Mason and João loved being neighbors! They lived in nearby houses in Denver. The only difference was that João had a huge yard, all grassy, where many cows and chickens used to live. Nowadays, João lived with his mother and a single cow in the yard, named Branca. Sometimes, her milk was all they had to eat in a day. But whenever Mason could, they brought some snacks to ensure endless playtime on the grass. João’s mother was always grateful. João loved playing tag, and Mason enjoyed their interest in Climbing. That day, they were playing with Mason's interest in Climbing.
One day, João’s mother asked him to sell Branca because they needed more than just milk. So João called Mason, and with laughter, they headed to the market. But when they passed by a corner, they met a kind old man who quickly came to talk to João and Mason.
"Hello, boys!" the old man said, smiling. "What's with the cow?"
"We're selling her," João answered. "We need something more than just milk."
"Well, I have something that might interest you!" the old man said, holding out his hand. "These magic beans can provide more food than milk!"
Mason’s eyes widened. “They're magic?" he asked, amazed.
João’s mother was worried. “Are you sure?" she asked.
“Yes, they are! They are magical, and they'll make you richer than you can imagine!” the old man said, nodding his head.
Mason was excited. "Let’s do it!" he said, jumping up and down. "We can climb mountains with that much food!"
João, wanting to help his mother, agreed.
When they returned to João’s house, João’s mother started crying when she heard the news! The old man had tricked João and Mason. The beans were not magical. "Oh, my dear boys! What have you done?!" she cried, hugging João.
João’s mother asked Mason to go home and for João to go to bed. At night, crying because he didn’t know what they would eat the next day, João threw the beans out the window in anger and went to sleep too.
The next day, the beans proved to be magical! A beanstalk that reached up to the clouds had grown in João’s yard! Although João’s mother wasn’t sure what to do with it, whether to sell beans, she didn’t worry and let João meet Mason to go play.
João and Mason, always curious, decided to climb the beanstalk! And the climb seemed endless… Mason climbed with João, his strong legs carrying him easily up the giant stem. Finally, when they passed the clouds, they found a giant castle! A giant woman, very tall indeed, welcomed João and Mason, and though she was kind, she asked them to leave because her husband was a giant who ate children!
The ground began to shake, and João and Mason hid. In their hiding spot, they found some gold coins on the ground, and João quickly put them in his pocket. When they thought they could run away from the giant, they did, and managed to climb down the beanstalk quickly.
Mason told João, "Our hiding place, Enchanted mountain, is better than where we had hidden."
João agreed with Mason that they would live simply. "But when the coins run out," he said, "we'll climb the beanstalk again."
For a long time, João and his mother lived simply, but comfortably with the coins João had taken. Now, João’s mother gave pieces of cake for Mason to take home, repaying the kindness. “I hope your family will be happy with the cake,” she said.
Mason said, “They will be! It’s the best cake, and we love to share it with them!”
Eventually, the coins ran out. João and Mason decided to climb the beanstalk again, knowing the danger of the giant. This time, they entered the castle and hid in the kitchen. There, the giant was taking care of a fat hen. And when they least expected it, João and Mason saw the hen lay golden eggs! They waited for the giant to fall asleep, and managed to capture the hen, who didn’t make any noise. Then, they climbed down with her! It was difficult, but they succeeded! Mason, with his great climbing abilities, helped João hold onto the hen, so they could get down.
João’s mother was happy. They would always have something to eat! But João had seen a golden harp on his way out of the castle and thought he would go alone this time.
The next day, João didn’t play with Mason and climbed the beanstalk again. He intended to be quick since he knew where the harp was. But this time, the giant was waiting for João at the door. The giant chased João, but the boy finally managed to escape!
Very distressed, João went to Mason’s house and told them what had happened. They had the idea to cut down the beanstalk so the giant could never come down, and anyway, João’s mother was already happy with the fat hen that laid golden eggs.
João and Mason managed to cut down the beanstalk with a lot of effort. Mason, even though he was only four, helped by holding the saw steady while João pushed. They succeeded! And thus, the giant would never come down.
"We only need the essentials," Mason said to João, "no more, no less. Danger isn’t worth it!"
João’s mother felt relieved with the beanstalk gone. She invited João and Mason for a delicious afternoon snack!
And that afternoon, the table at João’s house was full: of bread, cake, love, and laughter! The essentials!
