Once upon a time, there was a small gnarled tree in a forest. One day, a young boy stumbled upon the tree and was frightened by its twisted appearance. He was terrified of the strange expression on its face and thought it looked like a freak. But as he stood there, staring at the tree, he realized that it was just old and had grown that way over time. The boy learned to appreciate the beauty in things that were different and unique. From that day on, he never judged something based on its appearance again. The end.

Reflections

1. Why was the boy frightened by the gnarled tree?
2. What did the boy learn from the tree?
3. Have you ever been scared of something because it looked different?
4. Why is it important to not judge things based on appearance?