Jack and the

Magic Grape Seeds

2092 Version

Illustrator: Nawras Douqa Author: Maria Daadouch

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The original work of this book was made possible through the generous support of the All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development (ACR GCD) Partners (the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Vision, and the Australian Government). It was prepared by Asafeer Education Technologies FZ LLC and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ACR GCD Partners. Any adaptation or translation of this work should not be considered an official ACR GCD translation and ACR GCD shall not be liable for any content or error in this translation.

Jack was a smart albino kid. He lived with his mother in the year 2092. By that time, there was hardly any more fuel supply left on earth. The one liter of fuel families received once a week, was barely enough to prepare a light meal or keep warm in a cold night this made life was difficult.

Jack and his mother had a cow that gave them milk. They had it with raisins and dates, so they wouldn’t need to cook, saving the fuel to keep them warm. Soon enough, their cow grew older and couldn’t give them anymore milk. Jack was chopping lumber when his mother called him and said, “We’re out of milk so we’ll start using our fuel to cook just like everyone else. Go and sell the cow and buy us some fuel.” Jack had an important job to be done.

Jack took the cow and off he went to the market. On his way, he met a dwarf with a big moustache. The dwarf was spinning a walnut-sized bag around his finger. He stopped Jack and asked him, “Hey kid, where are you going with your cow?” Jack answered, “I’m sell- ing it to buy some fuel.” The dwarf rubbed his hands and said, “And what do you need fuel for? Fuel goes out quickly and emits terrible smoke. Let me see. You give me the cow and I’ll give you the grape seeds in my brown bag. “They’re magic seeds”, whispered the dwarf. “They’ll grow into a huge vine that’ll reach the sky and you’ll eat grapes forever. And you can burn its vines to give you heat.”

Jack thought, this dwarf must be very generous and before the dwarf might change his mind Jack quickly said. “ I agree!” The dwarf quickly tossed the bag into Jack’s hand and said, “Albino kids are smart! Good choice!”, then he disappeared with his moustache and Jack’s cow. Will Jack regret it?

Of course, he didn’t. Jack smiled and said, “I saved my self the hassle of going to the market and got free food and heat for a lifetime. “It’s quite true isn’t it, Albino kids are smart.” Then he hurried back home.

Jack’s mother was surprised how fast her son returned and asked him, “Where’s the fuel?” Jack emptied the brown bag in his hand, and three grape seeds came rolling down. He proudly gave the seeds to his mother and told her, ”I brought something better than fuel. Grape seeds...magic grape seeds!!!” His mother was frozen for a while, then her face turned red, and her hair stood up and..

She snatched the seeds from his hand and angrily threw them into the grass as she stomped and stomped. She burst into tears and said, “How can I cope with all this. No light, no heat, no fuel and above all, I have such a silly boy.”

She wanted to ground him, but he fled quickly. Jack was not only smart, he was fast too. So, he hid behind the tree and waited for his mother to calm down. Four things saddened Jack; hunger, cold, darkness and angry mothers. His mother slammed the door shattering it, as she entered the house. She was not aware of the wonders that were happening in her garden.

Out in the garden, three little green stems sprouted exactly where the seeds were thrown. They grew and grew, winding around one another and they kept growing till they reached the clouds. Jack rubbed his eyes not believing what he saw. He shouted happily, “I knew I could trust Mr. big moustache dwarf. I’ll get up there and get as much grapes as I can. This will make my mother happy.”

Jack climbed and climbed till he reached the clouds. He passed through them and to his surprise he saw a huge black scary palace, but he didn’t find any grapes at all. Maybe the palace owner collected them all!

Jack knocked the door angrily. An old woman opened the door and she was shocked when she saw him. It seems like this old woman took all of his grapes. She allowed him in and asked him, “Why did you come here for? You must leave quickly. My husband Soot the smoke Monster will be here any moment. And he loves the taste of children. He has white kids as appetizers with parsley and dark kids with salt & butter. As for albino kids, he crunches them with caramel.” Jack didn’t want to be crunched with caramel and had to flee.

Jack hurried towards the door, but he was too curious to leave. Jack was not only smart and fast, he was also curious. He asked her, “Who is Soot the smoke monster?” She sadly replied, “It’s a man-made monster. When human beings used fuel hundreds of years ago, it emitted smoke. The smoke turned into a little monster, but it grew and grew and became a giant monster. Unfortunately, kids are his favorite food. It’s very dangerous here Jack. You have to leave now.”

Jack refused to leave and said, “We have no fuel or food and I’m not leaving till I get my grapes.” The old woman opened a cupboard behind her and took the most wonderful thing Jack ever saw in his life.

It was a robot goose. “Take this goose,” said the old woman as she handed Jack the goose. “This is my goose Silicona. If you leave her under the sunlight, it will lay you an egg of golden fuel every day. This golden fuel does not emit any smoke. Soot has been hiding it here for years, since he wanted to grow stronger and stronger from the fuel humans used.”

Jack was so happy. Lots of fuel meant lots of food and heat. He was about to fly with the goose when suddenly, he heard someone’s heavy steps moving towards the door and open it. Oh no! Soot is back.

The old woman quickly took an iron pot and put it over Jack. Iron pots are such a smart invention. First, because you can cook in them. Second, you can hide albino kids under them! Jack leaned with his ears to the pot; so he could hear what is happen- ing on the outside. He heard a hissing voice say, “I smell a yummy albino kid.” The old woman replied, “How can any kids reach us here. Can’t you see we’re above the clouds.” Suddenly, the pot was removed and there stood the monster.

The monster found him! The monster was black and gloomy. He had a terrible smell. Jack didn’t really like the black color, so he escaped with his goose towards a hole in the wall. He passed through the hole until he found himself over the clouds again, so he hurried towards the vine and slid down it. Soon enough Soot followed. By the time Jack reached the ground he found an axe next to the vine. He held the axe and he started cutting and cutting.

With swift and strong slashes Jack cut the vine until it collapsed bringing Soot down, who on impact immediately disappeared. He leaned on the wall hugging his goose; Silicona. She was shining bright in the sun.

Then suddenly, he felt something fall on the floor. The goose laid a golden fuel egg.

He was so happy, and he hurried to show his mother. When she saw him she asked him “Where did you disappear to? I was so worried about you!”

Jack took his mother by the hand and went upstairs. He showed his mother the goose and told her, “Our golden goose Silicona will give us light and heat as long as the sun shines.” Jack and his mother lived happily ever after and shared fuel with all their neighbors.

The End