Outstanding Stories » It’s Sunny Again For Sunnyside Lake

“It’s Sunny Again For Sunnyside Lake” is one of the outstanding stories (sub-junior) of the second biannual International Short Story Contest 2018 written by Sharbani Udia, Pathways School Gurgaon, India.

It’s Sunny Again For Sunnyside Lake

Sunnyside Lake was the most beautiful lake in Calton district. It was popular with tourists. Many families lived around Sunnyside Lake. The Halt and the Walker Family have lived next to the lake for generations. The Walker’s had two girls, Emily who was 12 years old and Lara who was 10 years old. The Halt’s had two boys, James who was 14 years old and Henry who was 13 years old. The four friends always hung out together beside the lake. Going to the lake was a pastime for them. Emily and Lara’s dog Quincy, who was a black poodle, would always tug at their pants. Quincy was smart and everyone’s favourite.

Of late, Quincy would hear noises coming from the lake, late at night, when everyone was asleep. ‘Emily! Emily! Wake up’, cried Lara. ‘Let’s go play with James and Henry in the lake’. Emily woke up and they went running to the lake. When they were about to play, James shouted out ‘STOP! Oh my goodness! Look at those fish’, he pointed, ‘they have all turned green!’ ‘We should inform our dads’, said Emily. Emily and Lara went to inform their dad. ‘Oh honeys, I read in the newspaper that Sunnyside Lake has been facing some problems lately’, said Mr. Walker curiously. ‘That’s what we are here to tell you dad’, said Lara. They told their dad what had happened when they went to the lake.

Then one morning, the four friends decided to go swimming in the lake. They found some strange mud at the bottom of the lake. Henry and Lara collected the mud and water in a jar. They took the jar to Mr. Halt. Mr. Halt said to the children, ‘Let me test it in my lab. You should be proud of yourselves for getting this in early’. Mr. Halt was very worried about what was happening at Sunnyside Lake. Everybody was! As they went back to the lake, they saw Quincy holding something in his mouth. It was a card and on it was written ‘Sunnyside Soap factory’, Calton district. The card made them curious. The four friends decided to investigate what was going on at Sunnyside Lake. They went swimming again to look for clues. As they came out, they heard Quincy squeal ‘Woof! Woof! Woof!’ ‘Quincy is giving us a sign, guys! Let’s follow him’. ‘Yes let’s do that’ said Emily and James. Quincy sniffed and kept following a track. The four friends followed him as he sniffed his way. Then Quincy stopped sniffing because they had reached the place. It was Sunnyside Soap factory.

‘Let’s be very careful’ said James as they entered the factory. As they walked inside, they came across a plan which looked like a timetable for dropping chemicals in Sunnyside Lake. The four friends were very worried. They slowly went forward and Henry by mistake touched a painting on the wall. Suddenly, the ground started sinking. ‘Hey why is the ground sinking’ cried Lara. ‘We are going down in a lift’ screamed James. When they landed, they all went forward. Outside, Emily spotted packets of chemicals leading to a golden door. Emily was ahead. James, Lara and Henry followed her. When they got to the golden door, Lara was about to open the door when suddenly James screamed out loud ’Watch out Lara! Let me open the door’. ‘I wonder what could be inside that room’ said Henry. ‘Obviously, the boss, why would there be such a royal door, Duh!’ said James rolling his eyes. The four friends were very scared. Then, James decided to open the door. When they entered, they saw a man sitting on the chair. His face was long, thin and mean. He was tall and had cruel eyes. ‘What are you doing here?!’ Who are you? How did you get in? Leave immediately!’ Lara shouted courageously ‘Now we know what you are up to. We are not leaving here until you stop your dirty business!’ ‘And how exactly will you do that?’ asked the man grinning cruelly. James came forward and said, ‘I’ve already texted our parents, see this’ he pointed at his phone. ‘You little rats!’ he screamed trying to catch them. The four friends ducked. Suddenly, Ouincy jumped and caught the man’s leg. ‘Getttimoooff! Gettimmooff!’ screamed the angry man. The security heard the noise and came running. ‘GETTIMMOOOOOOF! GETTIMMOOOOOF! Don’t just stand there. GETIMMOOOOFF!’ screamed the man ferociously. When the man got up, he heard a very familiar sound’ Nee Nou Nee Nou’. The man was very shocked.’ It’s the police!’ cried the man. Everyone heard footsteps near the stairs. All of a sudden the door smashed open. The lakeside residents had just barged in with the police officers.

‘So you are the one who is ruining our lake eh’ asked the police officer. ‘Arrest him! He has been dumping chemicals in our precious lake, he’s the one’ screamed the children. ‘What’s your name?’ the police officer asked him. ‘I am Joe Darden, I run this factory’. ‘Why were you doing this? ‘ Mr. Holt asked him. ‘We don’t have a big place yet to throw our trash’. ‘You are under arrest’, said the police officer. The man walked away sadly.

Everybody went home. Sunnyside Lake was cleaned up and became everyone’s favourite again. Calton District was talking about the bravery of the children. Quincy was declared the local hero.’

Sunnyside Lake won’t be disturbed again.