The Mango Tree and Other Stories Read online

The Mango Tree and Other Stories

  Rachna Srivastava

  Copyright 2014 Rachna Srivastava

  ISBN: 978-0-9881224-9-9

  Cataloguing: Juvenile Fiction

  Table of Contents

  The Mango Tree

  The Mathematics Contest

  Innocence

  Change is Life

  Better Late than Never

  About the Author

  The Mango Tree

  The holidays were here, and Andy’s parents decided to make a visit to his uncle’s place in Florida. Andy loved Florida; it was a great place to have the holidays. He was also excited to see his cousin Ryan again. Ryan was a little older than Andy, but they had great times together whenever they met.

  Andy’s parents booked the flight and the family flew to Florida in no time. Everybody was happy to see each other. Andy and Ryan had so many things to talk about: their new games, toys, friends, and hobbies. Talking and playing together was great fun for both of them.

  One day after breakfast, they were playing in the backyard. Ryan said, “Andy, last week I planted a mango seedling. Would you like to see it?”

  “Sure,” Andy replied. “I would love to.”

  Ryan showed Andy his small mango seedling, planted in a corner of the backyard. Andy saw it and said, “It’s beautiful. I am sure you are taking very good care of it.”

  Ryan smiled and said, “Yes, I try to. Plants also need care and attention.”

  “When will it grow mangoes? I wish I could see those,” asked Andy curiously.

  Ryan started laughing and said, “Oh, Andy! It takes years to give fruit. It will grow into a big tree first, and then it will grow mangoes.”

  “Years?” Andy said. “Who wants to wait for so long?”

  Ryan replied, “It is not that long. Time will pass quickly, and soon it will start bearing fruit.”

  “Good luck, buddy!” Andy said. “I hope we get mangoes next time I come.”

  Ryan smiled and they got busy playing once again.

  Everybody in the family was having a nice time. The days were filled with fun and food. Soon, the holidays came to an end and it was time to go back. Andy went with some nice souvenirs and fond memories.

  School started before long, and he got busy with his studies. Over time, he forgot all about the mango tree.

  A few years later, Andy’s family went to Florida for the holidays again. Andy and Ryan were once again happy to see each other after such a long time. They were soon discussing new things all over again. Now they were teenagers, and had many more things to talk about.

  Later that day, when they went to the backyard to play basketball, Andy saw a big tree in the corner, full of mangoes. He said to Ryan, “The mango tree is beautiful. It has so much fruit. Is it the same one that you planted when I visited you last?”

  “Yes, Andy. It’s the same tree,” Ryan replied with a smile. “Now we and the whole neighbourhood are enjoying its fruit!”

  Ryan got some mangoes and said “Andy, why don’t you try some? I’m sure you will like them.”

  Andy ate one mango and was amazed. He said, “Ryan, wow! It is so sweet and juicy. Your patience has really been rewarded. You waited for so long, and now you have such tasty fruit. You deserve to eat these delicious mangoes.”

  “Yes, Andy,” said Ryan. “Sometimes we just need to do our work at the beginning, and have patience for the big result.”

  Andy smiled and said, “Now I truly understand the phrase, ‘Good things come to those who wait.’”

  And both of them went inside happily to have their supper.

  The Mathematics Contest

  Tina came downstairs for breakfast, looking quite happy. She found her parents sitting around the kitchen table and greeted them at once. “Good morning, Dad! Good morning, Mom!”

  “Good morning, sweetheart!” said Mother, as she got Tina’s breakfast together. We have your favourite cereal for breakfast today. You’ll have to eat quickly, or you’ll be late for school.”

  Tina smiled and started eating her cereal. Her dad looked at her over his newspaper. “Tina, you look excited today. Is something going on at school?” asked Dad.

  “Yes, Dad!” replied Tina. “Yesterday I had my science test, and I did quite well. Today I have my English test, and I think I’ll do well in that, too.”

  “That’s great Tina. Keep it up!” said Dad with a smile. “A beautiful rose is blooming out in the garden. Have you seen it? That’s yours, sweetie.”

  Tina loved roses and she spent much of her free time out in the garden. She always loved to pick the flowers, but her parents told her that she shouldn’t pick so many. She knew that she needed let them grow. She was very happy to hear that she could have one. “Thanks, Dad!” Tina beamed, and she got busy eating breakfast again.

  “And how about your math test, dear?” asked Mother, as she washed dishes in the sink. “Is it done or still coming up?”

  Tina fell quiet. She didn’t like to talk about math. “It’s over, Mom,” She said after a moment. “It was fine. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Tina’s mother could tell something was wrong, but before she could say anything more, Tina finished her breakfast and ran upstairs to get ready for school.

  Tina hadn’t done well in most of her recent math tests. Her friends didn’t seem to have so much trouble with math, and she didn’t know why it was so hard for her. She didn’t talk about it, even with her best friend, Jenny. She and Jenny were on the athletics team together, and she would run the long-jump, the high-jump, and the hurdle race with Jenny, but if Jenny started talking about math, Tina would excuse herself right away.

  One day, Tina and Jenny were going home together after school. “Tina, my grandma gave me a cool mathematical puzzle book for my birthday,” Jenny said. “Would you like to see it?”

  Tina became worried. “Not today, Jenny,” she told her. “I just remembered some work which mother asked me to do. Maybe I can come over some other day, but I have to go home now.”

  The days passed like this, and Tina tried her best to escape math. But it would have to catch up with her eventually.

  One morning, Tina’s math teacher, Ms. Laura, came to class and made an announcement. “Hello everyone! I have important information to share with you. I am sure you will be happy to hear this. We are going to have a mathematics quiz contest in school next week, and the winner of the contest will receive a new bicycle. So study hard, everyone! You all are welcome to participate.”

  Ms. Laura made this announcement and suddenly the class erupted. All the students were discussing it. Some talked about the puzzles they had solved recently. Some crooned over the new puzzle books in the library, and some about the bicycle.

  Every day after this, students were given an hour in class to discuss the contest amongst themselves. Everybody was enjoying the preparation, except Tina. While the other kids were busy getting ready, Tina sat quietly. Ms. Laura noticed that Tina was excluding herself, and seemed to be taking no interest in the other children’s discussions. She went to her and asked, “Tina, what’s the matter? Why are you sitting so quietly? Are you not going to participate in the contest?”

  “Ms. Laura, I love quizzes and contests, but I am very bad at math. I can’t perform well in this contest, so I don’t want to participate,” replied Tina.

  Ms. Laura smiled and said, “Tina, you can surely do well! You just need to practice and keep your confidence high.”

  She thought for a little longer and came up with an idea. She said, “Tina, have you ever seen an ant?”

  “Yes, Ms. Laura, I have seen them,” Tina said. “They are very small and always moving around
.”

  “That’s right, they are very small. But they are very hard-working and determined, too. Would you like to listen to an ant story?”Ms. Laura sat on the bench next to Tina.

  “Sure, Ms. Laura,” Tina replied. “I would love to.”

  Ms. Laura began to tell her the story.

  “Once upon a time, an ant was carrying a grain of corn that she found in the corner of a field. She wanted to bring it to her home, a hole beneath a bush, on the other end of the field. Along the way, the ant came upon many obstacles. Every time she encountered an obstacle, she changed her direction and went around it.

  When she grew quite close to her home, a long, thick wooden stick blocked her way. At first she was scared. She waited there for some time but eventually decided to cross over the stick. It was not an easy task. She tried to climb, but she slipped and fell. But she did not give up. She tried again and again. Finally, in one last try, she was successful. Jumping for joy, she reached home and enjoyed her sweet corn, the prize for all her hard work.”

  Ms. Laura looked