The selfish giant

Once upon a time there was a giant called Bernat who lived in an enormous castle. Around it lay such a beautiful garden that everyone stopped to admire it. The trees grew sweet fruit, flowers bloomed in a thousand colours and the soft green grass looked like velvet.

But Bernat was selfish and would not let anyone inside. He built a very high wall and put up a sign: “Keep out. Trespassers will be chased away.” The village children, who had once played happily among the trees and flowers, had to find somewhere else.

Then winter came. When spring began waking the rest of the world, something strange happened: Bernat’s garden stayed covered in snow. The trees grew no fruit and the flowers could not open. It seemed trapped in an endless winter.

“Why does spring never visit my garden?” the giant wondered.

He did not understand that by sending the children away, he had also driven out the joy that filled the place.

Spring returns to the garden

One day he heard laughter and voices. He looked out of his window and saw that the children had found a gap in the wall and were playing inside. Spring had returned with them. The trees were blossoming and the grass was greener than ever.

Bernat felt something new: the happiness of sharing. He hurried outside, but the children were frightened when they saw him and began to run.

“Wait!” he called. “Will you be my friends? You may come and play whenever you wish. This garden is for you too.”

From that day on, the garden became a meeting place. Bernat had learnt that keeping all its beauty to himself had left him lonely. Sharing it brought companionship and joy.

And with children running and playing among the flowers, his garden was more beautiful than ever.