DANNY was a small town boy. In his seven years of life, he never knew what it was to be loved by parents because he had none and he lived in an orphanage, a huge building surrounded by thick red-brick walls and situated on the outskirts of the city. Whenever a child got admitted into that institution, he was always given only one toy. Sometimes it was a shabby horse or one-eyed rabbit, a doll without legs or a wheel-free car. Danny had an old bear and though the teddy was all patched-up, he loved it dearly, as it was his true and only buddy.

“There might be a wonderful world behind these bulky fences? I wish I could ever see it! At least for once!” the boy used to whisper to his friend, his little heart pounding with the hope.

But, unfortunately, the wishes of abandoned children are hardly ever entertained, and so most of the time the kids remained secluded in their rooms.

Once, on a holiday eve, Danny was wandering near the main gates through which trucks with tasteless food entered. He then noted that the guard forgot to close the gates properly.

Danny looked about, clasped his bear and, unnoticed, slipped away.

He didn’t run for a long, five minutes at the most. When he stopped and looked around, he saw a lot of trees covered with flowers. The young moon appeared from the thin clouds, shyly welcoming the first stars. Danny took a deep breath. Ah, what a wonderful aroma!A sweet scent was yielding from the blooming flowers! The fragrance of stars, lighting up the night sky! The rich smell of grass under his feet! Never had that aroma been so dear to Danny!

Suddenly a tree caught the boy’s attention — it stood at a distance from others. Big and green, it had no flowers, but as the boy approached, he noticed that on the wide thick branches of the tree there hung some strange fruits! Oh, wait! Not fruits exactly — but lots of soft toys, majority of which were old and shabby.

Danny was so flabbergasted that for a few minutes he stood speechless just staring at the giant tree.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence, “Welcome, Danny!”

“Who’s there?” the boy spoke, startled.

“It’s me, the Tree of Wishes,” Danny realised that the voice belonged to the tree.

“Are you alive? You talk?” It was hard to believe his ears.

“Not only that. I can also make the most cherished wishes come true!” The words were spoken not loudly, yet very authoritatively.

“The most cherished?” Danny said broodingly. “I do have one, the dearest wish … ”

“All right, I’ll help you. But in return, you’ll have to give me your most precious possession,” the tree’s voice sounded mysteriously.

“But I have absolutely nothing,” sadly, almost crying, replied the boy.

“Every person, regardless how small he is, has something which he treasures most in the world!” the voice came.

Danny thought for a moment. Ever since he had got into the orphanage, he never had anything of his own. Everything was common in that house, and the orphans had to share everything with each other. Except probably …

“Magic Tree! I have my teddy,” the boy held forth the bear. “He was given to me when I was admitted to the orphanage. We share everything over there, but every kid has one toy that belongs only to him. This teddy is the only precious thing in my life.”

“Very well,” said the tree, extending one of its branches to the boy. “Hang your toy and make a wish.”

Danny left the toy on the branch and said, “Every night before going to bed, I make one and the same wish, but till now it has never came true. I wish so much that I had my parents!”

“Your wish will be fulfilled!” promised the tree solemnly, and immersed into silence. Then Danny hurried to get back into the orphanage, where, in fact, his absence was not even cared.

Next morning, when Danny opened his eyes, he saw a man and a woman standing by his bed.

“Hello, Danny!” the woman said, her beautiful eyes glowing with love and happiness. “We are your new parents. Today you will come with us and from now on we will live together. We have already prepared your room, and there are a lot of toys to play with!”

The man smiled, and though he didn’t utter a word, it was evident that he was as happy as the beautiful woman.

One year passed. Another holiday eve came. Now Danny had a real family, everything he ever dreamt of, but he often remembered and missed the shabby bear, who for so many years was his only friend.

The door opened and his mother entered the room, carrying a small blue box, tied with a red ribbon.

“Sonny, tomorrow is a holiday. But for me and your dad it is not just a holiday, but the happiest day of our lives as well, because it will be one year since you came into our lives, my dear. I have something for you here.”

She gave the box to Danny, who eagerly opened the gift.

What was his astonishment when he saw his little bear in the box!

“Mom, this is my teddy! But how?” Danny was staring in round-eye wonder.

Mother gently stroked her son’s hair, “Your dad and I longed so much for children, sweetheart, but unfortunately we could not have them. Every night before going to sleep, I used to make only one wish — to have a child. But my wish was never answered.

“One evening, on the eve of a holiday, I went for a walk in the park. I was wrapped in my thoughts, when suddenly I found myself near a large, strange tree.

“Many soft toys were handing from its green branches. It was a magical talking tree. It told me that it could grant wishes, and for it I need only to pick any of the toys. It lowered its branches, and among the hundreds of soft toys, I chose this shabby bear. I do not know why, my heart prompted me. When I picked it, the tree said that it would fulfil my desire, but I’ll have to take care of this bear and after one year to give it to our child.

“And the next day, God blessed us with you, my child. I kept my word given to the magical tree. For a whole year I had taken good care of the teddy, and now I’m giving it to you.” Mother kissed Danny and left the room.

Danny hugged his teddy. Now he understood that tree helped lonely children find their parents. There was only one condition — you need to wish it from the bottom of your heart and be ready to offer for it the most precious thing in your life — the old, the darn toy…