A A Touching Story Story12A long time ago, there wasa huge apple tree.3It loved a little boy very much. The boy loved to come and play around it everyday.4The little boy also liked to climb to the tree top.5He loved to grab on to the tree branches and to swing like a monkey.6The little boy loved to pluck the apples from the tree. He would then eat them. 7He would often take a nap under the cool shadow of the apple tree.8He loved the tree and the tree was so happy!9The years passed. Time went by10One day, the boy came back to the tree. The tree said, “Come and play with me.”11“I am no longer a kid. I do not play around a tree anymore.I want toys. I need money to buy them.12The tree said, “Sorry, but I do not have moneybut you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money.”The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The tree was happy.13The boy never came back for a long time after he had picked the apples. The tree was sad.14One day, the boy who had then grown into a man, returned and the tree was excited. “Come and play with me,” the tree said.15“I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?”16“Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house,” the tree said.17So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.18The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back for a long, long time. The tree was again lonely and sad.19One hot Summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. “Come and play with me!” the tree said20The tree seemed to be happy but the happiness was not real.21Finally the man returned after many years. “Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you” the tree said.“No problem. I do not have any teeth to bite,” the man replied.22“No more trunk for you to climb on,” the tree said. “I am too old for that now,” the man said.23“I really cannot give you anythingthe only thing left is my dying roots,” the tree said with tears.“I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years,” the man replied.24“Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest. Come, come sit down with me and rest.”25The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears26Everybody has Apple Trees in his or her life. And they are your parentsNo matter how busy you are, share some time with your parents.27With Metta, Bro. Oh Teik BinWe should express our feelingsto our parents!2829