Outstanding Stories » The Greatest Treasure

“The Greatest Treasure” is one of the outstanding stories (junior) of the second biannual International Short Story Contest 2018 written by Aaron Staryszak, Monticello Middle School, Minnesota, USA.

The Greatest Treasure

Albert wasn’t a good boy. In fact, some people said he was the most obnoxious little brat there had ever been. He was rude, spoiled, mean, dishonest, unfair, and just horrid. Well, at least that’s what the children thought. The adults, on the other hand, saw him completely differently. They saw a tall, strong, 7-year-old boy, who has brown hair, brown eyes, and lots of freckles. They thought he was an amazing student: he had good grades, he was always kind to others (at least when the teachers looking), and always told “the truth”.

It was a Monday morning right before school when Albert’s brother Nathan yelled down the hall, “Albert hurry up we got to get to the bus!”

“Okay I’m coming, I’m coming,” Albert replied. When he got on the bus he sat by his friend George. They talked about how terrible the teachers were, and how annoying the students were, and said insulting things about pretty much everyone. Finally, they were at school and it was a normal day. The teachers were yelling, and the children were crying because of Albert.

After school, he did his homework and played with George. The next day was his birthday and on that day, he was especially horrid. He didn’t just tease, he fought and he couldn’t be wrong, he had to be right. When he got his presents, it wasn’t enough.

“MORE! MORE! MORE!!!” he yelled and then his parents had had enough.

The next morning was quite queer. He couldn’t see anyone, he couldn’t hear anyone. There was no one anywhere. Anyway today was Wednesday and the bus would arrive soon, so he started getting ready. When the bus came, there was purple fog behind it and the bus was blue, but he got in anyway. The ride was long and because of the fog, he couldn’t see anything. Then he fell asleep.

When he awoke, he was on a large ship. “Squawk! He’s awake, He’s awake!” someone squawked.

“Okay, Duck! I’m coming,” someone else yelled. Then a pirate walked into the room and a parrot, whose name was Duck, flew onto his shoulder.

“Where am I?” Albert murmured.

Then the pirate yelled, “Why, you’re on my ship! And I’m the captain. Captain Kindness is my name! What’s ye’ name?”

“None of your business,” Albert replied. “Now take me back to California!” he yelled.

“By me red beard!” the captain stated, “That’s no way to ask! Ask kindly and say please.”

“Ugh, fine. Please take me back to California,” Albert said very grouchily.

“Now that’s better,” the captain stated. “I’ll ask my crew. Hey! Do any of ye know how to get to this Californyornia?” Everyone shook their head except for speechless Joe who showed them a map with some islands and some pictures on it. “Aarggh! That’s great. I know where they are and the treasures we need. We need the Pearl of Patience, the Jewel of Jubilee, the Doubloon of Respect, the Token of Truth, and the Treasure Chest of Friendship which ye’ need the Key of Kindness to open. And fortunately for ye, I just happen to have the key.”

“Squawk! That’s right! That’s right!” said Duck.

They started on their adventure and headed to the Isle of Time to get the pearl. At the Isle of Time, time goes very slowly and it takes forever to do anything. When they got there, the journey looked easy. The pearl was within walking distance. This should take about five minutes, Albert thought. But oh, was he ever so wrong. He got off the ship and started to walk. And he did. He walked, but very, very, very, slowly. After about 10 min. he was fed up because he had only gone about ten feet. “ U-u-u-u-u-g-g-g-h-h-h I-i-i-i-i’-v-v-v-v-e-e-e-e h-h-h-h-a-a-a-a-d-d-d-d e-e-e-e-n-n-n-n-o-o-o-o-u-u-u-u-g-g-g-g-h-h-h-h,” he said very slowly and then he quit and went back to the ship.

“Well,” the captain lectured. “Why’d ye give up? Ye only tried about ten minutes. Don’t ye have any patience?”

“That was only ten minutes?!” Albert replied. “That felt like hours! We’ll never get it.” “Sure ye will, all ye need is a little patience.”

“Patience? What’s that? Well anyway, it sounds stupid.”

“Patience, my dear boy, is to wait and tolerate something for a long time without giving up.”

“Oh, I guess that vill-- I mean will help.” So Albert set out once again to get the Pearl of Patience.

“Squawk! You can do it! You can do it!” Duck said encouragingly. Finally, after about two hours, Albert came back with the Pearl of Patience. He really wanted to quit at times, but he didn’t because he had to be patient.

“Hurray! Now let’s get the Jewel of Jubilee and the Doubloon of Respect which are located on the top of Positive Peak and the Marsh of Manners on the Island of Monsters,” hollered the captain.

They headed to Positive Peak to get the jewel first. “Aarghh! We’re here, Mateys. The Island of Monsters!” hollered the captain. “Ye see that mountain over there? That’s Positive Peak.” So they headed towards it with fear because of the monsters.

There were squeals, bangs, grrs and other horrible sounds. Then a big blue and black monster with horns jumped out of the brush screaming.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY YOU OVERSIZED POTATO!” Albert yelled, but this made the monster even madder.

“Be nice, my boy!” the captain told him, “That might make him happier.”

“Okay, whatever.” So Albert asked very kindly. “Hi, can you please move?” The monster was very happy and helped them. They headed towards Positive Peak and the monster kept the other monsters away. Finally they reached Positive Peak after a long and horrible walk. Then the monster went back to the jungle because he didn’t want to go up the mountain. The mountain was very cold and there were more monsters. The pirates tried to fend them off, but it was too much. Finally Albert yelled, “This is stupid we’ll never make it. As a matter of fact, I think the mountain is getting taller! This is just stupid!”

It was hard to hear him with all the wind on the snowy mountain, but Captain Kindness did and replied very loudly, “You shouldn’t say that or it might just happen!” And it did. The mountain got taller and they got stuck.

Albert thought up an idea later. If this happened because of what I said, maybe if I say that we will make it we’ll get closer. So he said, “Don’t give up we can do it!” and they were all unstuck. Then he said, “Come on a little bit farther. We’re almost there!” and they were boosted up the mountain. But the monsters were still there, and so was the wind. Finally he said, “You’re doing great crew! I know you can do it!” Then they got to the jewel.

“Great job, Matey! Good thinking. We got the jewel. One step closer to getting ye home.” Captain replied, “Now let’s get the Doubloon of Respect.”

They started on their journey to the Marsh of Manners. They made it down the mountain, and Albert wasn’t as horrid as when he started. He was actually a little pleasant.

When they got to the marsh it wasn’t very nice: it smelled, filthy, muddy, and there were bugs, monsters, and it was just awful. Then they saw a house and went to check if the doubloon was there. And it was. It sat on a red velvet cushion on a large wooden table. When they tried to get it, some monsters came and made them sit in some chairs.

“Hey!” Albert yelled. “What are you doing?!” The monsters didn’t reply. Instead, they gave them menus. Albert looked at his.

• Monster Mashed Potatoes
• Ghoul Gruel
• Phantom French Fries
• Frightful Fish and Chips

“Squawk! Fish and chips! Fish and chips! Fish and chips please!” Duck squawked.

“Aaargh! I’ll have the Ghoul Gruel. Thank you!” replied the captain.

“How are you getting food when we still need the doubloon you cuckoo?” yelled Albert.

“It would be rude to turn them down! They just want to be kind, and also I’m starving.”

“Well, I’m not. I just want to be home.”

“Okay, then tell them that.”

“I’M NOT HUNGRY, YOU BOZOS!!!”

The monsters got angry and turned red. They attacked Albert. Then the captain said, “Use yer manners and that might help!”

“‘Kay! I’m full, so no thank you. But can I have some water?” Albert asked.

“Please,” said the captain.

“May I have some water please?” he said.

Then after about 10 minutes, they got their food and the monsters gave them the doubloon.

“Now let’s get the Token of Truth in the Reflection Sea.”

So they went to the Reflection Sea, and once they got there it was amazing. The water was a beautiful blue mirror (literally!) and there wasn’t a single wave. At the bottom, they saw the token and went to get it but it didn’t go well because it was too deep and they didn’t have any diving gear.

Later Albert got close to the token because he had a magic fishbowl on his head (long story), but a merman (male mermaid) was guarding it.

“Why do you need the token of truth?” his voice boomed.

“None of your beeswax mister!” Albert yelled. That was a bad choice because then the water got dark and a whirlpool appeared and Albert didn’t know at all what to do. Then he thought (this took a long time), but with the captain’s help they figured out the sea was reflecting Albert’s actions and personality. So as a conclusion, if Albert was nice the sea would clear up and he could get the token.

Albert went back down, but this time was kind. Albert told the truth and said, “I need the token to get home. Also, I’m sorry for what I said.” He got the token and went to get the treasure.

There were two treasures: one was beautiful and the other was old and rusty. One would take him home the other would lead to doom. Albert headed toward the shiny one. Then he realized, just because it’s pretty doesn’t mean that it’s right. It must be a trick he thought. So, instead, he went to the old rusty one, and then with all the items, he went home.

He said thanks to his new friends and left. When Albert got back, he felt different, a good different, and from that day forward he was patient, kind, happy, respectful, truthful, and trustworthy. He was a good boy, and some people say he’s the most kind-hearted, generous, respectful little boy there’s ever been.