The little cloud was born over the sea. One day, while traveling, it spotted something dark in the distance. Curious, it decided to move closer. Excited, it sped toward it. But when it arrived, what it saw made it deeply sad. It found dry, barren land. People were sweating as they worked, trying to plant, but their efforts were futile. It seemed as though they were washing their hands and wiping them on the earth. The sun scorched everything. The people were losing hope. Some sat down, discouraged, and said, “This is the end. Misery is here to stay.” One person looked up and saw the little cloud passing by. They said, “Oh, God! If only that cloud could bring us some rain.” Everyone began calling out, “Rain, please come! Come, come! If you do, I’ll give you sweets!”
The little cloud replied, “I’d love to give you a little water, but first, we must find some trees to hold it.” The people looked up, then down, but could find not a single tree. The last mango tree, the only one left last month, had been chopped down for charcoal. Everyone lamented, “What a terrible loss!” The wind pushed the little cloud forward. When it reached the mountains, it spotted some trees. It descended, and as it touched the tops of the trees, there was a great rumble from the sky: “blodoblodopow!!!” The cloud’s pocket burst open, and water poured down in a great shower. The children rushed out to bathe in the rain, and the adults placed containers outside to collect it. The trees shook off the rain, the land drank deeply, and the animals were happy. The people rejoiced, and the trees turned green again. The land itself was revived. Seeing this joyful transformation, the little cloud felt great happiness. It said, “My friends, I must leave now, but I’ll return another day. One thing, though: please, don’t touch the trees that remain! Don’t cut them down! They are our life! Without them, you’ll only see clouds pass by. They won’t stay, and the rain won’t fall.”
Context and Lesson:
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This story carries a profound message about the importance of nature, especially trees, and their vital role in sustaining life. The little cloud symbolizes a source of help and relief, offering rain to revive the land and people. However, it is only able to do so because of the trees, which are necessary to help collect and hold the water. When the people lost their trees, they were in danger of losing their ability to sustain life and receive the rain they so desperately needed.
The lesson behind the story is clear: trees are essential to life, as they play a crucial role in the environment. Cutting them down, as the people did with the mango tree, has long-term consequences, which can lead to environmental devastation. The message is a call for the preservation of trees and the natural world in general, as they provide the resources and balance necessary for human survival. The little cloud, despite its kindness, cannot fulfill its promise to bring rain without the trees, emphasizing the interconnectedness of nature. The story serves as a reminder of the importance of caring for and protecting our environment.
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