Scarlett and João loved being neighbors! Their houses were just a stone’s throw away from each other in Seattle. The only difference was João’s yard. It was huge, all grassy, and once upon a time, many cows and chickens used to live there. Nowadays, João lived with his mother and just one cow in the yard, named Branca. Sometimes, their only food for the day was Branca’s milk. But whenever Scarlett could, she and João would bring some snacks to share, ensuring endless playtime on the grass. João’s mother was always grateful. João loved playing tag, and Scarlett enjoyed their shared love for Ballet. That day, they were playing with Scarlett’s interest in Ballet.
One day, João’s mother asked him to sell Branca. They needed more than just milk. So João called Scarlett, 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 Scarlett.
“Excuse me, children,” the old man said. “I see you have a fine cow there! Would you be interested in trading her for some magic beans?”
João and Scarlett quickly thought, "Beans provide more food than milk!"
“It is a deal!” said Scarlett, in her elegant way.
They accepted the offer, and the old man gave them a bag of beans. They were excited to go back to João's house and tell his mother the good news.
When they returned, João’s mother started crying when she heard the news! “You foolish children! This old man tricked you!”
“How?” Asked João, confused.
“He told you the beans were magic, but they are just regular beans! What will we eat now?!” said João's mother.
João’s mother asked Scarlett 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! João’s mother was so surprised! She wasn't sure what to do with it. Should she sell the beans? But she didn't worry and let João meet Scarlett to go play.
João and Scarlett, always curious, decided to climb the beanstalk! And the climb seemed endless. It was a long way up! Scarlett, so elegant, climbed with João, holding on to the beanstalk with her tiny hands. Finally, when they passed the clouds, they found a giant castle! A giant woman, very tall indeed, welcomed João and Scarlett.
“Welcome, children!” she said. “My husband is a giant who eats children! You must leave quickly before he returns!”
The ground began to shake, and João and Scarlett hid. In their hiding spot, they found some gold coins on the ground. 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.
“That place was scary!” said Scarlett. “My favorite hiding place, the Lake of Swans, is better than where we were hiding!”
João agreed. “We’ll live simply, but when the coins run out, 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 Scarlett to take home, repaying the kindness.
“My family will be very happy with the cake,” said Scarlett, in her elegant voice.
Eventually, the coins ran out. João and Scarlett 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 Scarlett 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! Scarlett, always so elegant, held onto the beanstalk as she helped João carry the hen down.
João’s mother was so happy! Now they would always have something to eat! But João had seen a golden harp on his way out of the castle. He wanted it! He thought he would go alone this time.
The next day, João didn’t play with Scarlett. He 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 Scarlett’s house and told them what had happened. They had the idea to cut down the beanstalk so the giant could never come down. Anyway, João’s mother was already happy with the fat hen that laid golden eggs.
João and Scarlett managed to cut down the beanstalk with a lot of effort. Scarlett, even though she was only 7, helped by holding onto the beanstalk and pulling. They succeeded! And thus, the giant would never come down.
“All we need are the essentials,” said Scarlett, elegantly. “No more, no less, just the essentials! And danger isn’t worth it.”
João’s mother felt relieved with the beanstalk gone. She invited João and Scarlett for a delicious afternoon snack!
And that afternoon, the table at João’s house was full: of bread, cake, love, and laughter! The essentials!
