The sunny sill is dry and bright.

It gives the cactus everything it needs.

So the cactus survives well there: fat and green.

The sunny sill gives the cactus everything it needs. It survives well.

The shady corner is dry, but dark.

It gives the cactus only some of what it needs.

So the cactus survives poorly there: alive, but thin and pale.

The shady corner gives the cactus only some of what it needs. It survives poorly.

The bowl of water is far too wet for a desert plant.

The roots rot in the water.

So the cactus does not survive there.

One cactus, three places, three different endings.

More water did not help the cactus: far too much water killed it.