and do not dare to go back. Outside!". Without thinking twice, the children shot out of that place until they lost themselves in the distance.

To make sure that no other intruder would penetrate the castle, the giant reinforced the walls with plants full of thorns and thick chains that barely allowed to look inwards. In addition, at the front door, the selfish and grumpy giant placed a huge sign where it read: "Do not enter!".

Despite all these measures, the children did not give up, and every morning they approached stealthily around the castle to contemplate the giant. They stayed there for a long time until then they returned sadly home. Later, after spring, summer arrived, then autumn, and finally winter. In a few days, the snow covered the giant's castle and gave it a dark and ugly appearance. The strong winds raged in the windows and doors, and the giant sat in his chair wishing that spring would return again.

After months, the cold finally said goodbye and gave way to spring. The forest once again enjoyed a very beautiful bright green, the Sun penetrated the earth and the animals abandoned their dens to populate and fill the region with life. However, that did not happen in the castle of the selfish giant. There the snow still reigned, and the trees had scarcely seen their greenish branches.

"What a misfortune!" - lamented the giant - "Everyone can enjoy the spring except me, and now my garden is an empty and sad space".

Afflicted by his fate, he lay down on his bed and there it would have remained forever if it were not for one day he heard with great surprise the singing of a mockingbird in the window. Amazed and unable to believe it yet, the giant leaned out and smiled a smile on his lips. Her garden had recovered the joy, and now, not only the trees offered beautiful green branches, but the flowers had also decided to grow, and to her surprise, the children were also in that place playing and running from one side towards the other.

"How could I be so selfish? Children have brought me spring and now I feel happier "- the giant shouted as he descended the stairs to go out into the garden. Upon arriving at the place, he discovered that the little ones climbed the trees and had fun happily. All but one, who because he was the smallest could not climb any tree.

Compassioned with that child, the selfish giant decided to help him and held out his hand so that he could climb the tree. Then, the huge creature eliminated the thorny plants that had been placed on its wall and also the chains that prevented the passage to his castle.

However, when the children saw him they were afraid that the selfish giant would drive them out of the place, and without wasting time they hurried to leave the castle, but the youngest child was then trapped in the tree without being able to descend. To his surprise, the flowers withered, the grass turned gray and the trees began to fill with snow.

With great sadness, the giant asked the boy not to cry, and instead told him he could stay and play in his garden as long as he wanted. Then, the other children who remained hidden from outside the wall, understood that this was not bad, and that they could finally be in the garden without fear of being expelled.

Since then, every year when spring arrives in the forest, children rush to the giant's castle to fill their garden and flowers with life.

From the book Cuentos Grotescos, by José Rafael Pocaterra. Monte Ávila Editores
Available here

#venezuela #history #blog #culture

6 years ago in #english by relatos (36)

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