Ayaan and the Moon Seed

Before You Read

This is a story about a boy, a glowing seed and a promise that was nearly broken.

As you read, look for Sabz, the little leaf sprite, hiding in the pictures!

In a sunny courtyard, under the old neem tree, Ayaan found something strange.

It was a seed, and it glowed like a tiny moon.

Suddenly, a bright green leaf with a little smiling face popped out of the soil.

“I am Sabz,” it said, “and that is a moon seed. Will you look after it for me?”

“Plant it in the clay pot and water it every evening until the full moon,” said Sabz. “Do you promise?”

“I promise!” said Ayaan.

That evening, Ayaan filled his little blue jug and watered the pot: drip, drip, drip.

A silver sprout peeked out of the soil.

Ayaan came back every evening. The sprout grew two leaves, and then four.

Sabz danced happily beside the pot.

One afternoon his friends called, “Ayaan, come and play cricket!”

He hit a six, and everyone cheered. He played and played until the stars came out.

The next morning, the sprout was drooping. Its shiny leaves had turned dull and grey.

Sabz sat beside it, very quiet.

Ayaan’s tummy felt tight, and he wanted to say that the wind had done it.

Instead he said, “I forgot to water it, Sabz, and I’m sorry, because it was my job.”

“Thank you for telling the truth,” said Sabz kindly.

“A promise is like a seed: it only grows if you keep looking after it, day after day.”

So Ayaan tied a red thread around his wrist to help him remember.

Every evening, before any game, he watered the pot first.

Slowly, the sprout stood up tall again. It grew into a little tree covered in silver buds.

Every night Ayaan watched the moon grow rounder, until at last it was full.

On the night of the full moon, the buds opened. Silver flowers chimed like tiny bells, and the whole courtyard glowed.

“You kept your promise,” whispered Sabz.

Conclusion

Ayaan still waters his moon tree every evening, and on full-moon nights it still chimes.

Which promise will you look after today?

The End