The promise of a seed

In the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, lived a twelve-year-old girl called Jacaira and her two parents. They were once among the poorest in the city, but they were content with what they had - each other. Jacaira used to dance in the middle of the street in a dress her mother had carefully made in the colours of the Brazilian flag. She was such a sweet, happy child.

One day tragedy struck and both her parents died from drinking too much dirty water. They couldn't afford clean tap water, and what they could afford, the father gave everything to his daughter so she could live and grow strong to make a better life for herself out there. All Jacaira had was a seed her father gave her before he breathed his last, a mango seed he said would grow into a big tree and take care of them.

Jacaira was evicted from her home by the government because of all the debts her parents owed, and she was left with nothing. She was very scared and wanted to cry in her mother's lap, she didn't know what the future would bring. Her aunt from the US offered to take care of her, so she left Brazil with a heavy heart. She really couldn't believe she was leaving.

Before she left, she planted the mango seed in front of her old house and whispered, tears in her eyes, as she covered the seed with soil: "I will come back for you.” She really hoped to return to Brazil to see the tree bloom, just as her father had said it would.

In the US, Jacaira studied hard because she knew how hard her parents had it and she didn't want to live that life. She decided to learn from them and worked very hard to make a life for herself. She even started a family. She never forgot her promise to the Magotree, but life had other plans for her and she never got the chance to return to Brazil.

The years passed and Jacaira grew old. Her husband died and she watched her children and grandchildren grow up. On her 80th birthday, one of her four grandchildren, the eldest, gave her a surprise gift - a ticket to Brazil.

Jacaira was overcome with emotion when she landed in Brazil. When she got off the plane, she took off her slippers to feel the dirt of Brazil. She smiled and breathed in the fresh air. Rio de Janeiro, alas. She went back to her old house and as she walked with her cane, there was a beautiful, strong mango tree in front of the house. Tears came to her eyes when she realised it was the same tree she had planted 68 years ago. She covered her mouth with one hand and laughed through her tears.

Jacaira sat under the tree, feeling the weight of all her memories and the journey that had brought her back to where it all began. She was happy for all the gifts of life, the love of her family and the beauty of nature that had kept her strong all these years. 

She picked one of the mangoes and began to eat it, it tasted so sweet, so full of love and compassion. As she sat there, a light breeze rustled the leaves of the mango tree and Jaicara heard a faint whisper, "I am still here, waiting for you". She smiled, happy that she had kept her promise to the mango seed.

Jacaira never left Brazil again, spending the rest of her days in the shade of her beloved mango tree. Her story was told to the people of Rio de Janeiro, and they named the tree "Árvore de Jaciara" after the girl who had planted it years before.