The Island Map

Emma and Lucas were best friends who loved to explore. One summer, they visited Emma’s grandmother, who lived in a small town by the sea. The old house was full of interesting things, but the most exciting was a dusty, rolled-up map they found in the attic. The map showed a small island near the coast. On the map, there was a big red X. Next to it, someone had drawn a tree and a strange rock. At the bottom, in old handwriting, it said: “Find the heart of the island.” Emma showed the map to her grandmother. She smiled and said, “That island is not far. But no one has ever found treasure there.” Lucas’ eyes lit up. “Let’s go tomorrow!” he said. Early the next morning, Emma, Lucas, and Emma’s grandmother took a small boat to the island. The air was fresh, and the water was bright blue. When they arrived, tall trees and birds greeted them. They checked the map and started to walk. The path was narrow and full of roots. Lucas almost tripped, but Emma caught him just in time. “Watch your step!” she laughed. After a few minutes, they saw the rock from the map. It was huge and looked like a sleeping dog. “Now, where is the tree?” Emma wondered. They looked all around and finally found a tall palm with three big coconuts at the top. Lucas pointed, “It must be there!” Emma’s grandmother helped them dig at the spot marked X. Suddenly, Lucas’ shovel hit something hard. Together, they pulled out a small wooden box. Inside, they found old coins, small silver rings, a letter, and a gold locket with a picture of a young woman. “It’s my grandmother when she was young!” Emma said, surprised. The letter said, “The best treasure is shared with family.” Emma hugged her grandmother, and they all laughed. Together, they took the box home. From that day, Emma and Lucas knew that every adventure was better with people you love.