The Glittering Stream

The summer sun blazed overhead as Kimi and Markus wandered through the forest behind their grandparents’ house. They had spent every summer here since they were little, but today, they decided to explore farther than ever before. Just as they were about to give up and head back, they stumbled upon something extraordinary—a shimmering stream.

The water sparkled in the sunlight as if tiny diamonds floated just beneath the surface. “Wow,” Kimi whispered, crouching by the edge. “It’s beautiful.”

Markus knelt beside her, staring into the clear water. “Look at the stones,” he said, pointing. Smooth, colorful rocks lined the streambed, their surfaces polished to perfection. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Kimi reached in, her hand cutting through the cool water. As she picked up a bright blue stone, it began to glow faintly. Startled, she dropped it back into the stream. “Did you see that?”

“It glowed,” Markus said, his eyes wide. He reached in and picked up a red stone. Sure enough, it glimmered softly in his hand. “This is incredible!”

The siblings spent hours collecting stones, marveling at the way each one seemed to radiate a different hue. But as the day wore on, they began to argue.

“We have to tell Grandma and Grandpa about this!” Kimi said, holding a glowing green stone. “They’ll love it.”

“No way,” Markus said, shaking his head. “This place is special. If we tell anyone, they might ruin it.”

“Ruin it? How could they ruin a stream?” Kimi asked, incredulous.

Markus crossed his arms. “By bringing too many people here. It won’t feel magical if everyone knows about it.”

Kimi frowned. “But it’s too beautiful to keep to ourselves. Besides, it’s on their property. Don’t you think they deserve to know?”

The argument carried on until the sun dipped low in the sky, casting golden light over the forest. Finally, they agreed to show their grandparents the stream and let them decide what to do.

When they returned to the house, their grandmother was sitting on the porch, knitting. “Grandma, you have to come with us!” Kimi said, grabbing her hand.

“What’s all this fuss about?” Grandma asked, smiling as they led her into the forest.

When they arrived at the stream, Grandma’s eyes widened. “Well, would you look at that,” she said, stepping closer.

Kimi and Markus watched as she picked up a stone. It glowed softly in her hand, just as it had for them. “Did you know this was here?” Markus asked.

Grandma smiled knowingly. “I’ve always suspected there was something special in this forest. Your grandpa and I used to explore it when we were young. But we decided some treasures are better left undisturbed.”

Kimi and Markus exchanged a glance. “What do you mean?” Kimi asked.

“I mean that some places are special because they’re secret,” Grandma said. “You can share it with a few people you trust, but once it’s no longer a secret, it’s never the same.”

The siblings nodded, finally understanding. They helped Grandma back to the house, where they told their grandfather about their discovery.

That night, as Kimi placed the glowing green stone on her nightstand, she smiled. They had decided to keep the stream their family’s little secret. After all, some treasures truly are better left undisturbed.

Phrasal Verbs & Example Sentences

Wade into – To step into water or a situation.

Example: “They waded into the cool water of the stream.”

Pick out – To choose or select.

Example: “They picked out colorful stones from the stream.”

Bring back – To return with something.

Example: “They decided to bring back their grandparents to see the stream.”

Glow up – To shine brightly or become illuminated.

Example: “The stones glowed up faintly when touched.”

Leave behind – To abandon or not take with you.

Example: “Some treasures are better left behind.”

Phrasal Verb Quiz

Fill in the blank with the correct Phrasal Verb.

Kimi and Markus ________ the stream while exploring the forest.
The siblings couldn’t decide whether to ________ their grandparents to the stream.
Markus wanted to ________ the magical discovery a secret.
Grandma smiled as she ________ one of the glowing stones.
The siblings ultimately decided to ________ the stream’s location as a family secret.

Answers (Phrasal Verbs)

Came across
Bring back
Keep
Picked up
Leave behind

Idioms & Example Sentences

Diamonds in the rough – Something with hidden value.

Example: “The colorful stones were like diamonds in the rough.”

A hidden gem – Something valuable or special that is not well-known.

Example: “The stream was a hidden gem in the forest.”

Fight like cats and dogs – To argue a lot.

Example: “The siblings fought like cats and dogs over what to do.”

Go with the flow – To accept or adapt to a situation.

Example: “In the end, they decided to go with the flow and bring their grandparents.”

Keep it under wraps – To keep something secret.

Example: “Liam wanted to keep the magical stream under wraps.”

Idiom Quiz

Fill in the blank with the correct Idiom.

The colorful stones in the stream were like ________.
The stream was a ________ hidden in the forest.
The siblings ________ about whether to tell their grandparents.
Grandma told them to ________ and enjoy the stream responsibly.
They realized some treasures are better left undisturbed to ________.

Answers (Idioms)

Diamonds in the rough
Hidden gem
Fought like cats and dogs
Go with the flow
Keep their magic

Multiple-Choice Questions

Circle the correct answer.

What caught Kimi and Markus’s attention about the stream?
a. It was unusually deep.
b. It was filled with fish.
c. The water glittered and the stones glowed faintly.
d. It flowed uphill.
What did the siblings do when they first entered the stream?
a. They tried to catch fish.
b. They collected colorful stones.
c. They built a dam.
d. They swam across it.
Why did Markus want to keep the stream a secret?
a. He didn’t think it was special.
b. He thought treasures should be left undisturbed.
c. He didn’t want to share the stones.
d. He was afraid of getting into trouble.
What was Kimi’s reason for wanting to tell their grandparents?
a. She believed they might already know about it.
b. She wanted others to enjoy its beauty.
c. She thought the stream was dangerous.
d. She wanted help collecting the stones.
What happened when the siblings touched the stones?
a. The stones grew bigger.
b. The stones glowed faintly.
c. The stones floated in the water.
d. The stones made a ringing sound.
What did their grandmother say when she saw the stream?
a. “Let’s tell everyone about this place!”
b. “We should stay away from this stream.”
c. “Some treasures are better left undisturbed.”
d. “This stream is a gift from nature.”
What lesson did the siblings learn?
a. Secrets are better than sharing.
b. Treasures lose their magic when shared.
c. Some special things are better left alone.
d. Always listen to your elders.
How did the siblings resolve their argument?
a. They decided to explore the stream separately.
b. They compromised by showing the stream only to their grandparents.
c. They ignored each other and went home.
d. They left the stream untouched and never returned.
Which sibling was more curious about the stream?
a. Markus
b. Kimi
c. Both equally
d. Neither
What did the siblings do after showing their grandparents the stream?
a. They told the whole town about it.
b. They built a small dam in the stream.
c. They decided to keep it a family secret.
d. They collected more glowing stones.

Answers to the Multiple-Choice Questions

c - The water glittered, and the stones glowed faintly.
b - They collected colorful stones.
b - He thought treasures should be left undisturbed.
b - She wanted others to enjoy its beauty.
b - The stones glowed faintly.
c - “Some treasures are better left undisturbed.”
c - Some special things are better left alone.
b - They compromised by showing the stream only to their grandparents.
b - Kimi
c - They decided to keep it a family secret.

Thought Provoking Question

Do you think keeping a special place like the stream a secret is the right choice, or should everyone have the chance to enjoy its beauty?
Why?