柴博闻

编者注: This is a story of everyone. The tree is our parents (父母). When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad ... When we grow up (长大), we leave (离开) them, and only (仅仅) come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble (在困境中). No matter what, parents will always (总是) be there and give everything they could to make us happy. You may think that the boy is cruel (残忍的) to the tree but thats how all of us are treating (对待) our parents.

A long time ago (很久以前), there was a huge （巨大的） apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it every day. He climbed (爬) to the tree top (树顶), ate the apples, took a nap (打盹) under the shadow (树荫)... He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.

Time went by（时光流逝）. The little boy grew up and he no longer (不再) played around the tree.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and looked sad. “Come and play with me,” the tree asked the boy. “I am no longer a kid (小孩子). I dont play around trees anymore.” The boy replied (回答) , “I want toys (玩具). I need money (钱) to buy them.” “Sorry, I dont have money, but you can pick (摘) all my apples and sell (卖) them. Then, you will have money.” The boy was so excited (激动的). He picked all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy didnt come back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad (伤心的).

One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. “Come and play with me!” the tree said. “I dont have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter (遮风挡雨). Can you help me?” “Sorry, I dont have a house. But you can cut off (砍下) my branches (树枝) to build (建造) your house.” So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.

The tree was glad to see him happy, but the boy didnt appear (出现) since then. The tree was lonely again and sad.

One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted (高兴的). “Come and play with me!” the tree said. “I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing (航海) to relax (放松) myself. Can you give me a boat?” “Use my trunk (树干) to build a boat. You can sail and be happy.” So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and did not show up (出现) for a long time.

Finally (终于), the boy returned after he had left for so many years. “Sorry, my boy. But I dont have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you,” the tree said. “ I dont have teeth to bite,” the boy replied. “ No more trunk for you to climb on.” “I am too old for that now,” the boy said. “I really want to give you something ... The only thing left is my dying root (快要死去的树墩),” the tree said with tears (眼泪). “I dont need much now, just a place to rest (休息). I am tired (累的) after all these years,” The boy replied. “Good! Old tree root is the best place to lean on (倚在……上) and rest. Come here, please sit down with me and have a rest.” The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.