Pockets and the Feast of Gratitude

Pockets thought carefully. “I should take only what I can eat. Food is precious, and wasting it isn’t right.”

The chef’s face lit up with a warm smile. “Indeed, my boy! Every grain of rice, every drop of soup, is made with love and hard work. Waste not, and you will always have enough.”

At that moment, the map in Pockets’ pocket shimmered, revealing a golden path leading deeper into the feast.

Pockets grinned. “I should take a lot! How else will I know what I like?”

The chef’s smile faded. “Ah, but young one, what happens if you can’t finish? Good food deserves respect, not waste.”

Pockets looked at his overloaded plate and felt a pang of guilt. The map in his pocket flickered uncertainly. “I… I guess I should only take what I need,” he admitted.

The chef nodded. “A lesson learned is a treasure gained. Choose wisely next time.”

Pockets shrugged. “If I don’t like something, I’ll just throw it away.”

The chef’s expression turned sad. “Food is not meant to be wasted. Farmers work hard to grow it, cooks prepare it with care, and many people in the world don’t have enough to eat.”

At that moment, Pockets' map turned dark, the golden path disappearing. He had failed the first challenge.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I should have been more thoughtful.”

The chef smiled gently. “It’s never too late to change, young one.”

Pockets smiled and handed the boy some of his food. “Here, you can have some of mine.”

The boy’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you so much!” he said.

Suddenly, Pockets’ map glowed brighter, and the golden path extended forward. A voice whispered, “Kindness feeds the soul as much as food feeds the body.”

Pockets quickly shoveled food into his mouth, avoiding the boy’s gaze. “If I eat fast, I won’t have to share.”

The map in his pocket dimmed, and the warm feeling in his heart faded. The little boy sighed and walked away, still hungry.

A whisper echoed in Pockets' ear: “True treasures are found not in what you keep, but in what you give.”

Pockets looked away and ignored the boy. "It's not my job to feed him," he muttered.

At that moment, the feast around him seemed to lose its glow. The delicious smells faded, and the food on his plate didn’t seem as tasty anymore. The golden path disappeared.

A whisper surrounded him: “A full stomach means nothing if the heart is empty.”

Pockets sighed. He had made the wrong choice.

Pockets stood tall. “I should always say thank you and never waste food.”

The wise woman smiled. “Then you are ready for the treasure.” She handed Pockets a golden apple, glowing with warmth. “This is the Fruit of Gratitude. Those who cherish what they have will always find abundance.”

Pockets took the apple, his heart swelling with happiness. He had completed the feast’s challenge—and learned a lesson that would stay with him forever.

Pockets shrugged. “It’s just food. I eat because I have to.”

The wise woman frowned. “Without gratitude, even the richest feast tastes bland. You have missed the true treasure.”

The golden table vanished, and the feast faded around him. Pockets sighed, realizing he had lost the chance to learn something valuable.

Pockets grinned. “I should take more, just in case!”

The wise woman shook her head. “Taking more than you need while others go hungry is not the way to gratitude.”

The golden table disappeared, and the treasure was lost to him. Pockets felt his heart sink. He had learned an important lesson the hard way.