The Map Beneath the Blossom Tree Y2/1

Every year, Mapleford has a Spring Festival.

There are bright decorations in the park. There are baskets ready for the egg hunt. Children laugh and run in the warm sunshine.

On the morning of the festival, Aisha was walking near the old oak tree.

She stopped.

The ground looked different.

The soil was dark and messy, as if someone had been digging there.

Aisha felt curious.

She knelt down and pushed the soil away with her hands. Under the dirt, she found something hard.

It was a small wooden box.

The box had swirling patterns carved on the lid. It was old and dusty. Aisha tried to open it.

At first, it would not move.

“Aisha!” called her brother. “The egg hunt is starting!”

“Wait!” she called back.

She pulled a little harder.

Creak.

The lid opened.

Inside the box was not chocolate. It was not sweets.

It was a map.

The map showed the park and the river. In the middle, there was a big golden X.

On the back were some words:

When blossom falls and days are bright,
Follow the path and find the light.

Aisha’s heart beat fast.

This was not part of the egg hunt.

Someone had hidden this map.

Carefully, she folded it and put it in her pocket.

The egg hunt could wait.

Aisha had a mystery to solve.