Vast

• Mark Stott, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2020

I woke up to a sea of blue, looking for my parents. They were nowhere to be found. All I remember was a cruise boat and a thunderous storm. I looked into the crystal clear ocean around me. Colourful fish were swimming around gracefully between harmless coral. The scorching, hot sun had made me as dry as bones. I splashed water on my face, feeling refreshed.
Suddenly, I saw a grey shark-like fin. I started to panic, my breathing got rapid, desperate to get off the life raft I was on. Then, a dolphin sprang up and pointed to an island. I reached for the oars next to me and rowed my way slowly to the island.
When I reached the island, my face was dry yet again so I splashed water on my face and then got off the boat. The sand on the island was burning my feet, so I ran as fast as I could to the nearest shady thing I could find. As I ran, I found a palm tree so big that it could probably fit ten people under it.
I sat down under the tree for a rest, thinking about my parents and where they would be now.
I looked up and found coconuts and bananas on top of me. I tried to climb the palm tree but I wasn’t successful. I looked around for a few rocks and threw them one by one at the top of the palm tree. Slowly, coconuts and bananas came dropping down like rain.
When there was enough for me to eat, I dug into it like a pig.
I had managed to eat enough to satisfy my empty stomach. I was curious to explore the island.
As I walked, I heard a river nearby leading to a long waterfall. I stepped onto some rocks nearby and crossed the river unharmed. As I was walking, I found a crumbled old paper pinned to a dead tree. I ripped it off and looked at it closely. It was a treasure map. I followed the lines closely and stopped at a magnificent frozen waterfall.
I didn’t understand. Why would someone make a treasure map if it leads to a frozen waterfall? I looked around, looking for a switch or something. Then, I saw a rock next to the frozen waterfall. I walked to it and pushed it in, like ringing a door bell. The waterfall began to flow and I ran into it. I saw in front of me a chest! Hoping there would be riches, valuables and a mobile phone, I opened the chest.
Staring at me was all you needed to survive in the wilderness, including blankets, a year’s supply of food and drinks and matches.
Survival was my priority and I could live in harmony with the animals. They made me feel like I belonged with them. I continued the search for my parents, hoping they too would discover this island.