I can’t recall exactly when I first tasted a fruit, but I do remember how easily I was fooled in my gullible days.
One of my earliest memories involves an apple in my bag on the very first day of school. I was told to eat it during break, though I can’t quite remember if I actually did. What stands out is the stern instruction not to eat the seeds. Dutifully, I would pick out and spit the seeds before swallowing each bite, believing it was the right thing to do. Life was simple and good that way.
But then came the day I ate a juicy slice of watermelon. It was too big and messy for my little hands, and in my excitement, I accidentally swallowed some seeds. Panicked, I rushed to my grandmother to confess. With a mischievous smile, she told me that I’d soon turn into a watermelon tree because of it.
From that moment on, I started counting my days, consumed by the thought of a tree growing inside my belly and sprouting out of me. Would I really become a tree, just because of those few seeds? The idea haunted me at school, during play, and especially at night.
Looking back, I wonder if you too were ever tricked by such childhood tales.