Chapter 1
The Big Rock
The day started like any other for class 7B, who were excited to go on a Friday field trip into the woods. They had traveled deep into the forest, where their teacher had finally managed to get a fire going, so they could grill hot dogs and toast marshmallows. The kids, full of energy, scattered to play, and of course, the most popular game in the woods was hide and seek.
Among them was Yusuf, a seemingly ordinary 11-year-old boy. There was nothing particularly special about him—he was just like every other kid, curious and playful. As the other kids dashed off to find hiding spots, Yusuf wandered deeper into the trees, searching for the perfect place to hide. That's when he spotted something unusual: a large, peculiar tree with a gaping hole at its base.
"This is a great place to hide," Yusuf thought to himself as he crouched down and slid into the hollow. Inside, it was dark and cramped, almost like a small cave. He sat quietly, waiting for someone to find him or for the game to be over. His eyes wandered around the space, taking in the rough texture of the bark surrounding him.
Suddenly, Yusuf felt a sharp, tingling sensation in his back. He twisted around, trying to find the source of the discomfort. At first, he thought it might be a branch poking him, but as he reached behind him, he felt something small and solid. It wasn't a branch—it was a rock.
Intrigued, Yusuf began to push against it, feeling it loosen with every nudge. After a few moments, the rock came free. It was caked in dirt and mud, but something about it seemed different. Yusuf rubbed it with his shirt, trying to clean it off. As the layers of grime came away, the rock began to shimmer faintly in the dim light filtering through the hole in the tree.
In his excitement, Yusuf's heart raced. Could it be a diamond? His eyes widened as he stared at the shiny object in his hand, and without a second thought, he scrambled out of the tree, eager to show his amazing discovery to his friends.
What Yusuf didn't realize was that someone else had been watching him. An old man, probably in his sixties or seventies, had been quietly walking through the woods. He wore hiking gear and carried a weathered backpack, as though he had spent a long time out there. The man caught a glimpse of Yusuf just as he emerged from the tree. But more importantly, he saw the glittering rock in the boy's hand. The old man's eyes narrowed with interest. He, too, believed it was a what he was looking for —and he wanted it.
Meanwhile, Yusuf sprinted back toward the campfire, excited to share his discovery with his friends. The first person he spotted was his best friend, Abdi.
"Hey, Abdi! You won't believe what I fou—" Yusuf started to say, but Abdi interrupted, his voice full of excitement.
"Yusuf, you won't believe what just happened! The teacher almost burned herself! She used way too much oil or something while trying to keep the fire going . It went up like crazy! We're leaving soon because of it."
Yusuf's expression turned from excitement to shock. "Wait, what?"
Before Yusuf could say another word about the shiny rock, their teacher's voice rang out over the group. "Alright, everyone! Grab your backpacks. We're leaving right now."
As the kids began gathering their things, Yusuf stood there, still holding the mysterious rock, unsure of what to do next.