The Wishing Cherry Tree
Once upon a time, in the small town of Calidor prominent for its farmers, there was a prodigious cherry tree, known widely as 'The Wishing Cherry Tree.' It was no ordinary tree, for legends proclaimed that it bore the power to grant a single wish to anyone who genuinely believes in it. Many travelled great distances to unravel the truth of the mythical tree yet to no avail; the tree seemed to choose its own believers.
In this town lived a young widow, Amelia, and her eight-year-old son, George. Life had taken a tragic turn when Amelia lost her husband in a mining accident a few years back. Ever since, they lived from hand to mouth.
Every day, on their way to George's school, they would pass by the colossal Wishing Cherry Tree. Widely filled with vivid cherry blossoms, it distinguished itself from everything else. Enchanted by its charm, George would often stop by, gaze at it with hope-filled eyes and make a wish.
Days soon turned into weeks, and weeks into months, but George's wish remained unfulfilled. Seeing the disappointment on his face, Amelia decided to narrate the real story behind the existence of the tree.
'The Wishing Cherry Tree', she explained, 'does not grant the wish you make aloud; instead, it bestows upon you that which your heart truly desires, and that may not always align with what one wishes for.'
Innocent George asked, 'So, will my secret wish be fulfilled?'
Amelia replied, 'It might, but only if the tree deems your intentions pure and your heart genuine.'
Days passed, George kept wishing, and school got harder to afford. Amelia had to work overtime which wore her out, but she didn't let the smile lessen on George's face.
One morning, a businessman, Mr. Alfred, arrived at Calidor, intrigued by the legend of this wish-granting tree. A wealthy, influential man despised for his fraudulent business tactics, he saw the tree as his shortcut to grab yet more riches.
He approached it, asked for more wealth, and waited eagerly for his wish to happen. Days turned into weeks, but his wish went unfulfilled. Furious, Mr. Alfred decided to cut the tree down thinking that if he couldn't benefit from it, why should anyone else?
News of his intention spread rapidly throughout Calidor. Petrified, George ran to his mother, pleading for help to save the Cherry Tree. Embracing him, Amelia looked into his teary eyes and assured him that she would do whatever she could to stop this injustice from happening.
The following day, after Mr. Alfred finished his meal, he found a small envelope on his table. It was a letter from Amelia.
'Esteemed Sir,' the letter began, 'Let's not rob the future of its beauty just because the present can't appreciate it. We do not cut down a tree that fails to bear the fruit; instead, we have the patience to let it bloom in its own time. Please reconsider your decision.'
Moved by the elegantly written words by a simple widow and a plea from a boy who was not yet a man, Mr. Alfred withdrew his order to cut down the tree.
Soon after, the town saw a miraculous change. Amelia received an anonymous donation that sufficiently covered George's school fee. Further investigation revealed that it was from Mr. Alfred. His business started seeing so much growth that he had to hire more workers, creating much-needed jobs for the town of Calidor.
Meanwhile, George woke up one day to find a single Cherry Blossom resting on his window ledge. He knew in his heart; his wish was finally granted.
Our desires may not always align with our needs. Sometimes, what our heart genuinely wishes for is not what we ask for out loud, 'The Wishing Cherry Tree' taught George, Amelia, and Mr. Alfred this crucial lesson. The town of Calidor thrived, and so did the legend of its Wishing Cherry Tree.