WELLINGTON COUNTY – A Grade 4 student from Drayton and a Grade 6 student from Fergus are the winners of the sixth annual Olive and Fred Robins Junior Short Story Contest.
The Wellington County Library contest is held each October, inviting county students in Grades 4 to 6 to submit original short stories between 500 and 750 words.
Entries are judged anonymously and winners are selected based on creativity and originality, story structure, style and quality of writing, including spelling and grammar.
Drayton’s Marwa Al Jasem and Fergus’ Gureet Virk are the two 2024 top prize winners, earning $150 cash prizes. Al Jasem’s winning entry follows.
The Secret of the Whistling Woods
By Marwa Al Jasem
One autumn afternoon, young Benny Harper wandered into the Whistling Woods, a forest with trees so tall they vanished into the mist. People said the Whistling Woods were enchanted – on quiet nights, the trees would whistle, as if sharing secrets.
Benny was fascinated by these woods. He loved mysteries, and he’d heard of magical creatures and hidden treasures. Today, he decided to explore for himself.
As he stepped deeper into the woods, Benny noticed something peculiar: the trees seemed to be moving. Their branches stretched out like arms, and the leaves whispered in a language he couldn’t understand. But he wasn’t afraid; he felt as if the trees were welcoming him, inviting him closer.
Eventually, he came across a clearing carpeted in golden leaves. In the centre stood a gigantic tree, older and wider than any he’d seen. Benny approached it and noticed a small, knotted door hidden in its bark. He couldn’t resist; he gave the door a gentle knock.
To his surprise, the door creaked open, and a tiny, glowing creature peeked out. It was no larger than his thumb and had wings that shimmered like dragonfly wings. The creature wore a silver suit and a little cap that sparkled in the sunlight.
“Hello, young human,” it said in a voice like a breeze. “My name is Lira. I am the keeper of the Whistling Woods.”
“Keeper?” Benny asked, eyes wide. “What do you keep here?”
Lira smiled. “I keep the forest safe, and I keep its secrets hidden. Not many humans can hear the forest’s call, but you, Benny, are different.”
Benny’s heart raced with excitement. “Could you show me these secrets?”
Lira looked around, as if checking to make sure they were alone. “If you wish to see the wonders of the forest, you must promise never to speak of them outside these woods. Can you do that?”
Benny nodded eagerly.
“I promise.”
With a flick of her tiny hand, Lira sprinkled gold dust over Benny’s head.
Suddenly, everything around him changed. The trees seemed to grow taller, their bark shimmered and the forest floor sparkled like gemstones.
He could see tiny creatures flitting about – glowing birds, shimmering insects and small, colourful foxes with tails that glowed like fireflies.
“Wow,” Benny breathed. “This is incredible!”
Lira led him deeper into the forest, where they came upon a shimmering pool. The water was clear as glass, and strange, beautiful fish swam beneath its surface, leaving trails of light.
“This is the Pool of Memories,” Lira explained. “It holds every memory of the forest, from the first tree that grew here to the smallest leaf that ever fell.”
Benny knelt by the pool and peered in. To his surprise, he saw visions swirling within the water – scenes of animals, plants and people from long ago. Each image moved like a ghostly memory, reminding him the forest was ancient and filled with stories.
The pool’s surface rippled, and Benny saw his own reflection. But there was something odd. In the reflection, he wore a silver cap, just like Lira’s.
“What does this mean?” he asked.
Lira smiled mysteriously. “The Whistling Woods only reveal their secrets to those they trust. You may be a guardian someday, Benny, if you choose to keep the forest’s secrets safe.”
A feeling of responsibility settled over him. He loved the Whistling Woods, and now that he knew its secrets, he understood the importance of protecting them.
After a while, the sun began to set, casting long shadows through the trees. Lira fluttered in front of him. “It’s time for you to return, Benny. Remember your promise.”
Benny nodded solemnly.
“I won’t tell anyone.”
With a wave of her hand, Lira made the sparkling world around him fade. The forest returned to its familiar, quiet state, with only the soft whistling of the trees to remind him of what he’d seen. As he made his way back home, Benny felt different – wiser and somehow braver.
From that day forward, Benny visited the Whistling Woods often. Though he never saw Lira or the magical creatures in the same way, he knew they were watching him, and he felt proud to be the keeper of their secrets.
And on windy nights, when the forest whistled its mysterious tunes, Benny would smile, knowing the trees were whispering just to him.
