Two Seeds By Keith Shreve Illustrated by Jenny Plucinsky

Two seeds fell from the same tree. They spun through the sky, twirling and dancing until they settled on a small hill at the bottom of a valley.

“I want to see more, sister. I want to see past our valley.” “I will stay here, brother. I like our valley and it seems to be as good a place as any to grow my roots.”

“Goodbye, sister. I will return and tell you where I have been “Goodbye, sister. I will return and tell you where I have been.” A bird flew over and picked up the seed and took him far away.

Time passed and the seed returned. “Oh, sister! You are no longer a seed at all!” “No, I am not. I dug into the ground, grew roots, and sprouted from the earth a sapling. Did you see beyond the valley?” “I did. I met many different plants and saw things I could have never imagined.” “Good, brother. Will you stay now?”

“I cannot. Beyond the valley is a mountain. I want to see more “I cannot. Beyond the valley is a mountain. I want to see more. I want to see the top of the mountain!” The seed climbed up his sister’s branch, leaped into a gust of wind, then vanished into the horizon.

Time passed and the seed returned. “Oh, sister! You are a tree now!” “Yes, brother. I am full grown. Did you see the top of the mountain?” “I did. It was amazing! I could see the whole world from the top.” “Good, brother. Will you stay now?”

“I cannot. Beyond the mountain is a forest. I want to see more “I cannot. Beyond the mountain is a forest. I want to see more. I want to see the forest.” The seed climbed the tree, clutched a butterfly fluttering by, and rode off.

Time passed and the seed returned once again. “Sister, what has happened to your leaves and branches?” “There was a storm and flood. My branches were broken in the wind and carried off by the water.”

“How terrible. I should have taken you with me when you were a seed “How terrible! I should have taken you with me when you were a seed. This would have never happened.” “My roots are strong, brother. My branches and leaves will grow back. Did you see the forest?” “Oh, yes. There were trees everywhere! And the most beautiful animals I have ever seen.” “Good, brother. Will you stay now?”

“I cannot. Beyond the forest is an ocean. I want to see more “I cannot. Beyond the forest is an ocean. I want to see more. I want to see the ocean.” The seed hopped into the river that was formed in the flood and sailed slowly away.

Time passed and the seed returned once again.

“Sister, your branches and leaves have grown back stronger than before “Yes, brother. It took many years, but they have grown back. Did you see the ocean?” “I did. It was the biggest and most peaceful thing I have ever seen. But as I sat listening to the waves, I worried that your branches would not grow. I regretted not staying longer to see you healed.”

I know this feeling, brother. Every time you leave, I have the same worries. But you always return to tell me of your adventures. What is beyond the ocean, brother?” “I don’t know.” “Will you stay now?”

“I will.”

The End