Glimmer Puff and the Forest of Forgotten Treasures
by

Thomas

A story about Cleaning
for your 5th Grader.

Glimmer Puff, a joyful ghost who sparkled like a star on the water, floated through the mystical woodland early in the morning. She watched drops of dew glimmer on the leaves, and her heart fluttered with excitement about what new adventures the woods might hold.

One day, Glimmer Puff spotted piles of acorns and shiny rocks blocking the animal paths. Several creatures, small and large, struggled to walk without tripping over the clutter. She tilted her head, wondering how this mess had suddenly appeared throughout the forest.

Curious, Glimmer Puff approached a raccoon who was balancing a pile of glittering stones. “Where did all these treasures come from?” she asked softly. The raccoon shrugged, nearly dropping a stone. “We gather them for fun,” it said, “but we don’t know what to do with them after.”

Glimmer Puff drifted onward, noticing even more tangled heaps of branches, shells, and acorns. The normally peaceful pathways felt crowded. As she hovered by an old oak tree, she heard a squirrel say, “I can’t even find my favorite branch to sit on anymore!”

That moment sparked an idea. She sighed and said, “We have to clean this up! Working together will make this easier.” The animals around her nodded, relieved that someone was stepping forward. “But how do we begin?” asked the squirrel. Glimmer Puff took a deep breath, her form shimmering with determination.

Early the next day, Glimmer Puff gathered her new friends beneath a moonlit clearing, because the forest sparkled brightest at dawn and dusk. “If we each pick up a little bit every day,” she explained, “the mess won’t get out of control.” The animals seemed excited, but they also looked worried.

“What if I think the acorns belong in one pile, but the raccoon says they go somewhere else?” whispered a small rabbit. Glimmer Puff offered a warm smile. “We’ll figure out a sorting system together,” she said. Yet, as the animals began gathering the treasures, confusion bubbled up.

Some creatures wanted to mix the shiny stones with shells, while others insisted they should remain separate. Voices grew louder. “They’re practically the same shape!” one animal argued. Another disagreed, stamping the ground. Glimmer Puff felt a swirl of concern in her chest. “Let’s stay calm and listen to one another,” she told them.