Hope, Joy, and Grace

Janie, 8^th grade

I walked home from the one room school house with a heavy heart. Yet again I had been outshone by Grace, a girl with fewer years than I had. It hurt when she got into the 5^th reader and I was just admitted into the 4^th.

                “You really shouldn’t beat yourself up about it,” said Kayla, my adorable and optimistic little sister.

                “Yeah, not everyone can be smart,” my evil younger brother, Evan, added with a smirk. Kayla tried to slap him; Evan dodged it and kicked her. She started crying and headed down the path to our house, straight to my mother. I knew I would get blamed for this. Again. I hate Evan. My mom says that he’s just like every other little brother on the planet. I know he’s worse.

                Before my brother could tattle on me, I was in the forest.  I ran for the joy of running. I didn’t care that I was getting thirsty, hungry, tired, and lots of bites from the dreaded mosquitoes. I didn’t think about it. I just ran. Suddenly, I skidded to a halt to stop from running into a solid wall of trees. The only way to cross would be to go around the whole thing or to climb up to where I could see an opening just big enough for my 11 year old body. I despised climbing.

                I gulped and looked both ways. The unbroken wall stretched as far as I could see. I looked up at the hole. It seemed to get farther and farther away as I stared. “Deep breath, Alyssa,” I told myself bravely. “Deep breath,” and started to climb.

                My feet found secure places to rest with surprising ease. It was like I was born to climb. Which, I reminded myself, being descended from monkeys, I probably was. I reached the top of the tree in no time. I rested for a second. I could see everything. The Willow Forest was behind me, and the Forbidden Plains in front. I didn’t want to go much farther. So I opened the new reader I had been given after my old one fell apart completely this morning. It was so clean. I started reading. Soon, I came to a page where a piece of yellowed paper was wedged in tightly. I unfolded it carefully, afraid of tearing the fragile material. It held a small poem inside.

Where water spouts

Beneath the tree

And sunlight dies

When it hits leaves

There the secret

To kindness lies

Seek and find

It will be rised

I thought about this for a moment. Well, everyone knew the well tree, that is, the tree that sprouted water if you removed the stones that led to the old stream.  But no one could climb it, because the tree was smooth as baby’s skin and rock hard, with no knotholes or branches for 8 feet up. But I was determined to see if sunlight died when it reached the leaves. I climbed down quickly and ran all the way to the well tree. There was a pile of speckled pebbles at the base, and I removed them to take a drink from this natural fountain. Then I covered the hole back  up and look up the tree next to the well tree. It was fairly easy to climb; I got to the top without much difficulty. But then there was a branch smack between the branch of my tree and a branch of the well tree. I grabbed it with booth hands and swung over trapeze style. I landed on a branch of the well tree, but I wasn’t at the top. I continued up until I was so far from the ground I was feeling extremely dizzy every time that I looked down. But finally I was about 5 feet from the top I took a deep breath and climbed , in a frenzy to reach the top. When I finally got there, I pushed my way through a curtain of leaves so thick it was pitch black inside. I pumped my fist in the air. Then I recalled the last part of the clue. “There the secret to kindness lies, seek and find it will be rised” It was weird English, and confusing. Seek and Find? What? Where? Well, the where was obvious enough. I pushed through the curtain again into blinding sunlight. I saw a rock balanced on the very top and went to pick it up. It was lighter than I thought. I slipped into my pocket and started making my way back down. When I got to the bottom, I studied the stone. It was shaped like a heart and had the words Hope, Joy, and Grace inscribed on it. I turned it over and looked at the inscription on the back- ask and be told.  Feeling extremely foolish, I asked, “Is it safe to go back?” Almost immediately, the inscription became only if you want to. I decided that this was a stupid answer and just walked back anyway.

When I got there, my mom said “Alyssa! There you are, sweetheart, I’ve been so worried!” My brother looked incredulous, but soon came over and hugged me. My sister came running in the door and jumped on my, adoring as ever. I disentangled myself and escaped to my room. I looked at the rock in amazement, and was planning a way to get back at my brother when I realized something. What had he really given me? Hope Joy, and Grace0 for that was what the rock had given me, and he had led to me finding the rock. And I also realized that Grace wasn’t mean, just smart. All this and more  became apparent and I placed the rock on a shelf in my room. I realized that the word Wisdom had just appeared on the stone with Joy, Hope, and Grace. As I grew up, more words were added, although I never used it for any purpose other than necessities such as where can I find water and berries? I was Joyful, Hopeful,  Graceful, Brave, and Wise. What more could I ask for?