THE APPLE TREE AND A BOY!

Very long ago, there lived a huge apple tree offering tasty apples to the people. A little boy
became close friend to the apple tree. The boy used to play with the tree, climb the branches,
sleep under the shadow, pluck apples, etc. Every day he visited the tree, and ate apples. The
apple tree was so kind to the boy and enjoyed spending time with the little boy.
The boy joined school and could not spend any time with the apple tree. After several months the
boy came to the apple tree. The tree was so happy to see the boy and asked him to play with it.
The boy said that he was not a little one to play with the trees. But he had another request to the
tree.
The tree asked what he wanted. The boy said that he needed toys to play, but his parents did not have sufficient money to buy
toys for him.
The tree replied, Dear boy, I do not have any money to buy toys for you, but you can pick the apples, sell them, get money and
buy the toys you need.
The apple tree was eagerly waiting to see the boy return. The boy went happily after plucking apples, but never returned for
several years.
The tree was so sad and it did not produce any apples thereafter.
After almost 10 years, the boy returned to the apple tree as a youngster. The apple tree immediately recognized the boy and
was happy to see him. The tree asked him to play again.
The boy said, Im sorry I dont have time to play with you as I have to work. We are building new home and need some wood
for it. Can you please help me?
The apple tree replied, Oh my dear boy, please cut my branches and get the needed quantity of wood, as much as you want.
The boy started to cut the branches of the tree and left the place. After several years, the boy returned as a middle aged man to
the tree. The tree, which was waiting for years to see the boy, was quite delighted.
The apple tree asked, Can you play with me now?
The boy, who is now an aged man replied, Im old now and I want to relax myself from heavy work. I need a boat to sail to
various places. Can you help me?
The apple tree replied, Oh my dear boy, I dont have a boat for you, but you can cut my trunk and make a boat.
The man cut the trunk of the tree and made the boat. He happily sailed to various places but never returned to the tree again,
which now has only the roots!
After two decades, the boy returned to the tree as an old man.
The tree recognized him and told, Oh my dear boy, now I have nothing to give to you!
The old man said, I just need rest, just give me a place
The apple tree, Come on my dear, take rest in my roots! Good old roots are the best place to have peace and rest!
The man smiled with tears!
This is a life story of every individual. When we are young, we need the support of the parents. As we grow old, we ignore them and never care for
them, but seek help from parents only when we need any help! Finally, when we become parents and aged, we understand how great the parents
are! Whatever may be the condition, parents are always ready to help their children.

FRIENDS

Bunny rabbit lived in the forest. He had many friends. He was proud of his friends.
One day Bunny rabbit heard the loud barking of the wild dogs. He was very scared. He
decided to ask for help. He quickly went to his friend deer. He said: Dear friend, some wild
dogs are chasing me. Can you chase them away with your sharp antlers? Dear said:
That is right, I can. But now I am busy. Why dont you ask bear for help?
Bunny rabbit ran to the bear. My dear friend you are very strong, please help me. Some
wild dogs are after me. Please chase them away, he requested the bear.
Bear replied: I am sorry. I am hungry and tired. I need to find some food. Please ask the
monkey for help.
Poor Bunny went to the monkey, elephant, goat and all his friends. Bunny felt sad that
nobody was ready to help him.
He understood that he has to think of a way out. He hid under a bush. He lay still the wild
dogs went their way.

TRUE WEALTH
Once upon a time, there lived a very rich and wealthy man in a big
town. He had all sorts of wealth and led a luxurious life. He had
every luxury at his footstep and could afford to feed for the entire
people of his town. He always boasted his luxurious life to his
friends and relatives.
His son was studying in a distant place and he returned home for
vacation. The rich man wanted to show off to his son how rich his
father was and how he made him very proud. But his son wasnt
ever fond of any luxurious lifestyle. However, the rich man wanted
to make his son realize that his lifestyle was extremely rich and
how the poor people did suffer. He planned for a day visit to the
entire town to show him off the life of the poor people.
The father and the son took a chariot and visited the entire town. They returned home after two days. The
father was happy that his son was very quiet after seeing the poor people honouring the rich man and
after seeing the sufferings of the poor ones due to lack of facilities.
The rich man asked his son, Dear boy, how was the trip? Have you enjoyed it?
Yes my dad, it was a great trip with you. The son replied.
So, what did you learn from the trip? The Father asked.
The son was silent.
Finally you have realized how the poor suffer and how they actually are said the father.
No father replied the son.
He added, We have only two dogs, they have 10 dogs. We have a big pool in our garden, but they have a
massive bay without any ends! We have luxurious and expensive lights imported from various countries,
but they have countless stars lighting their nights. We have a house in a small piece of land, but they have
abundant fields that go beyond the sight. We are served by servants, but they serve people. We are
protected by huge and strong walls around our property, but they bond with each other and surround
themselves. We only buy food from them, but they are so rich to cultivate their own food.
The rich father was stunned to hear his sons words and he was completely speechless.
Finally the son added, Dad thank you so much for showing me who is rich and who is poor and let me
understand how poor we are!
True wealth is not measured by money and property we have! It is in the friendship, relationship
and good compassion we share with the others.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

Once when a Lion was asleep, a little Mouse began
running up and down upon him. This soon wakened the
Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him and opened his
big jaws to swallow him.
"Pardon, O King!" cried the little Mouse, "Forgive me this
time. I shall never repeat it and I shall never forget your kindness. And who knows,
but I may be able to do you a good turn one of these days?"
The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted
up his paw and let him go.
Sometime later a few hunters captured the

King and

tied him to a tree while they went in search of a

wagon to

carry him on.

Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which
the Lion was, ran up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of
the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse, very happy to help the Lion.
MORAL: Little friends may prove great friends. -

LOVE AND THE TIME STORY

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the

feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of
the others, including Love. One day it was announced to
the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed
boats and left. Except for Love.
Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold
out until the last possible moment. When the island had
almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, Richness, can you take me with you?
Richness answered, No, I cant. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place
here for you.
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. Vanity, please help
me! I cant help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat, Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked, Sadness, let me go with you. Oh . . . Love, I am so sad
that I need to be by myself! Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did
not even hear when Love called her.
Suddenly, there was a voice, Come, Love, I will take you. It was an elder.
So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they
arrived at dry land, the elder went his own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder, Love
asked Knowledge, another elder, Who Helped me?
It was Time, Knowledge answered.
Time? asked Love. But why did Time help me? Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom
and answered, Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is.

SOMEDAY
You're the sun that brightens up my day
That keeps me going from day to day
Here with me is where I want you to stay
But how could it happen if you're so far away
Everyday I think about you
I wonder if you ever think about me too
I have loved you since the day I saw you
And I've been dreaming that you'll love me too
Picture is worth a thousand words
But a picture of yours means my world
My love for you will never die
Like the moon that brightens up the darkest night
I promise to see you someday
And show you that my love stays as it is today
But for now I have to wait

'ANGELS DANCE'

Alone in the dark for hours I lie,

awaiting answers from the sky,
Angels dance while others die,
Some had their fun, and some had to cry
Wondering,
How much happiness, are they willing to buy, ?
is it worth ripping out their souls,
and bleed them dry? !

I had this need to free them

why
Seeing is believing, but perceptions are deceiving,

Thus the eye can be obliged to deceive the mind,

I am a heaving steed and Im reaching skies,

the fire the Im breathing is exceeding high,

you can try to see me, but youll conceal your eyes!

MY SIBLINGS

Life is passing so quickly,

Dreams are proliferating so rapidly,
But in the middle of all these,
Memories are embracing so tightly....
The time we spent together was most memorable,
The days we live apart were most dreadful,
The fights we shared together were most dangerous,
Still the care we tend to do is most wondrous............
Rare is the love which I receive from you,
Precious is the knowledge which I receive from you,
But paramount of all these,
Peculiar are my siblings which I receive from God......

I THANK YOU

You kept it real

You told no lies
I trusted your words
And you said that it was okay to cry
Hidden from an ocean of lies from the
People closest to me...
But you, you revealed them all
You answered questions never asked
And you showed no regret
And with that I thank you!
Wishing the truth were lies
Expecting a laugh and you telling me
That it was all a
Joke!
The truth hit me, then stabbed me, then
Killed me a thousand
Times....
I cried that night with the never ending
Thought of the truth...
I thought I knew my life, I thought I
Understood it all...
But you opened my eyes and unwrapped
The hurtful truth...
And I thank you for being there, to hold
my hand...through it all...
And I can never thank you enough for
opening the closet of skeletons...

A TRIBUTE TO FAMILY

I don't know when it started,

Or how it all began.
But God created families,
As only our Lord can.
He was teaching what it means,
To love, honor, and obey.
He wanted a strong bond,
That we don't see too much today.
He wanted someone to hold us,
And show respect for others.
He wanted someone who'd be gentle,
And so he created mothers.
He wanted someone strong,
A support filled with love.
And so he created fathers,
Sent from heaven up above.
Brothers and sisters came next,
With that, an instant friend.
Someone to look up to,
Someone on who to depend.
When he put them all together,
He was amazed at what he'd done.
He had created a family,
Mother, father, daughter, son.
But look at the family,
Created by only two.
How many we've become,
And all because of you.
We have a lot to be thankful for,
The memories through the years.
The many times together,
Full of laughter, full of tears.
I don't know where we'd be today,
If it weren't for the two of you.
To show us strength, support, and love,
Like only the two of you can do.

MY LEMONADE STAND
BY REBECCA KAI DOTLICH

Cookies for sale!

And cake! One dime!
That's what it says
on my cardboard sign.
I pile cookies on a plate.
I eat just one
and then, I wait . . .
I taste the cake
(one tiny slice)
I squeeze the lemons
and stir the ice;
I count and stack
the paper cups . . .
fresh lemonade
is coming up!
I count the bruises
on my knee . . .
won't somebody buy something,
please?

Love Apart
Even though we are miles apart
You are never far from my heart
I loved you then
I love you now
It's always when and
Never how
Take me back to yesterday
All the wonderful things you had to say
I loved you then
I love you now
It's always when
And never how
I see your eyes
I feel you near
Although you're not
Really here

Take My Hand
Take my hand and lead the way,
Pour out all your deeper thoughts,
Let your soft voice whisper swiftly into my ear,
All these lovely things I want to hear.
Kiss my lips and touch my skin,
Invoke my adrenalin,
And bring out passion deep within,
Draw me near and hold me tight.
Throw away all my sorrows and mourning,
In to the thick darkness of the night,
Claim back the long lost smile,
Back into my face at early dawn,
I've been in this custody for years,
Break the walls and enter my heart.
Untie the chains,
Hold my hand and let me out.
Release my soul held deep within...
I'm ready now;
Take my hand,
And let love begin!