The Taste of Watermelon

Read the story of a young boy who in order to get the acceptance of his newly found friends steals a
watermelon.
I was sixteen. We had moved just the year before, and sixteen is still young enough that the bunch makes a
difference. I had a bunch, all right, but they weren't sure of me yet. I didn't know why. Maybe because I'd lived in
town, and my father still worked there instead of farming, like the other fathers did. The boys I knew, even
Freddy Gray and J.D., still kept a small distance between us fi We were all afraid of Mr Wills. Mr Wills was a big
man. He had bright, fierce eyes under heavy brows and when he looked down at you, you just withered.
Mr Wills was the best farmer in the community. My father said he could drive a stick into the ground and grow a
tree out of it. Mr Wills fought the earth when he worked it. Mr Wills always planted the little field directly
behind his barn with watermelons. But he didn't have any idea of sharing them with the boys of the
neighborhood. He was fiercer about his melons than anything else; if you just happened to walk close to his
melon patch, you'd see Mr Wills standing and watching you with a glower2 on his face. And likely as not he'd
have his gun under his arm. That summer I was sixteen, Mr Wills raised the greatest watermelon ever seen in the
country. It grew in the very middle of his patch, three times as big as any melon anybody had ever seen. Men
came from miles around to look at it. Mr Wills wouldn't let them go into the melon patch. They had to stand
around the edge. Just like all other daredevil boys in that country, I guess, Freddy Gray and J.D. and I had talked
idly about stealing that giant watermelon. But we all knew that it was just talk. Not only were we afraid of Mr
Wills and his rages, but we knew that Mr Wills sat in the hayloft window of his barn every night guarding the
melon. It was his seed melon. He meant to plant next year's crop out of that great one and maybe raise a whole
field of them. Mr Wills was in a frenzy of fear that somebody would steal it. Every night I would sit on our front
porch and see Mr Wills sat in the window of his hayloft, looking fiercely out over his melon patch. I'd sit there by
the hour and watch him and feel the tremors of fear and excitement chasing up and down my spine. "Look at
him," my father would say. "Scared to death somebody will steal his seed melon." About the time the great
watermelon was due to come ripe, there was a night of a full moon. J.D. and Freddy Gray and I had decided we'd
go swimming in the creek3, so I left the house when the moon rose and went to meet them. It was the kind of
night when you feel as though you can do anything in the world. We had reached the swimming hole in the
creek, yelling at one another and rushing to be first into the water. Freddy Gray made it first, J.D. and I
catapulting in right behind him. We climbed out finally, to rest, and sat on the bank. That big old moon sailed
serenely overhead, climbing higher into the sky, and we lay on our backs to look up at it.
"Old Man Wills won't have to worry about anybody stealing his melon tonight, anyway," Freddy Gray said.
"Wouldn't anybody dare try it, bright as day like it is." "He's not taking any chances," J.D. said. "I saw him sitting
up in that hayloft, his shotgun loaded with buckshot. That melon is as safe as it would be in the First National
Bank."
"Why," I said, "that would kill a man."
"That's what he's got in mind," Freddy Gray said, "if anybody goes after that seed melon."
"I don't believe it," I said flatly. "He wouldn't kill anybody over a watermelon."
"Old Man Wills would," J.D. said. Freddy Gray was still watching me.
"What's got you into such a swivet?" he said. "You weren't planning on going after that melon yourself?"
"Well, yes," I said. "As a matter of fact, I was."
There was a moment of respectful silence. Even from me. I hadn't known I was going to say those words. I stood
up. "As a matter of fact," I said, "I'm going after
it right now."
"Wait a minute," J.D. said in alarm. "You can't do it on a moonlight night like this:
"Yeah," Freddy Gray said, "wait until a dark night."
"Anybody could steal it on a dark night," I said scornfully. "I'm going to take it right out from under his nose.
Tonight." My heart was thudding in my chest. But was too late to stop now. I led the way up the creekbank. We
came opposite the watermelon patch and ducked down the bank. We pushed through the willows on the other
side and looked toward the barn. We could see Mr Wills very plainly "You'll never make it," J.D. said in a quiet,
fateful voice. "He'll see you before you're six steps away from the creek."
"You don't think I mean to walk, do you?" I said. I pushed myself out away from them, on my belly in the grass
that grew around the watermelon hills. I was absolutely flat, closer to the earth than I thought it was possible to
get. I looked at once, to see their white faces watching me out of the willows. I went on, stopping once in a while
to look cautiously up toward the barn. He was still there, still quiet met a terrapin taking a bite out of a small
melon. Terrapins love watermelon better than boys do. I touched him on the shell and whispered, "Hello,
brother," but he didn't acknowledge my greeting.
He just drew into his shell. With every, move, I expected Mr Wills to see me. Fortunately, the grass was high
enough to cover me. At last the melon loomed up before me, deep green in the moonlight, and I gasped at the
size of it. I'd swivet panic ducked down moved one's head quickly down to avoid being seen terrapin small turtle
9loomed up appeared never seen it so close. I lay still for a moment, panting. I didn't have the faintest idea how
to get it out of the field. Even if I'd stood up, I couldn't have lifted it by myself. I broke the tough stem off close
against the smooth roundness. I looked toward the barn again. All quiet. I struggled around behind the melon
and shoved at it. It rolled over sluggishly10, and I pushed it again. It was hard work, pushing it down the troug
my body had made through the grass. It took about a hundred years to push that melon out of the field. With
the last of my strength, I shoved it into the willows and collapsed. I was still lying in the edge of the field.
"You did it!" they said. "By golly, you did it!"
There was no time to bask in their admiration and respect.
We struggled the melon across the creek and up the bank. We started toward the swimming hole. It took all
three of us to carry it, and it was hard to get a grip. J.D. and Freddy Gray carried the ends, while I walked behind
the melon, grasping the middle. We stumbled and thrashed in our hurry, and we nearly dropped it three or four
times. It was the most difficult object I'd ever tried to carry in my life. At last we reached the swimming hole and
sank down, panting. But not for long; the excitement was too strong in us. Freddy Gray reached out a hand and
patted the great melon.
I had never tasted watermelon so delicious. The two boys were watching me savour the first bite.
"Dive in," I said graciously. "Help yourselves." We gorged ourselves until we were heavy, leaving untouched more
than we had consumed. We gazed with sated14 eyes at the leftover melon, still good meat peopled15 with a
multitude of black seeds.
"What are we going to do with it?” I said. "There's nothing we can do," J.D. said. We were depressed suddenly. It
was such a waste, after all the struggle and the danger, that we could not eat every
10 sluggishly (here) slowly 11trough (here) a long narrow path in the ground By golly an expression of surprise;
same as 'my goodness' gorged ate a lot of something sated overfull peopled (here) occupied by bite. I stood up,
not looking at the two boys, not looking at the melon. "Well," I said. "I guess I'd better get home."
"But what about this?" J.D. said insistently, motioning toward the melon.
I kicked half the melon, splitting it in three parts. We stood silent, looking at one another. "There was nothing
else to do," I said, and they nodded solemnly. But the depression went with us toward home and, when we
parted, we did so with sober voices and gestures. I did not feel triumph or victory, as I had expected, though I
knew that tonight's action had brought me closer to my friends than I had ever been before. "Where have you
been?" my father asked as I stepped up on the porch. "Swimming," I said.
I looked toward Mr Wills's barn. My breath caught in my throat when I saw him in the field, walking toward the
middle. I stood stiffly, watching him. He reached the place where the melon should have been. I saw him
hesitate, looking around, then be bent, and I knew he was looking at the depression in the earth where the
melon had lain. He straightened, a great strangled 16 cry tearing out of his throat. It chilled me deep down and
all the way through, like the cry of a wild animal. My father jerked himself out of the chair, startled by the
sound... stood for a moment, watching him, then he jumped off the porch and ran towards Mr Wills. I followed
him. My father ran into the melon patch and caught Mr Wills by the arm. "What's come over you?" he said.
Mr Wills struck his grip away. "They've stolen my seed melon," he yelled. Mr Wills looked insane with anger. His
chest was heaving with great sobs of breath. "They stole my seed melon," he said. His voice was quieter than I
had ever heard it. I saw that tears stood on his cheeks, and I couldn't look at him any more. I'd never seen a
grown man cry.
"I had two plans for that melon," he told my father. "Mrs Wills has been somewhat ill all the spring, and she
dearly loves the taste of melon. She would eat the meat, and the next spring I would plant the seeds for the
greatest melon crop in the world. Every day she would ask me if the great seed melon was ready yet."
I couldn't bear any more. I fled out of the field toward the sanctuary of my house. I didn't sleep that night. I lay
wide-eyed and watched the moon through the window as it slid slowly down the sky and at last brought a
welcome darkness into the world. I don't know all the things I thought that night. Mostly it was about the
terrible thing I had committed so lightly, out of pride and out of being sixteen years old and out of wanting to
challenge the older man. That was the worst of all, that had done it so lightly, with so little thought of its
meaning.
When it was daylight, I rose from my bed. I had found a paper sack in the kitchen, and I carried it in my hand as I
walked toward the swimming hole. I stopped there, looking down at the wanton waste we had made of the part
of the melon we had not been able to eat. I knelt down on the ground, opened the paper sack and began picking
up the black seeds. They nearly filled the paper sack. I went back to the house. By the time I reached it, the sun
and my father had risen. He was standing on the porch. "What happened to you last night?" he said. "Did you
get so frightened you had to run home?
"Father," I said, "I've got to go talk to Mr Wills. Right now. I wish you would come with me."
My father watched me for a moment. He came down the steps and stood beside me. "I'll go with you," he said.
I felt my legs trembling as I went up the brick walk and stood at the bottom of the steps, the paper sack in my
hand. I knocked on the porch floor. In a moment Mr Wills appeared in the doorway. "What do you want, boy?"
he said.
I felt my teeth grit18 against the words I had to say. I held out the paper bag, toward him. "Mr Wills," I said,
"here's the seeds from your seed melon. That's all I could bring back."
I could feel my father standing quietly behind me.
"Did you steal it?" he said.
"Yes, sir," I said.
He advanced to the edge of the porch. The shotgun was standing near the door, and I expected him to reach for
it. Instead, he came toward me, a great powerful man, and leaned down to me. "Why did you steal it?" he said.
"I don't know," I said.
"Didn't you know it was my seed melon?"
"Yes, sir," I said. "I knew it."
I hung my head. "I'm sorry," I said.
He stopped still then, watching me. "So you brought me the seeds," he said softly. "That's not much, boy."
wanton excessive teeth grit bite one's teeth tightly together when angry or faced with something unpleasant
I lifted my head. "It was all I could think to do," I said. "The melon is gone. But seeds are for next year. That's why
I brought them to you."
I looked at him humbly. "I'll help you plant them, Mr Wills. I'll work very hard Mr Wills looked at my father for
the first time. There was a small hard smile on face, and his eyes didn't look as fierce as they had before.
"A man with a big farm like mine needs a son," he said. "I do wish I had meat like that." He came close to me
then, put his hand on my shoulder. "We can't anything about this year," he said. "But we'll grow next year, won't
we? Well grow it together."
"Yes, sir," I said.
Borden

Borden Deal (1922 - 1985) was an American novelist and short story writer. He penned twenty-one novels and
more than one hundred short stories. His work has been translated into twenty different languages.

Comprehension

1. On the basis of your understanding of the story, choose the best option.
a. ... and sixteen is still young enough that the bunch makes a difference. What do the words in bold mean?
i. Boys can gang up and create mischief.
ii. Naughty boys are not liked by people.
iii. Acceptance by friends is important at that age.
iv. There are too many naughty boys at that age.
b. My father said he could drive a stick into the ground and grow a tree out of it. What does this mean?
i. Mr Wills was a magician.
ii. Mr Wills was a skilled agriculturist.
iii. Mr Wills loved growing crops and trees.
iv. The soil was very fertile.

2. Answer the following questions briefly.

a. Why did the narrator feel that he was not really a part of the group?
b. Why was Mr Wills guarding the watermelons so zealously?
c. Where were the boys when they decided to pull out the watermelon? What were they doing there?
d. How did the narrator manage to accomplish this feat? How did his mood change after they had their fill?
e. What was Mr Wills' reaction to the theft?
f. What was Mr Wills' reaction to the narrator's apology and promise of help for replanting the crop?
g. Do you think that the narrator's character undergoes a complete transformation in the end?

Give reasons for your answer.

Critical thinking
Answer the following questions.
1. What does the melon symbolize to the narrator? What does it symbolize to Mr Wills? 2. What is the
significance of the title (both literally and figuratively)?
3. Which of the two characters-Mr Wills or the narrator-do you like better? Why? 4. Do you think that stealing
the watermelon was an act of momentary bravado done by the narrator to impress his peers? Would he have
done this had he thought about it for a while?
5. Real-Life Connect: Do you think that at times we do things under peer pressure VB that we would not have
otherwise done?

Give reasons for your answer.

Cross-Curricular Connect
China, India, the United States and Brazil are the world's top agricultural producers population. India has the
world's largest cattle herd (buffaloes), largest area used fo that order. The agricultural sector is the primary
source of livelihood for 55% of Ind the plantation of wheat, rice and cotton and is the largest producer of milk,
pulses, spices in the world. What are the ways in which the agricultural sector has contribution to India's
economy?

Vocabulary
Antonyms
The School Story is a novel written by Andrew Clements. It is the story of twelve-year- Natalie Nelson who wants
to get her novel called The Cheater published.
1. Read the summary of the story below and fill in the blanks with antonyms of the words given in brackets.
Best friends Natalie Nelson and Zoe Reisman prove that opposites attract and yield .......... (weak) results. Natalie
is the .............(noisy) one of the pair, a born writer who has been working on a novel that has almost
been ................. (started). Zoe is the ………...... (calm) one who gets things done. When Zoe reads Natalie's
manuscript, she thinks that it makes a great story and can't wait to read the.................. (beginning).
She is .......... (doubtful) that it's a great book and should be published. Natalie's mother is an editor at Shipley
Junior Books, but Natalie doesn't want an (ordinary) treatment from her mum. So, Zoe thinks up a plan that
involve false names or pen names. Natalie and Zoe prove that anything is possible
when you....... (separate) talent and cleverness.

2. In your notebook, make a sentence with each antonym you have used in the previous exercise.
Poster
Writing C VB
Design a poster to promote the culture of kindness. You could give some tips on expressing concern and being
empathetic. Don't forget to add an image/drawing a
caption to the poster.

Comprehension
1. On the basis of your understanding of the story, choose the best option.
a. "... and sixteen is still young enough that the bunch makes a difference." What do the words in bold
mean?
Answer: iii. Acceptance by friends is important at that age.
Explanation: The narrator feels that being accepted by a group of friends is still very significant at
sixteen, indicating the importance of peer approval at that age.

b. "My father said he could drive a stick into the ground and grow a tree out of it." What does this
mean?
Answer: ii. Mr Wills was a skilled agriculturist.
Explanation: This statement is a way of saying Mr Wills is so talented at farming that he could make
anything grow, highlighting his skill.

2. Answer the following questions briefly.

a. Why did the narrator feel that he was not really a part of the group?
Ans: The narrator felt like an outsider because he was new to the area and did not share the same
background as the other boys. His father worked in town, unlike the other boys' fathers who were
farmers. This difference made it hard for him to fully fit in. As a result, he often felt disconnected from
the group.

b. Why was Mr Wills guarding the watermelons so zealously?

Ans: Mr Wills was very protective of his watermelon patch because one of the melons was a seed melon,
meant for planting next season's crop. He was also planning to give that melon to his sick wife, who
loved watermelons. The fruit had both practical and emotional value for him. This is why he watched
over it so carefully.

c. Where were the boys when they decided to pull out the watermelon? What were they doing there?
Ans: The boys were swimming by the creek under the moonlight when they seriously considered
stealing the watermelon. They were relaxing and enjoying the summer evening. The calm setting made
them more daring and led to the decision. The narrator, in particular, felt the urge to prove himself.

d. How did the narrator manage to accomplish this feat? How did his mood change after they had their
fill?
Ans: The narrator crawled silently through the field under the cover of darkness on his belly to avoid
being seen. He broke the melon from its stem and carefully pushed the huge watermelon to the edge of
the field and rolled it away. After they ate the melon, instead of feeling proud, he felt deep regret. Guilt
and sadness replaced the excitement he had felt earlier.

e. What was Mr Wills' reaction to the theft?

Ans: Mr Wills was heartbroken and devastated by the loss of the watermelon. He showed his pain by
crying in front of everyone, which surprised the narrator. It revealed how much the melon had meant to
him. His reaction made the narrator realize the seriousness of his actions.

f. What was Mr Wills' reaction to the narrator's apology and promise of help for replanting the crop?
Ans: At first, Mr Wills was stern and silent, but he softened after hearing the boy’s sincere apology. He
 appreciated the courage it took to admit the mistake. Eventually, he forgave the narrator and even
invited him to help with planting the next crop. This gesture showed his kindness and willingness to
guide the boy.
g. Do you think that the narrator's character undergoes a complete transformation in the end? Give
reasons for your answer.
Ans: Yes, the narrator changes significantly by the end of the story. He begins as a boy trying to impress
others and acts out of pride and a desire for acceptance but after seeing the consequences of his actions
and feeling genuine remorse. But at the end he takes up responsibility for his actions. He learns to value
honesty and respect for others' feelings. This marks his growth from a reckless teenager to a more
mature young man.

Critical Thinking
1. What does the melon symbolize to the narrator? What does it symbolize to Mr Wills?
 To the narrator, the melon symbolizes acceptance, bravery, and the challenge of proving himself to
his peers.
 To Mr Wills, the melon represents hope, care for his wife, and the future of his farm through its
seeds.

2. What is the significance of the title (both literally and figuratively)?

 Literally, the title refers to the theft of the watermelon.
 Figuratively, it represents the loss of innocence, the consequences of impulsive actions, and the
journey towards understanding responsibility and empathy.

3. Which of the two characters-Mr Wills or the narrator-do you like better? Why?
This is subjective, but many may prefer the narrator because he shows the capacity to admit his mistake,
feel remorse, and take steps to make amends. Mr Wills, though initially fierce, also shows forgiveness
and understanding, making both characters relatable and admirable in different ways.

4. Do you think that stealing the watermelon was an act of momentary bravado done by the narrator to
impress his peers? Would he have done this had he thought about it for a while?
Yes, the theft was an impulsive act of bravado, driven by the desire to impress his friends and be
accepted. If he had paused to consider the consequences, especially the importance of the melon to Mr
Wills, he likely would not have gone through with it.

5. Real-Life Connect: Do you think that at times we do things under peer pressure that we would not
have otherwise done?
Yes, peer pressure can lead people, especially young individuals, to act against their better judgment in
order to gain acceptance or approval from a group, as seen in the narrator's actions.
These answers are based on the story provided in your file.
Or.

1. What does the melon symbolize to the narrator? What does it symbolize to Mr Wills?
Ans: To the narrator, the watermelon means more than just a fruit. It stands for bravery and the need to
feel accepted by his friends. He wants to prove that he is bold and can do something the others are
afraid of. But after stealing it, the melon starts to feel like a mistake. He feels guilty and understands that
what he did was wrong.
To Mr Wills, the melon is very special. It is not just a fruit—it is something he cared for with love and
hard work. He planned to use the seeds to grow more watermelons and also wanted to give it to his sick
wife. For him, the melon meant hope for the future and love for his family.

2. What is the significance of the title (both literally and figuratively)?

 Ans: Literally, the title "The Taste of Watermelon" talks about the actual watermelon that the boys eat.
They had been waiting all summer for it, and when they eat it, the taste is sweet, juicy, and
unforgettable.
Figuratively, the title means more than just the fruit. It shows the narrator’s experience—how he tastes
not only the melon but also the feeling of guilt, regret, and growing up. That moment changes him and
teaches him an important life lesson. So, the "taste" is also about learning right from wrong.

3. Which of the two characters—Mr Wills or the narrator—do you like better? Why?
Ans: I like the narrator better because he is young and learns from his mistake. At first, he wants to
impress his friends, so he does something wrong. But afterward, he feels bad and goes to say sorry to Mr
Wills. He even offers to help replant the crop. This shows he is honest and wants to do the right thing.
Mr Wills is also a good man. He works hard on his farm and loves his family. At first, he seems angry and
scary, but later we see he is kind and forgiving. Still, I like the narrator more because he changes and
grows into a better person.

4. Do you think that stealing the watermelon was an act of momentary bravado done by the narrator to
impress his peers? Would he have done this had he thought about it for a while?
Ans: Yes, the narrator stole the watermelon to show off in front of his friends. He wanted to look brave
and be accepted by the group. It was something he did in the moment without thinking deeply.
If he had taken time to think, he would have realized that stealing is wrong. He would have also thought
about how much the melon meant to Mr Wills and his wife. So, no—he would probably not have done it
if he had thought more about it.

5. Real-Life Connect: Do you think that at times we do things under peer pressure that we would not
have otherwise done? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: Yes, many times people, especially teenagers, do things because their friends are watching or
pushing them. They want to fit in or be liked, so they follow others even when they know it's wrong.
For example, someone might lie, cheat, or break rules just to be part of the group. Later, they may feel
bad about it. Like the narrator, people often learn from these experiences and become more careful in
the future.

Vocabulary – Antonyms Fill in the Blanks:

1. Best friends Natalie Nelson and Zoe Reisman prove that opposites attract and yield strong (weak)
results.
Natalie is the quiet (noisy) one of the pair, a born writer who has been working on a novel that has
almost been finished (started). Zoe is the active (calm) one who gets things done. When Zoe reads
Natalie's manuscript, she thinks that it makes a great story and can't wait to read the ending (beginning).
She is confident (doubtful) that it's a great book and should be published. Natalie's mother is an editor
at Shipley Junior Books, but Natalie doesn't want an extraordinary (ordinary) treatment from her mum.
So, Zoe thinks up a plan that involves false names or pen names. Natalie and Zoe prove that anything is
possible when you combine (separate) talent and cleverness.

Antonym Sentences:
1. He is strong enough to lift the heavy box.
2. She remained quiet during the meeting.
3. I have finished my homework already.
4. His active nature keeps him involved in many activities.
5. The movie’s ending was unexpected.
6. She felt confident about her speech.
7. It was an extraordinary performance.
 8. Let’s combine our efforts to complete the task.

Poster Prompt: Kindness Culture Poster

Tips for the Poster:
 Title: "Kindness is Contagious – Spread It!"
 Tips:
o Listen with empathy.
o Offer help without being asked.
o Speak kindly and avoid judgment.
o Celebrate others' success.
o Share and be generous.
 Image: A heart or a helping hand.
 Caption: "Be the reason someone believes in goodness."