All freshmen at Hilltop college were glad when the principal announced that they will all be visiting the beach to celebrate the year children's day. They were only to pay a token of five dollars. Lily, a girl who got sponsored to the college by an agency on account of her brilliance could not get the funds to pay for the trip to the beach. It would be her first time to visit the beach. Her hometown was in the hinterland, far away from the waterfront. She had only read of the beach in books or seen it on television.
Lily was not happy because she won't be able to experience what it means to be at the beach. Her only friend, Martha knew that Lily may not be joining the other students because she may not be able to afford the fees.
Hey, Lily! Have you been able to pay for the trip?
Martha asked. She knew already that Lily may not be able to get the funds. Lily's father is a consistent farmer. He was honest but poor. Though Lily doesn't want to miss the trip to the beach, she was ready not to do anything unlawful just to be at the beach.
No, dear friend. Maybe I would just have to wait till another time to visit the beach.
She sounded so emotional.
Never mind, I will see what I can do. The beach will be boring without you.
Martha replied to Lily. She loved to be in Lily's company.
When Martha got home, she broke her piggy bank and gathered the fare and paid for Lily. They were both happy.
On the day they embarked on the trip, there were about a hundred students. The excited chatter of the children filled the bus as they approached the sea coast. They could hear the loud sound of seagulls. When they finally arrived, the vastness of the ocean stretched out before them, capturing Lily's heart with its beauty.
As the learners stepped on the white warm sand, they laughed in excitement and joy. Among all the learners, Lily counted herself highly favoured to have graced the trip. She never had thought that she would make it there, all thanks to her friend, Martha. The white same sparkled under her foot like she was marching tiny diamonds.
The blue waves of the beach slapped against the shore, roaring like a tempestuous storm. All the learners felt the cold breeze against their body and the taste of salt that travels with the wind.
Everyone quickly scampered towards the beach, scattering their shoes here and they. Lily felt a mixture of nervousness and exhilaration, her heartbeat rushed and hit against her chest. It was an overwhelming feeling. She didn't run faster like the other students. Lily was skeptical of going near the body of the water. She remembered the folklore that her parents told her about mermaids.
In her troubled state, her eyes captured a group of young people playing beach volleyball. She stopped to watch from a distance while her classmates rushed into the beach. In no time, they all got wet and were enjoying the rave of the moment.
The cheers coming from the beach volleyball players attract her the most. As she walked towards them, her sandy feet left a trail behind. As she approached the team, the player from the opposite team smashed the ball and it went out of play towards Lily. She made to pick the ball, as she bent down, she saw an old rope with its head showing up in the sand but hard to pull. She quickly threw the ball to the players and bent over the rope to see where it would lead her.
Lily started to dig, following the thread of the rope. It was easy to dig because the sand was quite soft. She dug out the rope but it cuts half way. The rope had rust.
Lily left the point to call Martha but she was too busy throwing herself in the wave of the sea that Lily returned to the point where she found the rope. This time, she dug up the rope to the very end but found only an old bottle with a leather like a scroll inside it. She could no longer keep it to herself.
Mr Herbert, see what I dug up down the coast.
The teacher who was in their company hurriedly collected the leather from her and read it.
This is an ancient luxury map.
He said with excitement. Mr Herbert spread the map on the ground and started to study it. They were seated at the point where Lily dug up the bottle.
Whatever treasure that is hidden by those pirates isn't far from here.
Lily and Mr Herbert started to walk along the coast, a few metres away from the folks playing volleyball, Lily found the same rope, probably that is where the ancient map was directing Mr Herbert.
She fell to the sand and started to dig immediately. After about ten minutes, she found the treasury box. It was an old wooden box. With the help of Mr Herbert, Lily pulled out the box.
They broke the box open and found just two pieces of a stone-like ornament. Mr Herbert handed it over to Lily and they both walked back to their base.
After what seemed like an endless day, the sun began to dip towards the horizon. Lily sat on the sand, gazing at the stones as other students started to return to the bus. The sky transformed into a canvas with several colours. It was a sight Lily wouldn't forget in a jiffy.
Two months later, when the school was closed for the August long holiday, Lily returned home to her parents. She was so excited to present the stones to her father who looked at it with the eye of wisdom and said
This may cost a fortune.
He took the stones to a goldsmith who helped them market it for a very huge amount. That ended the poverty in Lily's family line.