The Fall of Freddie the Leaf

Spring came. Freddie, the leaf, was born on a branch of a tall tree.

Hundreds of leaves were born on the tree. They were all friends. Together they danced in the breeze and played in the sun.

Daniel was the largest leaf and Freddie’s best friend. He knew many things. He explained that they were part of a tree in a park. He also explained about the birds, the sun and the moon.

Freddie loved being a leaf. Summer was especially nice. Many people came to the park.

“Let’s get together and give them some shade,” said Daniel.

“Giving shade is part of our purpose in life. Making people happy is a good

reason for living.”

Old people sat under the tree and talked of old times. Children ran around and laughed. It was fun to watch those children.

Summer passed and autumn came.

Soon the leaves changed their colors. Some turned red and others turned yellow. Freddie turned purple. They were all very beautiful.

One day a strange thing happened. Some of the leaves were blown off by a cold wind. The leaves became frightened. “What’s happening?” they said.

“It's the time for leaves to change their home,” Daniel said. “Some people call it dying.”

“Will we all die?” Freddie asked.

“Yes,” Daniel answered. “Everything dies.”

“I won’t die!” said Freddie.

But his friends started to fall one after another.

Soon the tree was almost bare.

“I’m afraid of dying,” Freddie told Daniel.

“We’re all afraid of things we don’t know,” Daniel said. “But you were not afraid when spring became summer, or when summer became fall. Changes are natural.”

“Will we return in spring?” Freddie asked.

“I don’t know, but Life will. Life lasts forever and we’re part of it,” answered Daniel.

“We only fall and die. Why are we here?” Freddie asked again.

Daniel said, “For the friends, for the sun and for the shade. Remember the

breeze, the people and the colors in fall. Isn’t that enough?”

That afternoon, Daniel fell with a smile.

Freddie was the only leaf left on his branch.

The first snow fell the next morning.

The wind came and took Freddie from his branch. It did not hurt at all.

As he fell, he saw the whole tree for the first time. He remembered Daniel’s words, “Life last forever.”

Freddie landed on the soft snow. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

He did not know this. But, in the tree and in the ground, there were already plans for new leaves in spring.

（Quoted from “New Horizon English Course 3” published by Tokyo Shoseki Co.Ltd., Tokyo; “The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages” by Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D. Original English Edition published by Charles B. Slack, Inc. Copyrightc1982 by Leo F. Buscaglia, Inc. Reprinted by arrangement with Henry Holt and Company, LLC. All rights reserved）