The Selfish Giant’s Transformation

Once, long ago, in a faraway country, there was a garden. It was a large garden, full of flowers and blossoming trees. Thick, green grass provided a playground for the children, and in the autumn, the branches of the trees bent down under the heavy load of fruit.

The Garden’s Visitors

This wonderful garden belonged to a giant, but all the children from the nearby village came to play there. All day long they laughed, sang, and played. “How happy we are,” they’d say at the end of the day as they made their way home to bed. “What would we do without our wonderful garden?”

The Giant’s Rage

However, one day the giant suddenly returned home. From his house, he heard merry shouts and laughter. When he looked to see where the noise was coming from, he saw the children playing in his lovely garden. Infuriated, he stormed across the grass towards them. His loud and terrifying voice halted all the merriment. He banished the scared children who were terrified of the big, bad-tempered giant.

Changes in the Garden

The giant, not wanting any village urchins trampling his grass and spoiling his garden, built a high stone wall around it. To ensure everyone understood it was his territory, he put up a big board that said, PRIVATE – KEEP OUT. The village children found no way in and the great, grim stone wall stopped even the tiniest ones who couldn’t read the notice.

Winter’s Reign

While the children constantly reminisced about the days of playing happily in the garden, winter came. The deep, white snow and the cold North wind drove them indoors while the radiant glow of Spring, Summer and Autumn ceased from the garden.

The Miracle of Spring

One morning, the giant was awakened by a delightful surprise. The ice had cracked one of the big stones of the wall and the village children had found a small hole to crawl through. Their presence brought the garden back to life as they rushed to their favourite trees. The birds flew back and the flowers began to bloom, signaling the onset of Spring at last.

The Giant’s Change of Heart

In the farthest corner, there was a little boy too tiny to reach the branches of a tree. Seeing this, the giant became sad. Realising how selfish he had been, he rushed down into the garden. When the tearful little boy saw him, he was not scared at all. With a pickaxe, the giant broke down the wall and took down the notice. The giant became a friend to the children, especially the tiniest and weakest. They learned to love and trust him, now known as the Friendly Giant.

Ever since then, it has always been Spring in the giant’s garden. Even as the giant grew old and feeble, he was always surrounded by love and happiness.

Placement: After this line: One morning, the giant was awakened by a delightful surprise.