One day some kids named Scarlett and Tom found a lake where there wasn’t one before. It was mysterious. Scarlett asked Tom, “Was this lake here before?”
And Tom said, “No, it was not, but we will check tomorrow.”
The next day, the lake was not there. Scarlett was surprised. “Wow! I did not see that coming! Tomorrow, if the lake comes back, we will dive in and see what is in there.”
The next day, Scarlett and Tom walked to the lake. They were surprised to see that the lake was still not there. Then Scarlett said, “But I don’t understand. It was supposed to show up today!”
“We will check tomorrow, Sis,” said Tom.
The next day, they came in swimming gear. Tom said, “Wow! The lake is back!”
“Let’s dive in!” said Scarlett. “Now!”
“Scarlett, lower your temper,” said Tom.
“Okay Tom. Maybe I am taking it too seriously,” Scarlett said.
So they dived in and they saw a treasure box. “Wow!” said Tom. “I was not expecting this!”
“Come on, Tom,” Scarlett said.
“Okay,” said Tom, “but first let’s look for—”
Too late. Scarlett was already swimming toward the treasure box, but right when she tried to touch it, a wave washed her away.
“Scarlett!” said Tom. He was all alone. Tom was scared without his sister. He wanted to swim back but he knew that he couldn’t leave without Scarlett. He didn’t know what to do without her.
Tom thought about the memories that they made together. He knew he had to save her. Then he heard a voice.
“Scarlett?” shouted Tom.
Scarlett came into view but something else did, too. It was something big. It…it…it was a shark!
“Oh, sorry, Tom! I didn’t mean to scare you. I made a friend down there.”
“Why does it have to be a shark!?” said Tom. “Does it have to be a different animal?”
Scarlett said, “Tom are you afraid!?”
Tom nodded.
“Whatever, come on!” Scarlett said. “Let’s go get the treasure!”
They swam to the treasure box together. But the shark got there first.
Scarlett said, “I thought we were friends!”
The shark shook his head and ate the treasure box.
“Uh-oh. This is bad,” Tom said.
Scarlett said, “I know. But I have an idea.”
“What’s your idea?”
“We have to let the shark eat us,” Scarlett said.
“What?!” Tom said.
“It’s the only way, Tom.”
Tom looked nervous, but he nodded.
“Aren’t you still hungry?” Scarlett asked the shark.
The shark opened his mouth, and Scarlett and Tom swam inside.
And there it was, right in front of them: the treasure box.
They tickled the shark’s stomach and he laughed. While his mouth was open, they grabbed the treasure box and swam out.
They quickly swam to the top of the lake. But when they got to the top and went on land, the treasure box was gone.
“What’s wrong?” asked Tom.
“I think the treasure box was fake,” said Scarlett.
“Please don’t tell me that the real one is still in the shark’s mouth,” said Tom.
“I bet it is,” said Scarlett.
“Oh well,” said Tom.
“We can try again tomorrow.”
“As long as the lake is still here,” said Tom.
But they never saw the lake again.
Ada is in first grade in Florida. Her favorite movie is Trolls and her favorite book is the Dragon Masters series. She loves dragons and rainbows, and she has a cat named Smoothie.
Great work, Ada! Thank you for sharing your story with us.