There once was a fellow named Hans, and oh boy, did Hans love to play games! Especially games with cards and dice. The trouble was, Hans wasn't always very lucky, and soon, he had played away almost all his money. He was down to his very last few coins.

One evening, as Hans sat sadly, there was a knock at his door. Two tired travelers stood there. One was a kind old man with a gentle smile, and the other was his good friend. "Could we please have a little something to eat and a place to rest?" they asked.

Hans, even though he had so little, felt sorry for them. "Come in," he said. "I don't have much, but you can share what I have." He gave them his last piece of bread and used his last coins to buy them a warm drink.

The next morning, the kind old man said, "Hans, you were so generous to us when you had almost nothing. For your kindness, I will grant you three wishes. Ask for anything you want!"

Hans's eyes lit up. Games! "First," he said, "I wish for a deck of cards that will always win!"
The old man nodded.
"Second," Hans went on, "I wish for a pair of dice that will always win!"
The old man nodded again.
"And third," Hans thought hard, then grinned, "I wish for a special fruit tree in my garden. Anyone who climbs it to pick fruit can't get down unless I say so!"
The old man smiled. "Your wishes are granted," he said, and then he and his friend went on their way.

Well, Hans couldn't wait! He got out his new cards and dice. And guess what? He won! He played with others and won back all his money, and then he won some more. Soon, Hans was rich again, all thanks to his magic games and his clever tree, which was now full of the most delicious-looking fruit.

Years went by, and Hans had a grand time. But one day, there was another knock at the door. This time, it was a tall, shadowy figure. "Hans," said the figure in a raspy voice, "I am Death. It is your time to come with me."

Hans wasn't ready to go! He thought quickly. "Oh, Mr. Death," he said, trying to sound polite, "I'm honored. But before we go, would you do me a small favor? See that lovely fruit tree in my garden? The fruit at the very top is the sweetest. Could you climb up and get one for me, as a last treat?"

Death, not knowing about the tree's magic, thought, "Why not? A piece of fruit won't take long." So up he climbed into the tree. He picked a juicy apple. "Alright, Hans, I have it!" he called. But when he tried to climb down, he was stuck! "Hans!" he called. "I can't get down!"

Hans chuckled. "You'll stay up there until I say so, Mr. Death!"
And so, Death was stuck in the tree for seven long years! For seven years, nobody in the whole world grew old or passed away. It was a bit strange, but Hans was happy.

Finally, the kind old man (who was really God, you see!) appeared before Hans. "Hans," he said, his voice gentle but firm, "this has gone on long enough. You must let Death down."

Hans knew he had to obey. "Alright, Mr. Death," he called up the tree, "you can come down now!" And poof! Death scrambled down, very grumpy, and hurried away to catch up on his work.

Not long after, it was truly Hans's time. Death came for him again, and this time Hans knew he had to go.

First, Hans went to the shiny gates of Heaven. St. Peter (the old man's friend!) was at the gate. "Hello, Hans," said St. Peter. "I remember you. But I'm afraid gamblers aren't usually allowed in Heaven." The gate stayed closed.

So Hans went down to the fiery gates of a not-so-nice place. The big boss there, the Devil, peeked out. "Hans!" he exclaimed, looking annoyed. "No way! You won all my imps' pocket money with those magic cards! You're not coming in here!" And that gate slammed shut too.

Hans was in a pickle. He didn't know where to go. He trudged back to St. Peter at Heaven's gate. "Please, St. Peter," he begged, "just let me peek inside Heaven for a tiny second? I just want to see what it's like."

St. Peter, feeling a bit sorry for him, said, "Alright, just a quick peek. But no funny business!"
As soon as the gate opened a crack, Hans quickly threw his magic cards right inside! "Oh dear!" he said. "My cards! I must get them!" And before St. Peter could stop him, Hans slipped inside Heaven to fetch his cards.

Once inside, Hans looked around and decided it was a very nice place indeed. St. Peter sighed, but he let Hans stay. And you know what? Even in Heaven, Hans sometimes found someone to play a friendly game of cards with, though he promised to play fair this time... mostly!

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