The story of the apple tree

In Mrs. Xuan's small garden, the sound of laughter and chatter was always full, like a small stream flowing tirelessly through the four seasons. Among the myriad of green fruit trees, there was an apple tree standing quietly, contemplating. In the spring, when the peach tree bloomed with a brilliant red color, the chrysanthemums spread their bright yellow carpet under the early morning sun, the apple tree only silently sprouted buds, cherishing every ray of sunlight, every drop of rain, but absolutely did not bloom a single flower.

Illustration: PV

Time passed quietly. At the end of summer, the children in the neighborhood chattered and went to Mrs. Xuan’s garden. They climbed the grapefruit and mangosteen trees, their tiny hands nimbly picking the fruits, their laughter echoing in the wind like a flock of sparrows in the new season. Only that apple tree stood still, its branches were lush with green leaves, but it was bare, not a single sweet fruit perched on its branches.

The children called it “the lazy apple tree” and then ran off to play in another corner of the garden, not bothering to look back. The apple tree listened to everything, each teasing word like a thin scratch on its bark. It looked up at the clear sky, where the clouds drifted towards the far horizon, and suddenly felt a nameless sadness in its heart.

“Why can’t I bear fruit?” The tree asked itself, silently on windy summer nights, on bright moonlit nights, when children’s laughter spread in the wind.

“How hard I tried!” The tree whispered, “I woke up early in the morning, welcomed every drop of fresh dew at the beginning of the day, I chatted with my bees and butterflies, stretched myself to catch the wind and the sun... and yet...”.

As the years passed, the apple tree grew quietly. From a small trunk, it has now become a sturdy tree, its roots deeply rooted in the mother earth, its branches and leaves spreading out like a cool green umbrella protecting the whole sky. But strangely, from summer to autumn, it only sheds waves of yellow leaves that fly with the wind, but has never left behind a single sweet fruit.

*

One summer day, under the golden sunshine, a family of tiny woodpeckers landed on an apple tree branch. They chirped and flapped their wings, their chirping voices resounding like musical notes.

- Apple tree, can we make a nest in your branches?

Hearing the chirping of birds, the apple tree gently swayed its leaves, its voice as gentle as a whispering wind.

- There is a very sturdy branch over there. Let's build our nest there. It will be safer there, away from sudden rains and storms that can come at any time.

The following days, the small nest was meticulously woven from soft grass, preparing to welcome the little creatures about to be born. Summer suddenly changed its color, heavy rains poured down, strong winds knocked down many branches in the garden. In the storm, the apple tree remained quiet and steady. It spread its branches and leaves like a large coat, protecting the little bird nest that was shivering in the cold wind.

Under the large canopy of the apple tree, the baby birds were still lying dry, warm, and sleeping soundly in the sound of the falling rain. The mother bird stood on a branch, singing loudly in the wind and rain.

- Thank you, kind apple tree!

For the first time in its life, the apple tree heard a word of thanks. Its heart was pounding, each beat resounding with sweet, sparkling sounds like silent music. A strange, gentle, yet deep joy spread throughout the tree.

From that day on, the apple tree was no longer lonely. It became a shared home for many small creatures. In the hollow of the tree, honeybees diligently built their nests. On the high branches, baby squirrels frolicked, their chirping laughter echoing throughout the garden. The apple tree stood there, silent yet radiant, silently embracing the small lives in its green arms.

*

On those hot summer afternoons, Mrs. Xuan often placed her old rattan chair under the shade of the apple tree. Some days, she leisurely knitted, her soft hands moving quickly in the golden sunlight, other days she flipped through the pages of books that had turned yellow with time, and sometimes she fell asleep peacefully under the cool green canopy of leaves.

The apple tree whispered softly in the gentle wind.

- I don't have sweet fruit, but I can spread my arms to provide shade for everyone.

Every hot summer afternoon, the children in the neighborhood gathered under the apple tree. They spread out mats, displayed their wares and tiny candy packages, then leaned against the cool tree trunk to read comic books, letting their dreamy eyes wander through the leaves sparkling in the sunlight. The children's clear laughter echoed, like a babbling brook flowing throughout the garden. Deep inside, the apple tree felt its heart warm up, whispering to itself.

- I have also contributed a small part to this beautiful life.

Then one day, news of a big storm spread everywhere. The sky darkened, the wind blew up in howling gusts. The sky was pitch black, strong gusts of wind knocked down flower bushes, grapefruit trees were knocked down, and their roots were uprooted all over the garden.

The apple tree also swayed violently, the wind whistling through every leaf gap. Other trees fell towards it, as if searching for a place to cling to, scratching its bark until it bled. However, it dug its roots deep into the ground, straining to endure, bending to protect the small bird nests, the honeycombs nestled in its hollows, and the branches of the zinnias that were entwined around its branches.

When the storm passed, the garden was in ruins. Leaves fell everywhere like a sad yellow carpet, branches were broken everywhere. But in the middle of that ruined picture, the apple tree still stood there quietly, its trunk torn, its branches and leaves tattered, but still resiliently protecting the small creatures under its canopy.

Mrs. Xuan, after cleaning up the mess and cutting off the broken branches, slowly walked to the apple tree. She gently placed her old hand on the rough and wounded trunk, whispering as if talking to an old friend.

Thank you, brave apple tree.

In the following days, the children and Mrs. Xuan gathered to take care of the apple tree. Some carefully bandaged the wounds that were leaking sap, others worked hard to water them, and picked up every dry leaf. Mrs. Xuan brought more fertilizer to sprinkle around the base, gently hoeing it as if caring for a loved one. Understanding that silent love, the apple tree told itself to be stronger, to continue living, not only for itself, but also for the laughter and small dreams under its canopy.

As time passed, the apple tree gradually revived. Its foliage turned green again, and its shade covered the garden again, like a silent yet enduring protection, like the gentle yet eternal love of heaven and earth.

*

The following year, on a crystal clear morning, Mrs. Xuan walked out into the garden. Looking up at the familiar apple tree, she suddenly stopped, her heart pounding. A miracle was appearing before her eyes, above the lush green branches, tiny white flowers were gently blooming, pure as the first snowflakes of the season. Mrs. Xuan cried out with joy.

- Hey! The apple tree is in bloom!

Her joyful shouts seemed to attract all the children in the neighborhood. They gathered around the tree, their eyes wide open and sparkling, amazed as if they were standing before a miracle.

- So beautiful!

- Tiny like real snowflakes!

- Keep it up, dear apple tree!

The honey bees that nestled in the tree hollow also chirped and whispered to the apple tree.

- Thanks to your protection, we have had a peaceful place to nest. Now, let us help you pollinate the flowers!

The apple tree silently accepted that love, with warm gratitude rising in its heart.

Day by day, under the gentle yellow sunlight, the tiny flower buds grow, forming into plump, round apples. By autumn, they dye the treetops a brilliant red, spreading a sweet fragrance that blends with every breeze, filling the garden.

For the first time, the apple tree bore fruit not because it had to follow the patterns of all species, but because it had silently loved, silently protected, silently given everything it had through many sunny and windy seasons.

That autumn, under the apple tree, Mrs. Xuan and the children held a small, cozy party. The bright red apples were cut into small pieces and passed around amidst loud laughter. The first apple of the season was sweet, sweet as gratitude, sweet as the pure and gentle memories of childhood.

The apple tree whispered softly to the gentle autumn wind.

- It turns out, I don't need to be like anyone else. Just live kindly and patiently, and miracles will come naturally.

The sunset dyed the whole garden golden. The apple tree stood there silently but brilliantly in its own way, like a silent song sent to all hearts that know how to love, wait and hope.

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/sang-tac/202505/chuyen-ve-cay-tao-c281d9a/