On a small patch of once green grass grew a cute lemon tree. Ten years ago a tiny seed was planted. The tree day by day glistened in the sun in hopes of someday producing the finest juiciest lemons. The tree was the home of beautiful birds who found refuge from predators in its spiky branches. Year after year went by and the charming lemon tree grew very tall; fifteen feet to be exact. For six years the lemon tree bore no fruit. Then one day, there were hundreds of lemons on the once pint-sized tree. From then on the tree produced the best sweet and sour softball-sized lemons around. The lemons were given away and made into delicious desserts for Christmas Day. But one year, horrible hail plummeted from the sky and the poor lemon tree was hurt! Little baby lemons lay on the ground not yet formed! The lemons that remained had plenty of space to grow, but were harmed by the magnitude of the storm. On one December day, a lemon asked another lemon hanging on a branch, “Why are you so sad?” The other lemon explained, “I have black bruises on my skin because of the Storm Monster. I don’t look like you”. The lemon sighed. Then the first lemon replied, “I have a black bruise inside. You are beautiful to me because you helped me to grow. I love you for that. Thank you for being a part of my family.” The lemon with the bruises on the outside began to glow. “I had no idea you needed me,” he said. And that Christmas, the lemons were displayed as a thankful reminder of being safe in the storm. As for the baby lemons, they had just enough seeds that buried themselves far into the ground, so the next year new lemon trees sprang up!

Visual Development

Sketch for a prodigal son story.