Ramola, The Gardener
Why is my plant not growing, Papa?
New Delhi | India
There was once a little girl called Ramola. Her father was very fond of gardening. Everyday, he worked in a small garden at the back of their house. Ramola would quietly watch her father working in the garden. She wondered how the little seeds grew into seedlings and those into big plants. The beautiful colors of flowers and fruits made her happy. ‘When I grow up, I shall work in the garden like Papa,’ she would think.
Then one day, Papa brought her some books, notebooks, pencils, and an eraser. “See, Ramola! All these things are for you. Now, my little girl will go to school.” Ramola had seen her elder brother sharpening his pencil everyday. Every time he sharpened the pencil, it looked smaller. And his eraser also became smaller because he used it everyday.
Suddenly, she had an idea. Why not plant a pencil and an eraser as Papa planted the rose twigs? Ramola filled a flowerpot with earth. She stuck a pencil in it, with the sharpened end pointing upwards. She fixed the eraser on the top of the pencil. How surprised everyone would be when her pencil and eraser started growing! She hid her pot behind tall plants.
Ramola watered her pot daily. Everyday she would look carefully for signs of a leaf or a bud. She wondered why her pencil and eraser did not grow. Papa had sown some tomato seeds on the same day and the plants were already bearing fruit.
One day she asked her father, “Why is my plant not growing, Papa?”
“What plant? Show me.”
Ramola showed him her pot with the pencil and the eraser stuck on it. Papa laughed and said, “Oh, my little girl! You wanted to grow your own pencils and erasers! They do not have life and can not be grown. They are made in factories!”
Papa patted her cheek and gave her rose cutting to plant. She watered it everyday. It has now grown into a thick, green bush with fragrant pink flowers.
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