In a small village where birds greeted each morning with their songs and flowers danced with the wind, there lived a seven-year-old boy named Ciro who loved spending hours by the river. He would sit on the shore, take off his sandals, and let the cool water caress his feet. Sometimes, while playing, he heard something strange: the river seemed to hum soft songs, like glu-glu or bubbles, but with a rhythm only he understood.
One day, while following the sound of the water, Ciro noticed something shiny among the stones. It was a small chest, covered in moss and locked with a snail-shaped clasp. When he touched it, the river whispered:
“Open it, Ciro! It’s me, the river, and I want to show you secrets.”
With trembling hands, Ciro opened the chest. Inside were ancient maps, but they weren’t like others: they were made of dry leaves and had drawings of animals, mountains, and glowing paths under the sun. The river explained:
“Each map will lead you to a treasure, but don’t seek gold. Look for what nature wants to teach you.”
Ciro followed the first map, which guided him through trails of blue flowers. At the end of the path, he found a tree with golden fruits. But when he tried to pick one, the tree said:
“Wait! My fruit isn’t for eating. Listen to it.”
Ciro held the fruit to his ear and heard the sound of a distant storm.
“This fruit warns you when rain comes,” the river explained. “Now you can tell the farmers to gather their crops.”
The second map led him to a hidden cave. Inside, there was a stone that glowed like the moon. When he touched it, he felt the heartbeat of the earth.
“This stone feels tremors,” said the river. “Listen to it, and you’ll know when the mountain needs calm.”
The last map pointed to a lake in the forest. There, Ciro found a seashell that held the echo of waves.
“This shell remembers ancient stories,” the river whispered. “Share them with others so they never forget who they are.”
Ciro understood that the true treasure wasn’t shiny objects but learning to listen. Now, whenever someone in the village needs help, Ciro runs to the river. If a farmer seeks water for their plants, the river sings where to dig. If a child loses a toy, the river murmurs the path to find it.
The adults in the village, who once only heard flowing water, now gather to listen to the river’s songs alongside Ciro. Even the forest animals come near: birds follow the river’s rhythm to know when to migrate, and fish use its melodies to find the sea.
Ciro remains the same curious boy, but now he knows that nature speaks in whispers, laughter, and songs. And each night, before sleeping, he presses his ear to the window to hear the river sing: glu-glu, bubbles, glu-glu.
End. 💦
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