The Farmer and the Apple Trees

One day a man decided he would become an apple farmer, so he planted some apple trees.

Since he knew nothing about farming, he observed other farmers at work. The neighbor with the most prosperous orchard was cutting off branches.

“Why are you doing that?” he asked.

“You must prune your trees so they bear more fruit,” the neighbor replied.

Excited he knew the secret to cultivating apples, the farmer rushed home to cut off many branches from his trees.

Sadly, no apples grew.

The farmer should have known that there is always more to learn.


By: ​Catherine Frerker

The Star-Gazing Astrologer

One night an astrologer was taking his usual midnight walk, staring up at the sky everywhere he went.

Not looking ahead, he accidentally fell into a ditch.

He moaned in pain, but a passerby only laughed at him, saying, “Get your head out of the clouds! Watching your step is more important than watching the stars every night.”

With no one to help him, the astrologer lay in the ditch throughout the night, watching the sky.

That night, he discovered a new planet, and people remembered his name for generations.


By: ​Catherine Frerker

 

 

Mask Up

Each day we attend life’s masquerade, seeking to be seen as we see ourselves – or perhaps better.

Each night our facade unravels, until one night the mask has melted itself to our face.

Perhaps it was never separate.

The goal was to deceive, to fool… ourselves.

Are we beautiful now?


By: Chris Trulock

 

 

What I Wish My Best Friend Knew

Through my eyes: I see there’s strength in your posture, piercing light in your eyes, and a soft, welcoming space in your heart for those seeking refuge. Your hair, skin, nails, figure… they receive but a glance.

You are so beautiful.

What does the mirror whisper to you? Does it tell you the same?

Why do you seek to change?

YOU are magnetic: the sound of your laugh, the comfort of your listening ears, the security of your friendship.

You show your beauty to me.

They want the same things.

If they don’t… don’t let their ugliness touch your brilliance.


By: Rachel Fisher

The Life of Bob

Bob woke up in the morning.
Bob rubbed his eyes and rolled out of bed.
Bob walked to the bathroom.
Bob showered and got dressed.
Bob left for work.
Bob worked.
Bob ate lunch.
Bob worked.
Bob drove home.
Bob walked in the house and sat on the couch.
Bob watched TV.
Bob ate dinner.
Bob watched TV.
Bob got sleepy.
Bob brushed his teeth and put on his pajamas.
Bob fluffed his pillow and went to bed.
Bob slept all night and had many dreams.
Bob did the same thing the next day.
…….. Are we all just like Bob?


By: C.B.

Precious Stones

My name’s Tawny.

I was mined in Tanzania and come from a family of Tanzanite.

A precious stone you probably haven’t heard of, unless your birthday is in December and your mom is one of those…

Just a stone a thousand times rarer than diamonds yet still underrated, widely unknown, and undersold.

My cut is trillion, my color is pure, and I’m a size seven.

Still — nada.

I’m waiting for my special person to take me away to a life of fancy dinners and holiday parties.

Here’s to 2021 being the year I make it into someone’s jewelry box.


By: David Czovek

 

Emerald

A child told me they found an emerald in the park today, and then handed me a shard of a Stella bottle.


By: S.K.

 

 

Moving to Oklahoma

Raymond was moving to Oklahoma, a state known for tornadoes.

He was trying to buy a house to move into.

He wound up having two options for a home: a very nice expensive home without a tornado shelter and a house not as nice with a tornado shelter.

Raymond was very tempted by the nicer house.

He decided to go with the nicer house and take the risk.

One year later — exactly — the tornado sirens in his neighborhood went off and shivers went down Raymonds spine.

The tornado destroyed his new home.

Raymond was humbled after the storm.


By: Joshua Cohlmia

 

My Heart Beats Out Of My Chest

Anxiety consumes me as I am surrounded by the roaring noise from the crowd. Looking out into the faraway distance of the water, I close my eyes and breathe.

I visualize every calculated moment and movement I make when I hit the water.

I climb on the block, wait for the sound of the whistle, and dive into the cold water.

As I glide under the water, there is a sense of calmness and the uneasiness fades away. Adrenaline takes over my body as I reach the surface.

Suddenly I am in control, racing with every fiber of my being.


By: K.V.

 

 

Man and His Bow

Five weeks ago, Moran decided he wanted to become an amateur bowman.

Every day he would come out to the calm beach and shoot arrows at a nearby tree.

Most days he had to stand within twenty-five feet to hit the tree, but some days he’d stand at distances ranging from fifty to a hundred feet and hit the tree, or near it.

Those were his good days.

To prove how far he had come, Moran put up a target that he wanted to hit from seventy-five yards.

Three weeks later: he finally hit the bullseye, and he joyfully celebrated.


By: Justin Ballou

 

 

Buddha: The Truth of the World

One day the prince of the world went for a walk through the city. This prince was sheltered his whole life — he was only accustomed to its pleasures!

While walking, he saw an old, withered man. This frightened the prince, for he wanted to keep his youth forever.

Next, he saw a deathly ill man who could not even stand. The prince said, “When did this mysterious sickness become such a thing?”

His third encounter was a corpse. This frightened the prince most of all.

Lastly, he saw a Holy Man who encouraged him on the path of enlightenment.


By: P.T.

 

 

Burn With Me

“This is gorgeous!”

“I hope so. It nearly killed me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Art is fire in the veins. You have to get it out before you get immolated.”


By: Chris Trulock

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Tiny Tales of Spring 2021 Copyright © 2021 by Laura Gibbs is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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