All the Gold

 by Levi Christian

Eight-year-old Jerimiah put his summer clothes on. He was ready to go to the pond.

"Mama!" Jem called. "May I go to the pond, please."

"What are you going to do there?" his Mama asked.

Jem shrugged. "I don't know. Pan for gold, maybe?

"Fine," Mama agreed. "But be back by lunch."

"I will!" Jem called back.

"Mama?" Jem's little sister asked. "May I go too? I'd like to catch Bullfrogs!"

"No." her Mama quickly replied.

"Why not." Ellie wailed.

"You're too young."

"Okay." Ellie sighed.

     ⭐

"Hey, Jem" William said in a pesky voice. "I can stay underwater longer than anybody."

"I Certainly doubt it." Jem yelled. "Why won't you stop pestering me?"

"It's fun to pester people." William replied.

"You get me so annoyed! I could stay under longer."

"Prove it," William demanded.

"Nope. I'm panning for gold."

"C'mon, Jerimiah."

When Jem heard his full first name, he shouted at Will. "That does it! I'll prove I can stay underwater longer than you."

Jem dived into the water with Will following behind him. Will took the lead and Jem followed him until they got to something. Will pointed at a chest. They both smiled in excitement.

Maybe it's filled with gold, Jem thought. He yanked it open and his eyes widened. In the chest he saw a pile of gold nuggets. He would finally be rich. Will handed Jem a nugget. Jem was confused. Will has never been this nice, he thought to himself as he took the nugget. He wanted to say thanks. Jem swam to the top of the water and ran to his tent.

"Pa! Mama!" Jem called, full of happiness. "William showed me a chest full of gold underwater. Then he gave me a giant gold nugget as big as a full-grown parrot. We're rich! Look at this gold nugget! It's huge! Will has never been so nice."