The First Harvest: A Folk Tale of Sorts

     Once upon a time there lived an old woman who lived in a place in which nothing would grow. Her name was Ms. Blackthumb. Year by year she tilled the soil and sewed many seeds into the earth--yet not one of them ever grew to see the light. Even household plants lay dormant underneath the dark dirt.

     Every morning she gazed out of her kitchen window at the house next door. It was a spectacular sight; vines decorating archways and benches that bordered a lush and thriving fruit and vegetable garden. Bees buzzed in and out of the neighbor's flowers but flew right past Ms. Blackthumb's property. As a final act of perseverance the woman planted a single tomato seed into a pot and set it on her kitchen window sill, in hopes that it may one day understand her yearning. 
     Seven days after she carefully patted the last bit of soil over the seed, a little green man emerged from the middle of the pot as she administered its daily watering. Without pause, he began to speak:

     "I see your frown, Ms. Blackthumb, you wish your land to overflow with beauty!" he smiled. Taken aback, though intrigued, Ms. Blackthumb spoke in return,

     "Ah, yes, little man, for many years I have dreamt that my plot of earth would grow as fruitfully as the others. Nothing I touch will sprout. If this plant does not grow, I shall never attempt again such a challenging task."

     "I have the perfect fix for you my sweet lady, but you must agree to it," her eyes widened, "I can make this entire garden grow higher than the tallest stalk of corn next door, but in exchange you must sew the seeds and take care of me here until I am big enough to help you harvest your crops."

     For three months, the woman tended to the little man. Each day he grew a bit larger and each day the garden sprouted up one more inch. Finally the day came when the tomatoes were of the brightest red and there was a buzzing bee for every flower. The little man was no longer little, but in fact taller than the old woman. And what an eager spirit he contained! As soon as he saw the colorful bounty he rushed outside with the largest basket he could find, picking only the best of the harvest. Without saying a word to the old woman, he then skipped happily away as the juice of the ripest peach slid down his green neck.  

     The woman went to look at the garden and only found only the worst of the crops. There were rotten tomatoes and bug-eaten basil plants, crushed melons and wilted flowers. All was in disarray. But Ms. Blackthumb grabbed her second-best basket, gathered up what was left of her garden, and made the tastiest dinner she's ever made--dreaming all the while of the garden she once grew.