The Stream of Gold

 by Ruth Gilson (ages 6-9)

Chapter 1 

Clink, clink went Andrea's spoon against her tin plate. Andrea had just finished the rest of her cherry pie and had gotten bored of waiting for everyone to finish eating and was clinking her spoon against her plate.

Mother looked up. “Andrea, stop.”

Andrea stopped what she was doing. She knew it was wrong. As soon as mother and uncle Chad had finished she jumped up from her seat and set her plate on the counter and dashed upstairs before mother could say anything.

As soon as Andrea got to her room, she plopped on her bed and lay down, looking up at the ceiling. She did not like it when she had to sit at the table and wait for everyone to be finished. Two years ago her father had passed away and uncle Chad had come to live with them on their small ranch that had been passed down.

People called her “Andrea” because her mother's name was “Andi.” Which was short for “Andrea” and unlike her mother, she did not have a horse of her own. Even though she knew how to ride. Taffy was old now, but still alive and slept in the barn.

Suddenly, there was knock at the door.

“Andrea,” her mother said as she peeked her head in. Andrea jumped and then got up to face her mother.

“Yes, yes I will get ready for bed,” said Andrea skipping over to her nightgown on a chair.

Mother shook her head slowly and then said, “Good night” and left the room.

Andrea put on her nightgown and she climbed out the window and onto the roof. Shivering, Andrea grabbed on to the chimney and sat down looking at the stars.

Suddenly, she heard voices and jumped! Those voices were men! Then they were gone. She was happy they were but Andrea was so scared that she jumped down onto her window ledge and climbed inside and finally went to sleep.

 

Chapter 2 

“Good morning, Taffy!” shouted Andrea as she jumped over a water bucket and into Taffy's stall to feed her. “Mother said I might get a horse soon. Are you excited?” Taffy whinnied. Andrea smiled. “Thank you, Taffy,” said Andrea skipping out of the barn and out on the path that led to the special spot that use to be mother's when she was young. She waded into the cold water and splashed about.

“Hi,” a voice said. Andrea jumped and turned around to see a girl about her age step out of the water. “I'm Maria,” the girl said.

“I'm Andrea,” Andrea said. Suddenly, there was a loud neigh. Andrea jumped.

“It's just my horse,” Maria said pointing to Jep.

“That was my mother's friend's horse,” Andrea said.

“It was!” said Maria, “Well I'm her daughter.”

“Let's be friends,” Andrea said.

“Come on, let's go,” said Maria dashing into the water.

Andrea splashed in with her. “This is fun,” Andrea said.

“OW!” Andrea tripped on a rock and fell forward into the grass.

“Are you OK?” asked Maria.

“I'm fine! I tripped on a rock.”

“That's OK, we'll race tomorrow!” said Maria.

“This time on horseback. If my mother lets me,” Andrea said.

“Tell her your horse is not too old. My horse isn't.”

“OK. I'd better get back.”

“Fine, see you tomorrow!”

“You too,” Andrea said running in the other direction.

 ***

That night at the supper table, Andrea told about her day. “It looks like you have a busy day planned,” Uncle Chad said.

“On Taffy?” Andrea asked.

Andrea's mother cried, “She’s too old!”

“Maria's horse is older!” Andrea said.

“I don't see why not,” Uncle Chad said.

“Yippie! Yay!” shouted Andrea dashing up the stairs.

 

Chapter 3 

The next morning when Andrea woke up, Uncle Chad wasn't there.

“Don't worry,” was all mother said.

When Andrea went to the barn to do her chores, she saw another horse in the barn! Uncle Chad was feeding it.

“I'll call it Star!” Uncle Chad smiled and plopped a saddle on Star, tightened the cinch, and put on the bridle.

“Ready to ride?” he asked.

“Sure,” said Andrea riding Star out of the barn.

 ***

After the race, Andrea rode home. After dinner, Andrea went to go clean her room thinking about her day. She sorted things into piles and then picked them up. After Andrea's room was clean, she swept the floor and went to read a book.

At supper, Andrea told mother that Maria had won the race. “Maybe you'll win next time,” she said, but she was wrong.

 Chapter 4 

Clippity-clop clippity-clop, went the horses hooves against the path.

“I hear something,” Maria said.

“It's a stream,” Andrea cried. “Oh look! There's a fork in the stream.”

Maria rode up beside her. “How beautiful!” said Maria. “Oh, which way do we go?”

“In, of course!” Andrea cried. Splash! In they went.

 ***

“I'm soaked!” Andrea complained as she ran into the house.

“Andrea! Do not get my floor all wet!” mother cried.

“Oh! We went to the fork stream and we had lots of fun! And oh I'm so wet! Oops, I got the floor wet.”

Mother sighed, “This is going to be a long day.”

“Why?” asked Andrea.

“First I had to do your chores, wash the clothes, sweep the floor, and now I have to clean you up.” 

Chapter 5 

Clank! Clank! “I hit something!” Maria shouted. “Oh, it's just a rock.”

“Maybe your idea wasn't good. All we've found is rocks,” Andrea said.

“You're right. Maybe we should look for treasures another day,” Maria said.

“But maybe we should dig a little longer.”

“Sure...CLANK!”

“Wow! It's GOLD!” Andrea shouted. “Come on let's pull it out!” Andrea cried. 

 ***

“Uncle Chad! Uncle Chad! It's Gold! It's Gold!” Andrea yelled when she got home. Jumping up and down she yelled and yelled for him.

“OK! OK! I see!” Uncle Chad sat down at the table and looked at it. “It's not all gold,” he said.

“What!” Andrea shouted.

 Chapter 6 

Clink....splat...Plop!

“Need help cleaning the fool's gold?” Uncle Chad laughed.

“Even though it isn't real, I wanted to pretend. I still had a fun time with Maria looking for treasure. I'm glad I have a new friend and Star too,” said Andrea.