Writer's Notebook

"Adam, you know that tree in the middle of the garden."

"You mean the one next to the tree of life."

"That's right. You know we always thought it's fruit wasn't very good because it didn't shine like the others. Well, I've been having another look at it, and I'm not sure that it's so bad, after all. I was thinking..."

"But you know God told us not to eat from that tree. He expressively forbade it."

"But why do you think, he forbade it."

"I don't know, I suppose he thought it wouldn't do us any good. Besides, there's really no point talking about this. We've got far more than enough to eat as it is. Why do you want to look elsewhere."

"Well, I've been thinking... What if..."

"What if what. There's nothing to think about. God said no, and no it is. After all, he not only created us, but he's the one who looks after us every day and look at all the good things he gives us."

"But whose word do we have for that? How do we not that God is so good as he makes out."

"What's got into you? You never used to be like this."

"Well, I've been talking to..."

"You've what? Who have you been talking to? There's no one else here. What on earth have you been up to?"

"I've been talking to someone much older than us. And much wiser too. He must be some kind of special creature. He's been around for ages and ages and he knows all about God. He says..."

"I don't believe you're really saying this. What has got into you"

"It's the serpent. He's one of those special creatures from way back when. He's been explaining so many interesting things. According to him, God isn't all that good to us, after all. He just pretends to be that way, so he can keep us in our place. That way, we'll never develop to our full potential. Don't you realise Adam, the whole world is beckoning and we can make a real mark upon it. But to do that we have to break free. We have to assert our independance. It's the only way."

"You mean it's up to us to forge our own destiny."

"That's it. Once we've eaten the fruit, then nothing more can hold us back. We can decide for ourselves what's right and what's wrong. We can set our very own standards."

"Do you know, strange as this may seem, but that's sort of what God himself told us, when he explained about the tree. If we eat it, we ourselves will know what's right and wrong."

"Well, then what are you waiting for? Here's the fruit."

"Thanks! It looks... But, why is there already a bit missing?"