text: Man was walking and saw a beautiful spot that he chose for a garden. "this is the spot I will make my garden" he said " I don't wish to be a garden" said the Soil. "As you can see, man has been here before and promised me he would tend to me. Those men failed and I grew thorns. Rocks came to the surface where there were none before. Weeds took over and now I cannot grow what I used to. They took all the good and left all the bad. I do not want to be a garden." " Do not worry Soil, you have such beautiful fruit inside those thorns. I will remove those thorns and rocks and I will tend to you with my own two hands. I will show you that we can work together to make such a lovely garden place. You will see. Trust me" the Man said. Soil was hesitant. Others had made promises before. However, Man was persistent in showing Soil how he could tend a garden. Each day Man brought water to the soil. He lovingly removed thorns that had grown and the rocks at the surface. Soil grew to trust Man and the thorns were easier to remove and the rocks began to roll away. He talked to Soil about how lovely a garden would be and planted seeds with his words. Soil began to grow rich with the time and attention from Man. Soil began to bear fruit and a garden was made. Man was very happy with his labors in the garden and the sweet fruit it produced. Soil was happy that the fruit pleased the man and all the care that Man took to tend the garden and all the fruit Soil provided. All was well. This would be where a fairy tale would end with the Man and Soil enjoying the care they each needed, bearing the fruit of the time and attention they each received. However, this is not a fairy tale. Time goes by as it does and Man continues to come to the garden for his fruit. One day Soil says to Man "Man, it has been very hot and dry and I need water to continue to produce the fruit you love so much. Please bring me water." "Is it my fault it has not rained?" asked Man " It is hot and dry. I am tired and I do not want to bring water out here for you. If you want water, speak to the clouds to bring water. I am not responsible for your water" Soil said nothing. Man took his fruit and left Soil thirsty. The days continued to be hot and dry, the clouds gave no water and neither did Man. However, he did come to the garden each day for his fruit. "This fruit is not as good as it used to be" complained Man one day "It is smaller and more sour. Why is your fruit going bad?" " I need water for good fruit. I asked you to bring some but you said that you would not. Also, look at the corners of the garden, there are new thorns growing. Please take the thorns away and bring water. It will make the fruit as good as you remember" promised Soil "It is not my job to give you water!" Man shouted " I am hot and tired and I have better things to do than make sure you have water. How dare you grow thorns! I will not remove these. If they are in the garden, then you allowed it to grow. I will take my fruit and I will go." Man took the fruit and went away complaining of the small fruit and its sour taste. Seeds fell from his mouth onto the garden and thorns grew where they landed. Much time passes before Man returned for fruit. The fruit was not as sweet as it used to be and harder to harvest. Man was angry at Soil. Soil did not know its place! Soil was here to give the man fruit, not complain. Not to take time or attention. Man had many better things to do and could not tend to the garden. Soil should be doing that to make sure the fruit is good for him. More time passes and the next time Man comes to the garden thorns have taken over, planted from his harsh words and neglect. Weeds and rocks choked what little fruit was left. "What is this?" cried Man. " It is all I have. I asked for water to make good fruit but you were too busy. I asked to have the thorns removed but you planted more with your words. Rocks have came back to the surface without your attention to remove them." "This is no garden fit for me!" yelled Man. "I am here to take my fruit. What you choose to do with your weeds and thorns is your problem and not mine to solve. You have put these rocks here to make it difficult for me. All I want is my fruit." "This fruit is not for you" replied Soil "Oh yes it is" cried man " I planted it. I came here for it. It is mine" Kicking at a rock that did not move. "I will have what I am owed" "You are owed nothing" screamed Soil. "You will only harvest what you planted. Here are your thorns, rocks and weeds, but you will have no fruit!" "You cannot do this to me. I am Man." growled Man. Man reaches his hand out to take the fruit that he did not plant. The thorns that his words had planted shift their thorns to keep his hand away. Man does not care and continues to curse Soil and its ingratitude. Longer grow the thorns and new thorns grow before Mans eyes. Blood begins to weep from the wounds the thorns make to keep his undeserving hands away. "You will have no more fruit from this garden" says Soil. "you have reaped what you have sown and will have no more. Go and leave this place. I will produce for you no more. This place will return to what it was before. You are no longer welcome here. Angry Man jumps and shouts and only more thorns grow. Seeing this Man decided to change his words. "Please, I would like some fruit from my garden" he begs. "No" replied Soil. "This is no longer a garden. The fruit that is left is mine and no one else shall have it." "This is unfair" whined Man" I loved the garden." "Not enough to give it water, or to roll away the rocks and remove the thorns." reasoned Soil "That was you who grew the thorns" replied Man "It was you who planted them" said Soil "Now please leave and no not come here again. There is no fruit for you, only thorns. Do not bother me again" Man leaves telling all who pass how terrible Soil has treated him. He tells how Soil grew thorns and refused him fruit, forgetting all the times Soil asked to be tended. "Soil is wild" and "look what Soil did to my hand" he cried to all who would listen. Some took pity on Man. "How could Soil do such a thing" they asked and shook their heads. Soil took pity on Itself. "How could Man be so cruel?" it asked. "How could hands that once helped now hurt so much" and more thorns grew to cover the much smaller and sour fruit. This is where we part ways with Man and Soil.