The crowd’s laughter faded as the head judge stood up, microphone in hand. He cleared his throat and then began to speak. “What a marvellous idea!” Hearing this exclamation, Maya and I looked up at him, a glimmer of hope rekindled within us. “It is high time that we should plant real trees and make a real difference,” continued the judge in an encouraging tone. The instant the last word fell, thunderous applause erupted, echoing throughout the auditorium. At that very moment, a tree-planting initiative took shape.
Two weeks later, volunteers arrived at the school with gardening tools and young trees. Present at the activity were student representatives, Maya and I included. We were instructed on how to properly plant a sapling. Then, equipped with this basic knowledge, we sprang into action, digging holes, placing the saplings and backfilling the soil. Tired though we felt, a sense of accomplishment took over when neat rows of young trees came into view. Maya and I exchanged heartfelt smiles, as what had once been an awkward incident transformed into a meaningful endeavor.
