(based on the book, ‘The Giving Tree,’ by Shel Silverstein.)
Once there was a Boy named AJ
And he loved music.
And everyday, he would sing
And he would put smiles on everyone’s faces
And make them happier than they had ever been.
He would sing to them
And dance with them
And touch their hearts.
And they would all be happy.
And when he was tired, their happiness would give him energy.
And the fans loved the music…
Very much.
And the Boy was happy.
But time went by.
And the fame got bigger.
And the Boy often felt alone.
Then one day, some people came to the Boy and the Boy said, “Come, friends, come and sing with me and keep me company and celebrate with me and be friends with me and be happy.”
“We cannot sing as good as you,” said the ‘friends.’ “We want to buy things and have fun. We want some money. Can you give us some money?”
“I’m sorry,” said the Boy, “but I have no money on me right now. I only have a checkbook. Take this check, friends, and cash it. Then you will have money and then you will be my friends and I will be happy.”
And so the ‘friends’ took his check and cashed it and bought things and had fun.
And the Boy was happy.
But his ‘friends’ stayed away for a long time…and the Boy was sad. And then one day the ‘friends’ came back and the Boy sang with joy and he said, “Come, friends, keep me company and joke with me and be happy.”
“We are too busy to keep you company,” said the ‘friends.’ “We want a house to party in tonight,” they said. “We want to have fun and we want to make other friends. Can you give us a house?”
“I have a house,” said the Boy. “Right now, the tour bus is my house, but you may take my keys and go have your party in my house. Then you will be my best friends and I will be happy.”
So the ‘friends’ took the Boy’s keys and went away to party at his house.
And the Boy was happy.
But his ‘friends’ stayed away for a long time. And when they came back, the Boy was so happy, he could hardly sing.
“Come, friends,” he whispered, “come and celebrate with me.”
“We are too busy and broke to celebrate,” said the ‘friends.’ “We want to go on a boat that will take us far away from here. Can you give us a boat?”
“Take my credit card and go on a cruise,” said the Boy. “Then you can sail away…and be my closest friends and I will be happy.”
And so the ‘friends’ took his credit card and joined a cruise and sailed away.
And the Boy was happy…
But not really.
And after a long time, the Boy’s band mates came to comfort him.
“I am sorry,” said the Boy, “but I have nothing left to give you…My checkbook is gone.”
“We have our own checkbooks to take care of ourselves,” his band mates said.
“My house is a mess,” said the Boy. “You cannot have a party at my house…”
“We have our own houses to invite you to,” said his band mates.
“My credit card is gone,” said the Boy. “You cannot go on a cruise and sail away…”
“We have our own credit cards and no time for cruises,” said his band mates.
“I am sorry,” sighed the Boy. “I wish there was something I could give you…but I have nothing left. I am just an old singing voice. I am sorry…”
“We don’t need very much,” said his band mates, “just a good man who will sing with us. Our songs are incomplete.”
“Well,” said the Boy, straitening himself up as much as he could, “well, my singing voice is good for completing a song and making a good sound. Come, friends. Sing with me and I will be happy.”
And his friends and fans did.
And the Boy was happy.
The End