Hello,
Dear ones,
And welcome to today's short story,
A Mexican folk tale,
The Harvest Birds.
In a little town where everyone knew everyone,
There lived a young man called Carlos.
Carlos used to sit under his favourite tree,
Dreaming and planning his life.
He wanted to have his own land,
As his father and grandfather had.
But when his father died and the land was divided,
There was only enough for his two older brothers.
So,
Carlos had to hire himself out to shopkeepers in the town.
If only I had my own land,
My life would be different,
He thought.
Once he went to see Don Tobias,
The richest man in town,
And he asked to borrow a little piece of land.
Don Tobias burst out laughing,
And his wife laughed with him.
Why should I give you land?
You don't know anything about making things grow.
Sad and ashamed,
Carlos returned to sit under his favourite tree.
It was the only place where he felt really happy.
In its enormous branches lived a flock of Zanatti birds,
Who were used to his presence,
And they considered him their friend.
There was one bird in particular,
Who cared very much for Carlos,
And wanted him to find his way in life.
This bird was always around him,
Resting on his shoulder,
Or on the brim of his hat.
After sitting and thinking for a long time,
Carlos decided to visit the old man of the town.
Old people know many things,
Because they've lived longer,
Thought Carlos.
Surely he'll give me some advice,
And maybe he'll even help me.
Carlos greeted the old man,
Whom everyone called Grandpa Chon,
With respect.
The old man looked at him for a few moments,
And asked,
Have you been sitting under your tree,
Carlos?
Yes,
He answered,
Very curious.
But how did you know?
When you have lived a little longer,
Little Carlos,
You will see that by watching carefully,
And observing,
You will come to know many,
Many things,
Replied Grandpa Chon.
Yes,
But how did you know?
Insisted Carlos.
My tree is a long way from here.
Look at your hat,
You can tell that the birds have been flying around above you,
Grandpa Chon laughed.
But it was not mocking laughter,
Like that of Don Tobias,
And his wife.
This time,
It was friendly laughter.
When Carlos realized that Grandpa Chon was in a good mood,
He dared to ask him for a piece of land.
Let me prove to you that I can be a good farmer,
And make things grow,
He pleaded.
Grandpa Chon became serious.
I will help you,
He said.
I will lend you land.
But remember,
If you fail,
You must work for me,
For free,
For as many days as you have used my land.
Carlos ran into the town,
Shouting his good news.
But instead of being happy for him,
People mocked him.
Better you should straighten up my workshop,
Because wherever you plant,
Not even wildflowers will grow,
Said the carpenter.
Don't waste your time,
Carlos,
Come work on this wheel,
Called the blacksmith.
Help me with these sacks of flour,
And stop dreaming,
Will you?
Added the baker.
But Carlos decided that nothing anyone said would stop him.
It's time to get to work,
He said to himself.
He began to prepare his land for planting.
It was a very tiny plot of land,
And didn't offer much promise of a big harvest.
Still,
Carlos kept on working,
Accompanied by his loyal friends,
The Zanattis.
My head is also small,
But it is big enough to hold many,
Many dreams,
Thought Carlos.
Carlos needed seeds to plant,
But didn't have money to buy them,
So he went to the shopkeeper and asked him for some seeds.
Carlos,
Sweep up the corn,
The beans,
And the squash seeds from my floor,
And take them to my pigs.
Then,
If you wish,
You can take some seeds for yourself.
Carlos was happy,
Because now he had seeds to plant.
He didn't scare away the Zanattis,
The way the other farmers did.
Instead,
He gave them some of his leftover seeds to eat,
So that they wouldn't be hungry,
And steal the seeds that he was planting.
After all,
The Zanattis were his friends and companions,
And he cared for them very,
Very much.
They were always with him,
Giving advice.
Days passed,
And the Zanattis guided Carlos as he worked.
When the tiny plants began to appear,
And little shoots of weeds along with them,
The Zanattis told Carlos not to throw the weeds away,
As the other farmers did.
Plant them on the borders of your land,
Said the birds.
When the other farmers heard what Carlos was doing,
They laughed at him.
Imagine keeping weeds in your field!
At harvest time,
Everyone was waiting to make fun of Carlos once again.
They were sure he would fail.
But when he arrived in town,
Everyone was astonished.
He brought a magnificent harvest.
Huge ears of corn,
Brilliantly coloured squashes,
And delicious-looking beans.
How did you do it?
They all wanted to know.
Carlos smiled and answered,
I did it with the help of my friends,
The Zanattis,
The harvest birds.
I learned to listen very carefully,
Over and over,
To the voice of nature.
Work with me,
Carlos,
Everyone shouted.
Teach us your secrets.
No,
Answered the old man.
Carlos works for no one now,
Because I am going to give him the land that he harvested.
After selling their crop at an excellent price,
Carlos and Grandpa Chon returned together to the little plot of land,
Which was now Carlos's.
The old man asked Carlos to tell him his secret.
The Zanattis taught me that all plants are like brothers and sisters,
He replied.
If you separate them,
They become sad and they won't grow.
But if you respect them and leave them together,
They will grow happily and be content.
