The Selfish Giant

Behind a high stone wall stood the most beautiful garden in the village. It had soft green grass, peach trees, and flowers that looked like bright stars. Every afternoon, children came there after school. They played hide-and-seek, climbed gently in the trees, and shared apples when autumn arrived. The garden belonged to a giant, but he had been away for many years, and the children believed it was a happy place for everyone.

One day the giant came home. He saw the children laughing among the flowers. “This is my garden,” he shouted. “No one may play here!” He built an even higher wall and hung a sign: KEEP OUT. The children had nowhere lovely to play. They stood on the road and looked sadly through a crack in the wall.

Spring came to the village. Birds sang in every yard, and trees opened their leaves. But in the giant's garden, winter stayed. Snow covered the grass. Frost painted the trees silver. The north wind howled through the empty branches. “Why does spring not come here?” the giant wondered. He did not understand that the garden had become lonely.

One morning he heard a bird singing. He looked out and saw a wonderful sight. The children had found a small opening in the wall and climbed in. Wherever a child stood, flowers appeared. Trees bent their branches so the children could climb. The snow and frost had gone away from most of the garden. Only one small corner was still cold.

In that corner, a little boy was trying to climb a tree, but he was too small. He looked up at the branches and began to cry. At first the giant wanted to scold him. Then he remembered the long, silent winter. “How foolish I have been,” he said. “The children bring spring.”

The giant went outside slowly. The other children were frightened and ran away, and winter rushed back wherever they left. But the little boy did not see the giant because tears filled his eyes. The giant lifted him gently into the tree. At once, blossoms opened around them. The boy smiled, put his arms around the giant's neck, and gave him a kiss.

The giant broke down the wall that same day. “This garden is for the children,” he announced. At first they were unsure, but the little boy waved, and everyone returned. From then on the giant played with them. He built a small bench, watered flowers, and listened to their stories. The garden was full of laughter in every season.

Years later, the giant was old and could not run as fast, but he loved watching the children play. He never again thought that a garden was valuable because it was only his. He knew it was beautiful because it held friendship, welcome, and shared joy. The village learned the same lesson: when we lock good things away, they may become lonely; when we share them, they grow warmer and more alive.