Eddy spun around, his sneakers kicking up autumn leaves. Anna was crouched behind a mossy rock, her eyes wide with excitement. “I found it,” she whispered. “The Wishing Tree!”
Eddy’s heart pounded. The tree was real? He’d heard the stories—how deep in Whispering Hollow, an ancient oak granted wishes… but only if you told it your deepest secret.
“Come on!” Anna grabbed his hand, pulling him toward a towering tree with silver leaves that shimmered like stars. Its trunk was carved with tiny symbols—names, dates, and whispers from kids who had come before.
Just then, Lily X and Bell burst through the bushes, giggling. “We followed you!” Bell said.
“Youhave to be quiet,” Anna scolded. “The tree only listens if you’re brave enough to speak the truth.”
Eddy swallowed. He had a secret—one he’d never told anyone. He’d accidentally broken his dad’s favorite mug and hidden the pieces under his bed. But if he confessed, maybe the tree would grant his wish: a new bike so he could ride to school with his friends.
One by one, the children stepped forward.
Lily N whispered her fear of the dark. Emma admitted she’d been pretending to like broccoli just to make her mom happy. Hyuga, cheeks red, confessed he still slept with a stuffed fox named Pye.
Then it was Eddy’s turn. He took a deep breath and touched the bark. “I broke Dad’s mug,” he murmured. “I was too scared to tell him.”
The leaves rustled, though there was no wind. A single silver acorn dropped into Eddy’s palm.
The next morning, Eddy’s dad hugged him tight. “I already knew about the mug,” he said with a wink. “But I’m proud of you for telling me.” And waiting outside? A shiny new bike.
The friends raced to the tree that afternoon, laughing. But the hollow was silent. The Wishing Tree was gone—moved on to help someone else, they guessed.
Still, Eddy knew the real magic wasn’t in the wishes. It was in the secrets they’d set free.
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