The Watermelon Seed

Once there was a watermelon seed. It was smooth and black and shiny. It lay under the moist, soft brown earth.

- Kay Haugaard

The water in the soil seemed to say, “Drink me, swell up, wake up!” and the seed did. It swelled up and burst its shiny, black skin.

The pale white inside part of the seed pushed up, up, out of the dark earth. As it rose, the seed divided into two sprouts that looked like arms greeting the warm sun. The sun shone down on the pale, curving sprouts, and they turned into a strong, green watermelon vine.

The seed’s lower part reached down into the dark earth and divided into roots, seeking nourishment. The roots carried the moisture and minerals from the earth up the stem into the vine.