On the highest branch of an old oak tree, directly under the rays of the summer sun, hung two friends side by side. They were leaves, Ricky and Ellie. All summer long, they swayed cheerfully in the wind and worked diligently.
"Look, Ellie, what sweet sap I made for our oak tree today!" Ricky boasted, fluttering with joy. His surface was a deep green and glistened like a freshly washed lettuce leaf.
Ellie smiled. "Me too! Our sun kitchen is working at full speed. I can feel the energy flowing all the way down to the roots."
It worked like this all summer. Ricky, Ellie, and thousands of other leaves on the oak tree were like tiny factories. They caught sunlight, drank rainwater sent up by the roots, and took an invisible gas from the air. They mixed it all together in their little green bodies and produced sweet energy that fed the entire enormous tree. Thanks to them, the oak grew, became stronger, and could create new branches and deep roots. Their cooking is scientifically called photosynthesis, but they simply called it "sun magic." The green pigment that helped them and gave them their beautiful color, they called chlorophyll.
One day, however, Ricky noticed that something was different. "Ellie, doesn't it seem to you that the sun is a bit lazy today? It rises later in the morning and goes to bed much earlier in the evening."
Ellie nodded. "You're right. And it's not so warm anymore. I'm starting to feel a little cold when the wind blows."
A few days passed and they both felt they were growing weaker. They no longer felt like dancing so much, and their green color was starting to look tired.
"What's happening to us?" Ricky asked, with concern in his voice. "I can't seem to make any sweet sap anymore. Are we broken?"
Just then, a deep, calm voice spoke. It belonged to the oak tree itself. "No, my little helpers, you are not broken at all. On the contrary, you have done a wonderful job."
The branch they were hanging from moved gently, as if to caress them.
"You have worked hard for me all summer," the oak continued. "Thanks to you, I am strong and healthy. But now that there is less sun, the time has come for you to rest. Your sun kitchen is closing for the winter."
"Rest? That sounds nice," said Ellie. "But why do we feel so strange? As if something is leaving us."
"That is me, taking back all the precious nutrients you have stored inside you," the oak explained kindly. "I need to save them for the winter to survive the cold and frost. In the spring, I will use them to have the strength to grow new, fresh leaves."
Ricky and Ellie felt the tree slowly, very gently, drawing the last of their energy from them. And that's when the greatest magic of all began.
As their green pigment, that hard-working chlorophyll, faded and disappeared, other colors began to appear on their surface. Colors that had been there all along, but were hidden beneath the deep green.
"Ellie, look at yourself! You're as yellow as sunshine!" Ricky exclaimed enthusiastically.
"And you're as orange as a pumpkin!" Ellie laughed. "And that leaf over there is as red as a ripe apple!"
The oak chuckled, and a satisfied rumble passed through its trunk. "This is my gift to you. A thank you for your work. I will paint you in the most beautiful autumn colors so that everyone can admire you."
The leaves were proud of their new little coats. They were no longer green and all the same. Each one was different, unique. One was golden-yellow, another coppery, a third had brown specks like cinnamon. The entire tree had transformed into a colorful palette.
"We're so beautiful!" Ricky rejoiced. "But what happens now? Will we stay here like this forever?"
"No, my friends," the oak whispered. "Now comes the greatest adventure of all. Listen."
In the distance, they heard a whooshing sound. It was the autumn wind, rushing through the trees.
"Don't be afraid of it," the oak soothed them. "He is my friend. He is coming to carry you to the ground. It is time to let go and dance one last dance."
Ricky was a little scared. To let go of the branch that had been his home his whole life? But Ellie looked determined. "It's just another part of our journey. Did you hear? We're going to dance!"
The wind grew stronger and gently tickled them. "Come on, come on, I'll show you the world from above!" it called to them.
Ricky took a deep breath, looked at Ellie, and with her encouraging smile, he finally dared. He let go.
He was flying! He spun in the air like a little propeller. For a moment he rose, then he fell, dancing with the other leaves in one huge, colorful whirlwind. It was a wonderful feeling of freedom. Finally, he landed softly on the ground, right under his tree. Bright yellow Ellie landed right next to him.
They lay on a thick layer of other leaves, which formed a soft and warm blanket around the trunk and roots of the tree.
"That was amazing!" Ricky laughed. "And look how many of us there are! We're like a warm carpet."
"Exactly," came the voice of the oak again. "This blanket will protect my roots from the winter frost. But your job is not over yet."
Suddenly, they noticed a little earthworm weaving its way between them. "Welcome, welcome!" it greeted them cheerfully. "We, the underground helpers, have been waiting for you. Together with other tiny creatures and microorganisms, we will turn you into the best food."
"Into food?" Ricky wondered.
"Yes," confirmed the earthworm. "You will slowly decompose and become part of the soil. You will create rich compost from it, full of nutrients. And in the spring, our oak will take strength from you so that new, fresh leaves can grow."
Ricky and Ellie looked at each other and understood everything. Their journey had not ended. It had only changed. From energy producers, they became protectors, and finally, food for future generations. They were part of the great, wise cycle of nature.
Covered by more leaves that fell on them like colorful snow, they smiled contentedly. They knew that even though their little bodies would disappear, their strength would remain in the tree forever. And they looked forward to the spring, when the warm sun would come out again, and they would help new, curious little leaves peek out from the tiny buds.
What do you think, children, have you noticed on a walk in the park what a warm blanket the leaves make for the trees? With the help of your parents, try to collect leaves of different colors and create a cheerful picture with them. You will see how beautiful they are up close.