The Golden Leaf

Jill looked at the pile of leaves and smiled.  Just as she was about to jump into them, her friend approached her.

“Did you find it yet?” her friend asked her.

“Find what?” Jill asked with curiosity.

Her friend Jaime smiled.  “The golden leaf, of course!” she said with a smile.  “Every 100 years, it is said that a tree will drop a golden leaf.  Whoever has the leaf can do some amazing things!”

After she said that, Jill’s older brother Josh, overhearing Jaime’s story, laughed.  “That is a just a fairy tale!  You will never find anything like that.”

“How do you know?” Jaime challenged him.  “You’ve never seen one before!”

Josh smiled.  “Have you?”

Jaime hesitated, and then sighed.  “No.”

Jill gave Jaime a nudge.  “Come on, then!  Let’s find the golden leaf!”

With that, the girls began looking for the golden leaf.  They started looking together, but Jill started to search a little farther up.  Eventually, she was a good distance away from Jaime.

Jill began to enter the woods, looking at every leaf in sight.  She then approached a very tall tree.  It was also very old, with gnarled branches and gnarled roots.  At the base of it, Jill thought she saw something shine.  Maybe it was just her imagination.

After digging up some leaves at the base of the tree, she saw the flash again.  At that time, she knew that she saw it.  As she kept lifting leaves, the flash got brighter and brighter.  Where could this flash be coming from?  The curiosity was getting the best of Jill, and she began to lift up a few more leaves….

Finally, Jill lifted up the last leaf.  And there on the ground sat a golden leaf, with a bright golden light emanating from it.  This was the leaf that her friend was talking about.  The one that only dropped every 100 years.  She then turned around, and began to head back to tell Jaime.  Instead, she couldn’t resist.  She turned around, ran up to the golden leaf and clutched it in her hand.

At the very moment she did this, she began to flash a golden glow.  The golden leaf did not break when she held it in her hand.  Jill’s hair extended and became a golden color.  Her dress changed into bright colors, reflecting the colors of autumn.  Jill felt a strange power flowing through her.  A strong wind began to blow around her, with the leaves circling Jill.  Along with that, she heard a voice.  It was a girl’s voice, and it sounded like a whisper.

Jill was frightened as she heard the voice.  Who are you?  she asked it, whispering.

You will know soon enough, the voice told her.

Jill nodded.  Her dress and hair were back to normal.  The golden leaf was still resting in her right hand.  Noticing this, Jill concealed the leaf and tucked it inside the top of her dress.

She then exited the forest and noticed Jaime in the distance.  When she saw her friend, her attitude began to change.

Jaime noticed Jill in the distance and called for her.  “Jill!” she shouted.  “Did you find the golden leaf?”

Jill lied.  “No,” she told her.  “I couldn’t find anything back there….”

Jaime sighed.  “Okay Jill.  I gotta go.  My mom is calling me.  I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Jill nodded and said bye to her friend.  While she heard herself say it, the way she said it felt different to her.  Knowing about the golden leaf, she didn’t want her friend to find out for some reason.  Whatever the case, the golden leaf was hers now.  A faint flash emanated from Jill’s dress as she entered the house….

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©2012  K. L. Walker