Billy was sitting beneath a pear tree.

He reached up, up, up, as high as he could, but just could not reach high enough to pluck.

Along the edge of the forest was a bear, calmly watching Billy struggle.

Billy said to the bear, “Please shake the tree, but don’t forget to share with me.”

The bear shook the tree with all his might and down came every last pear.

Then, the bear bagged up all the pears, went on his way, and left Billy alone with the empty tree.

Twice, Billy bawled his eyes out and drenched the ground all around.

While Billy was pouting and fussing, his fountain of tears blossomed a new pear tree.

Billy didn’t notice the new pear tree coming to life, for he was too busy feeling sorry for himself.

Well, the bear snuck up and ate all the new pears. The greedy bear left Billy the cores and nothing else.

Eventually Billy became a man, which meant he was finally tall enough to reach the tree. The greedy bear had also grown, but he had grown weary and old. The bear was so old, even his paws were growing mold.

"The greedy old bear can’t feed himself," thought Billy. So, Billy plucked as many pears as he could, cradled them in his arms, walked to the edge of the forest, and shared his pears with the old bear.