Good morning to the master of ceremony, honourable judgesprecise timekeeper and teachers. I’m Ain Nadzreen wouldliketo tell a story by the title of ‘The Empty Pot’. ONE DAY LONG AGO, the King of China announcedacontest to find the next ruler of the land. He was gettingoldandhad no sons to take over the throne. The King loved to grow plants. So he announced that anyboywho wanted to be king would have to come to the palace andget a royal seed. In six months, the boy who grewthe best plant would be the next to sit on the throne. Boys all over started to walk with pride, as if they werethewinner. One boy, named Jun, was quiet. He knewhe was goodat growing things. Everyone in his village would fight over whowas to get his melons, snow peas, his baby corn. On the bigdaywhen the royal seeds were to be given out, huge crowds of boyscame to the palace. Jun was one of those boys. Each boytookhome his royal seed, held tight in his hand. At home, Jun took out a good flowerpot. He set downlargestones on the bottom. Over them, he set smaller stones. Overthose, he filled the rest of the pot with rich black dirt. Thenhemade a hole at the top, about one inch deep. Last, he pressedtheroyal seed into the hole and set dirt on top. With care, he tappedthe top.
Over the next few days, Jun watered his pot every day. All overChina, boys were doing the same thing. Each one lookedwithcare at his own pot. Day after day, Jun watched and waited. Chen was the first boy in Jun’s village to announce that agreenleaf was coming up. Han was the next one to say a littlegreenplant was coming up in his pot. Then it was Wong. Jundidnot know why there was no little plant in his pot. None of theotherboys could grow plants as well as he! But still, Jun’s seeddidnot grow. Sadly, Jun walked around with his head down. The other boyslaughed at him. Six months passed. The day came whenall theboys needed to bring their plants to the palace to be judged. Mothers and fathers walked next to their sons to helpkeepplants up so they would not tip over. “What will I do?” wailed Jun to his mother and father ashelooked out the window. The other boys were walking withprideto the palace. “My pot is empty! My seed did not grow!” “Bring the King your pot, the way it is," said his father. "That'sright," said Jun's mother. "You did the best you could.” His face red with shame, Jun carried his empty pot ontheroadto the palace. At the palace, all the boys lined up. Holdingtheirbig, strong plants in front of them, they waited to be judged. TheKing, in his rich silk robe, walked slowly down the line. He
looked at each plant with a blank look in his face. Whenhecame to Jun, he frowned and said, “What is this? Youbrought me an empty pot?” It was all Jun could do to keep from crying. “If you please, YourMajesty!” said Jun, “I tried my best. I planted your seedinthebest soil I could find. But it just didn’t grow!" Jun hunghishead. "I’m sorry.” “Hmm,” said the King. Turning so everyone couldhear heroared, “I do not know where all these other boys got their seeds. There is no way anything could grow fromthe seeds we passedout for the contest. And that is because all those seeds hadbeencooked! No plant could grow from them!" And he smiled at Jun. The moral of the story is honestyisthebest policy. Thank you.