Michael and João loved being neighbors! They lived in nearby houses in Austin. 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, their only food was Branca’s milk. But whenever Michael could, they brought some snacks to ensure endless playtime on the grass. João’s mother was always grateful. João loved playing tag, and Michael enjoyed their interest in birds. That day, they were playing with Michael’s interest in birds. They watched a cardinal flitting from branch to branch, its red feathers shining in the sunlight.
One day, João’s mother asked him to sell Branca because they needed more than just milk. So João called Michael, 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 Michael.
“Hello, young men,” the old man said. “I see you have a beautiful cow there. Would you be interested in trading her for something magical?”
João and Michael looked at each other. “What kind of magic?” asked João.
“These magic beans,” the old man said, holding out a handful of beans. “They can make you rich and happy beyond your wildest dreams!”
“Really?” said Michael, his brown eyes wide with wonder.
“Yes, really,” said the old man. “Plant them, and they will grow a beanstalk that reaches up to the clouds! Then you can climb it and find a giant castle full of treasure!”
João and Michael thought about it. They quickly decided that beans provided more food than milk! “Okay,” said João. “We’ll trade.”
“Good,” said the old man. “Now, off you go!”
João and Michael skipped back to João’s house, excited about their new magical beans.
But when they returned to João’s house, João’s mother started crying when she heard the news! “Oh, João, what have you done?” she cried. “The old man tricked you! Those beans are no magic! He just wanted to take our cow!”
“What?” João asked, his face falling.
“He’s a liar!” said João’s mother. “Now we have nothing to eat!”
João’s mother asked Michael 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 wasn’t sure what to do with it, whether to sell beans, she didn’t worry and let João meet Michael to go play.
João and Michael, always curious, decided to climb the beanstalk! And the climb seemed endless… Michael climbed with João, his calm presence a steady comfort. Finally, when they passed the clouds, they found a giant castle! A giant woman, very tall indeed, welcomed João and Michael, 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 Michael 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. Michael told João that their hiding place, Enchanted lake, was better than where they had hidden.
João agreed with Michael that they would live simply, but when the coins ran out, they would 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 Michael to take home, repaying the kindness. Michael said that their family would be very happy with the cake, considering his calm personality.
Eventually, the coins ran out. João and Michael 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 Michael 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! Michael, even at the age of four, climbed down with the same calm composure.
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 Michael 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 Michael’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 Michael managed to cut down the beanstalk with a lot of effort. Consider Michael’s age, four. But they succeeded! And thus, the giant would never come down.
Michael told João that all they needed was the essentials, no more, no less, just the essentials! And that danger wasn’t worth it!
João’s mother felt relieved with the beanstalk gone and invited João and Michael for a delicious afternoon snack!
And that afternoon, the table at João’s house was full: of bread, cake, love, and laughter! The essentials!
