Alex took a deep breath and detected a faint sweetness. "Yes, I think so, what is it?" he asked. "You'll see," replied Sioned mysteriously. Alex and The Chocolate Tree by Alys

There was a banging on the front door of the tiny three room cottage, with a ragged thatch roof in need of repair, which represented an refuge at last for Alex and his Mother after years of toil in the cotton mills.

"Who on earth is calling so early in the morning," asked Alex's Mother as the two of them sat at the table finishing their meagre breakfast.

"I have no idea Mother, shall I answer the door for you?" Alex asked.

"Yes, please do, that will give me time to finish my food," she replied.

Alex went to the door and unlatched it. He opened it carefully and was surprised to see his elder cousin, Sioned, standing there with an eager look on her face.

"Hello cousin, you must come with me I have something amazing to show you," she said excitedly.

"Who is it?" asked Alex's Mother.

"It's Sioned," replied Alex.

"What does she want?" asked his Mother.

"She wants me to go somewhere with her," he replied.

"OK, but don't be too long, you have to chop some wood later," his Mother said tersely.

"Yes, Mother," he agreed before following Sioned and closing the door after himself.

As they ran along the path together, Alex noticed other children following behind. He asked Sioned where they were going and she explained that a few years before she had discovered a tree with special properties. No child, under about thirteen, who ate the fruits of this tree had ever been sick or had any other ailments for the rest of the year.

"Can't you smell it?" she asked, as they approached a some thick bushes on the edge of the forest.

Alex took a deep breath and detected a faint sweetness.

"Yes, I think so, what is it?" he asked.

"You'll see," replied Sioned mysteriously.

A few minutes later they had joined a small crowd of children that were eating the fruits of a little tree in a small clearing behind the bushes. Sioned plucked one off and offered it to Alex.

"Try it, you'll be surprised," she said.

Alex took the small, brown spherical fruit and gingerly placed it in his mouth. The taste and texture as he bit into the fruit astonished him. He had lived in the city and had occasionally found small pieces discarded on the floor. He knew the taste but he couldn't believe it. How could it be possible. A tree with fruits of chocolate!

"What do you think?" asked Sioned.

"It is wonderful," he replied, before picking one for himself.

"Well you look pretty healthy, if a little thin, so I can't imagine anything being cured for you, but at least you won't get any chills or colds," his twelve year old cousin stated.

Alex savoured the feeling of the chocolate melting in his mouth and wished there was a way of curing his mental torment. Somehow, though, he felt more relaxed and happy, something his Mother commented on when he finished his chores with plenty of time in hand and proceeded to help her planting in the garden.

The next morning Alex awoke and immediately was aware of some different bodily feelings. A smile appeared on the usually sad face.

Looking in the mirror, without wearing any clothes a few moments later, Alex knew that at last there was a cure for the years of mental torture as the image confirmed the emergence, at last, of the girl within.