The Glittering Stream

The summer sun blazed overhead as Kimi and Markus wandered through the forest behind their grandparents’ house. They had spent every summer here since they were little, but today, they decided to explore farther than ever before. Just as they were about to give up and head back, they stumbled upon something extraordinary—a shimmering stream.

The water sparkled in the sunlight as if tiny diamonds floated just beneath the surface. “Wow,” Kimi whispered, crouching by the edge. “It’s beautiful.”

Markus knelt beside her, staring into the clear water. “Look at the stones,” he said, pointing. Smooth, colorful rocks lined the streambed, their surfaces polished to perfection. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Kimi reached in, her hand cutting through the cool water. As she picked up a bright blue stone, it began to glow faintly. Startled, she dropped it back into the stream. “Did you see that?”

“It glowed,” Markus said, his eyes wide. He reached in and picked up a red stone. Sure enough, it glimmered softly in his hand. “This is incredible!”

The siblings spent hours collecting stones, marveling at the way each one seemed to radiate a different hue. But as the day wore on, they began to argue.

“We have to tell Grandma and Grandpa about this!” Kimi said, holding a glowing green stone. “They’ll love it.”

“No way,” Markus said, shaking his head. “This place is special. If we tell anyone, they might ruin it.”

“Ruin it? How could they ruin a stream?” Kimi asked, incredulous.

Markus crossed his arms. “By bringing too many people here. It won’t feel magical if everyone knows about it.”

Kimi frowned. “But it’s too beautiful to keep to ourselves. Besides, it’s on their property. Don’t you think they deserve to know?”

The argument carried on until the sun dipped low in the sky, casting golden light over the forest. Finally, they agreed to show their grandparents the stream and let them decide what to do.

When they returned to the house, their grandmother was sitting on the porch, knitting. “Grandma, you have to come with us!” Kimi said, grabbing her hand.

“What’s all this fuss about?” Grandma asked, smiling as they led her into the forest.

When they arrived at the stream, Grandma’s eyes widened. “Well, would you look at that,” she said, stepping closer.

Kimi and Markus watched as she picked up a stone. It glowed softly in her hand, just as it had for them. “Did you know this was here?” Markus asked.

Grandma smiled knowingly. “I’ve always suspected there was something special in this forest. Your grandpa and I used to explore it when we were young. But we decided some treasures are better left undisturbed.”

Kimi and Markus exchanged a glance. “What do you mean?” Kimi asked.

“I mean that some places are special because they’re secret,” Grandma said. “You can share it with a few people you trust, but once it’s no longer a secret, it’s never the same.”

The siblings nodded, finally understanding. They helped Grandma back to the house, where they told their grandfather about their discovery.

That night, as Kimi placed the glowing green stone on her nightstand, she smiled. They had decided to keep the stream their family’s little secret. After all, some treasures truly are better left undisturbed.