Section 1
The flax plants were growing beautifully with lots of lovely blue flowers. These flowers were as delicate as a moth’s wings, or maybe even more delicate. The sun was shining and the rain was watering the plants, which made them very happy. It’s just like how little children feel when they get washed and then kissed by their mother. It makes them look even more beautiful, and the same thing happened to the flax plants.
“I look really, really good,” said the flax. “Everyone says I’m super fine and long, which means I’ll become a stunning piece of cloth. I’m so lucky! It makes me incredibly happy to know that I can be turned into something useful. The sunshine makes me feel cheerful, and the rain is so sweet and refreshing. I’m so happy that I can’t even describe it. No one in the whole wide world can feel happier than I do right now.”
“Oh, I see,” said the fern. “But you haven’t experienced the world like I have. My stems are bumpy and full of knots.” Then it sang a sad little song, “Snip, snap, snurre, Basse lure. The song ends here.”
“No, it’s not over,” said the flax. “Tomorrow the sun will shine or the rain will fall. I can feel myself growing and blooming. I’m the happiest creature in the world.”
One day, some people came and grabbed the flax, pulling it out from the ground, which hurt a lot. Then they put it in water, almost as if they wanted to drown it. After that, they placed it near a fire, as if they wanted to roast it. All of this was really upsetting and scary for the flax. “We can’t always be happy,” said the flax. “By going through both bad and good things, we become wiser.” And the flax was right because there were many difficult things waiting for it. It was soaked, roasted, broken, and combed. It didn’t even understand what was happening to it. Finally, it was placed on the spinning wheel. The wheel spun so fast with a “whirr, whirr” sound that the flax couldn’t even think straight. “Well, even though I’m feeling some pain now, I have been really happy,” the flax thought. “I should be satisfied with the good times I had.” And so, the flax stayed contented until it was placed on the loom and transformed into a beautiful piece of white cloth. Every single part of the flax, right down to the very last stem, was used to make this one piece. “Wow, this is absolutely amazing! I never would have imagined that fortune would treat me so well. The fern’s song was right after all. But the song isn’t finished yet, I’m certain of it; it’s just started. It’s so amazing that after everything I’ve been through, I’m finally being made into something useful. I feel like the luckiest person in the whole wide world - so strong, so fine, and look at how white and long I am! This is completely different from just being a plant and having flowers. Before, no one paid any attention to me, and I only got water when it rained. But now, things are different. I’m being looked after and cared for. Every morning, the maid checks on me, and I get a nice shower from the watering can every evening. Even the clergyman’s wife noticed me and said I was the finest linen in the whole area. I couldn’t be happier than I am right now.”
After a while, the linen was brought inside the house and placed under the scissors. It was cut and torn into pieces and then poked with needles. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but eventually, it was transformed into twelve special items of clothing that people don’t usually talk about, but everyone should wear one. “Look at me now!” exclaimed the flax. “I have become something important. It was meant to be, and it’s truly a blessing. I will finally serve a purpose in the world, just like everyone should. That’s the only way to find happiness. Even though I am divided into twelve pieces, we are all still connected as a whole dozen. It’s incredibly lucky and extraordinary.”
