In a small village surrounded by mountains and green fields, there was a wide, shiny river that ran through the valley. Every day, the children of the village played near the river, but they never crossed it because there were no bridges or boats to help them get to the other side. They would just stare at the opposite bank, imagining what might be on the other side.
Joel was one of those children. He was curious and always had new ideas. One day, as he gazed at the river, he thought:
—What if I build a boat to cross it?
All his friends laughed when they heard his idea.
—”It’s impossible!” one of them said.
—”You don’t even know how to build a boat!” another teased.
But Joel wasn’t discouraged. He decided to give it a try. He went to ask for help from his grandfather, who was a carpenter and knew a lot about wood.
—”Grandpa, I want to build a boat to cross the river. Will you help me?” Joel asked with shining eyes.
The grandfather smiled and replied:
—”Of course, but it will be hard work. You’ll have to put in a lot of effort.”
Together, they got to work. The grandfather taught Joel how to cut wooden planks, nail them carefully, and make sure the boat was strong enough not to sink in the water. Joel learned quickly and worked tirelessly, even though his hands developed small blisters from holding the hammer.
After several days, the boat was ready. It was small but sturdy, with a light brown color and thin oars. Joel proudly carried it to the riverbank. His friends followed, excited to see if it would actually work.
—”Are you sure it will float?” one of them asked doubtfully.
Joel nodded and gently pushed the boat into the water. To everyone’s surprise, it floated perfectly. Joel climbed aboard, grabbed the oars, and began rowing slowly. At first, he felt a bit scared because the currents were stronger than he had expected, but soon he realized he could handle them if he stayed calm and rowed steadily.
When he reached the other side, his friends cheered with joy from the distance. Joel stepped off the boat and explored a little. He found giant flowers, wild fruits, and an old hollow tree where singing birds lived. It was a magical place that no one had ever seen before.
When he returned, all the kids wanted to get on the boat to cross too. Joel agreed but asked them to be patient and take turns, allowing only two people at a time so the boat wouldn’t be overloaded. One by one, all the children managed to cross the river, and each time they discovered something new on the other side.
Thanks to the boat, the river was no longer a barrier but a bridge to adventures. The children spent hours exploring and playing on the other side, always remembering that it was all thanks to Joel and his hard work.
One day, the mayor of the village visited the river and saw the boat. He was so impressed that he decided to help build a bridge so everyone could cross easily. But no one forgot that it was Joel who made it possible to discover that special place.
From then on, Joel became known as “the boy with the boat.” Even though there was now a bridge, he still used his boat to explore the river and tell stories to his friends about how a small dream and a lot of effort can take us far.
End. 🚤
This work is licensed under
