One day Maya and her three friends, all around eight years of age, had ventured into deep jungle in the late evening hours to witness the glimpse of shooting stars.

The previous day, Maya’s father had briefly told Maya about the shooting stars and the stories behind the shooting stars of the lucky ones who could could get their wishes come true if asked at the time when the shooting stars fall on Mother Earth.

After a few minutes of their walk and on reaching the deep jungle as luck would have it, Maya and her friends were shocked and puzzled to see something shining very bright on the jungle area. At first they all thought it to be a shining star and made all possible wishes which they felt will come true sooner or later as was told to Maya by her father.

Wasting no more time, the trio ran near the shining stone and on a closer look found it not to be a shooting star but a shiny pure crystal like substance. They all touched it at one go and soon all of them felt very differently and found themselves to be covered with special clothes as those which are normally worn by super heroes in comic books and fiction movies. Taking all precautions and totally amazed, they all ran back home and before anyone could notice them, they all hid the super clothes from their parents and planned to explore more the next day.

The very next day, fully attired with the new costumes, they all ran to the same place to find the shining crystal but on reaching the spot, they noticed the shining crystal like stone missing but instead in its place found a huge castle shining very brightly and doors wide open for them to enter. In a jiffy, the trio ran inside the huge castle and found the it to be fully stocked with gold, diamonds, silver and other precious items. Every corner was shining with glittery items all around but there was no one to guard the place.

They decided to explore the inside of the castle and suddenly saw a giant villain standing right in front of them threatening to take each one of them to a land of no man. Maya and her team got very afraid after seeing the giant creature and pleaded for mercy to leave them alone to return back home safely.

The giant was in no mood to listen and threatened the trio all the more. Left all alone to defend themselves from the mighty villian, the trio suddenly remembered the super costumes they were wearing and decided to take on the villian all by themselves. They found out they had super powers and could easily take on the giant. Very soon it was going to be the end of the villian when he pleaded for mercy. Maya and her friends let him go but with a warning not to return to the castle at any time in the future.

After seeing him leave, Maya and her friends collected all the gold, silver, diamonds, and other precious items from the castle and distributed among the poor villagers to help them live happily. They also used part of the precious items to fund new school buildings, libraries, and the like. In return, the people from the village were all proud of Maya and her friends and bestowed many accolades and congratulations upon the team. They soon became known as the new heroes in the village.

While the celebrations were still going on, Maya and her friends suddenly opened their eyes only to find themselves on the bed dreaming about the shooting stars and the good luck it brings to the person who witnesses its fall. Is the story about shooting stars really true? Only time will tell but till then it will only remain to be a story to be passed on from one generation to another. 

By: Muriel Shanessa Fernandes
Class III
Child Care School,
Pajifond Margao Goa