Fadding had grown old working on Farmer Paget’s fields and orchards. Now, he sat under the apple trees and smoked his pipe. If anyone spoke to him, he would get very angry and chase him off. Everyone stopped talking to Fadding. He slept in the barn at night and in the morning, he would simply sit in the orchard, looking grumpy. One day, the neighbour’s little son, William, wandered into the orchard. He found two apples that had fallen and began to munch one. Suddenly, he saw Fadding and, frightened, he hid the apples behind his back! Fadding scowled at him. William went up to him and held out the second apple. Fadding smiled and took it. They sat together, munching apples. Every day William came and sat near him. Sometimes he brought a piece of cake. Sometimes he brought a storybook and read to him. It was a strange friendship and Fadding wasn’t grumpy any more!
Love Your Neighbour
