Page 17 - English_Spark_5

‘‘What can I do with a cherry stone?’’

‘‘Plant it!’’

Raki went to a corner of the garden where the earth was soft and yielding and
pressed the seed into the soil with his thumb. It went right in.

Section-2

One spring morning, Raki bent to pick up what he thought was a small twig in

the garden and found it was rooted. He stared at it for a moment and then ran
to fetch Grandfather, calling, ‘‘Dada, come and look. The cherry tree has come

up!’’

Grandfather bent almost double to peer down at the tiny tree. It was about
four inches high. ‘‘Yes, it’s a cherry tree,’’ said

Grandfather. ‘‘You should water it

now and then.’’

That year the monsoon came
early and Raki plodded

to and fro from school in
raincoat and boots. Even

when it wasn’t raining, the

trees dripped and mist came
curling up the valley. The

cherry tree grew quickly.

It was about two feet high,
when a goat entered the garden

and ate the leaves. Only the main stem
and two thin branches remained.

‘‘Never mind,’’ said Grandfather, seeing that Raki was upset, ‘‘it will grow again.

Cherry trees are tough.’’

yielding — to produce; twig — a stem; stared — to look long often with wide open
eye; peer — to look closely; plodded — walk doggedly and slowly with heavy steps;

mist — a collection of small drops of water

English-5 17