Ms. Hind’s story is a wonderful example of how children’s literature can be both simple and deeply meaningful. Written in beautifully clear Arabic, the story reflects her strong command of the language and her ability to communicate values through engaging storytelling.
This tale of the watermelon seller carries an important message for young readers: not every gift appears in the way we expect, and sometimes disappointment leads to unexpected blessings. Through easy language, gentle emotions, and a magical twist, Ms. Hind has created a story that captures a child’s imagination while teaching patience, hope, and trust in goodness.
Her writing inspires children to look beyond difficulties and discover hidden lessons in everyday moments. It is a delightful and thoughtful piece that young readers will truly enjoy.
في أحد أيام الصيف، وفي وسط سوق الفاكهة كانت تجلس سيدة تبيع البطيخ، وكان يبدو عليها الحزن، ففي كل مرة يمر ٌبها مشتري لشراء البطيخ يطلب منها أن تقطع البطيخة التي يريد، ليتأكد أنها حمراء ولذيذة كشرط لشرائها، ولكن كثيرا ما يكون البطيخ غير ناضج من الداخل، فيفر الزبون مبتعداً وتجلس هي حزينة.
فجأة ظهرت أمامها ساحرة طيبة وقالت لها: لا تحزني، سأضع شيئاً من مقدراتي السحرية على بطيخك ولكن عليك أن تبيعي البطيخ من دون أن تفتحيه كشرط أساسي للبيع حتى لو قمتي ببيعه بثمن زهيد.
قبلت بائعة البطيخ العرض وقالت لنفسها:(سأبيع بطيخي بثمنٍ زهيدٍ ولكن سأكتسب سمعة رائعة بفضل سحر الساحرة).
عرضت بائعة البطيخ بطيخها بسعر زهيد جدا بشرط أن تبيع البطيخ من غير أن يُفتَح من الداخل قبل إتمام عملية البيع.
أقبل على شراء بطيخها عدد كبير من الناس حتى نفذ البطيخ.
في المساء رجع أغلب مشترو البطيخ للبائعة يسيئون لها ولبطيخها الغير ناضج، وطالبوها بمالهم الذي دفعوه، وأرجعوا البطيخ الذي أشتروه منها.
أرجعت لهم المال، وجلست وسط أنصاف البطيخ الذي فتحوه مستغربة وحزينة، وقالت لنفسها: لماذا لم ينجح سحر الساحرة؟
فجأة رأت شيئا يلمع داخل نصف البطيخة التي بقربها، فأقتربت منه ورأت بذور البطيخة التي بقربها تحمل اللون الذهبي وشيئا فشيء تأكد لها أن كل بذور البطيخ الذي أُُرجع لها مكونة من الذهب الخالص بفضل سحر الساحرة.
TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH BY Ms Hind :-
The Watermelon Seller
On a summer’s day, in the heart of the fruit market, sat a woman selling watermelons. Sadness clouded her face, for every time a customer approached her, he would ask her to cut open the melon he wished to buy, making sure it was red and sweet enough before agreeing to take it. Yet many of the melons turned out to be unripe inside, and the customers would walk away, leaving her sitting there, disheartened.
Suddenly, a kind-hearted enchantress appeared before her and said, “Do not be sad. I shall cast a touch of my magic upon your watermelons. But you must promise to sell them without cutting them open—this is the one condition you must follow, even if you end up selling them for a very low price.”
The watermelon seller accepted the offer and said to herself, “I will sell my melons cheaply, but thanks to the enchantress’s magic, I will earn a wonderful reputation.”
She placed her watermelons on display for a very small price, on the condition that none be opened before the sale was completed.
Crowds of people rushed to buy her melons until her entire stock was gone.
But by evening, most of those who had bought her watermelons returned angrily, complaining about the unripe fruit and demanding their money back. They returned the melons they had purchased, leaving her surrounded by halves of fruit that had been cut open.
She refunded their money and sat among the split watermelons, puzzled and sorrowful. “Why didn’t the enchantress’s magic work?” she wondered.
Suddenly, something gleamed inside one of the watermelon halves beside her. She leaned closer and saw that the seeds were gleaming gold. Slowly, she realized that every watermelon returned to her held seeds made of pure gold—thanks to the enchantress’s magic.
The watermelon seller rejoiced, as did the few who had honored their promise and did not return the melons after buying them.
]Girls’s section
