Lost In The Wilderness
By Minh Ha Nguyen
As the sun began to sink deep into the ocean, Isabelle, Saige, Mckenna, and I
kept running deeper and deeper into the forest.” It’s getting dark. “I think we better
start preparing to stay here for the night.” Mckenna suggested. I sighed. We had no
choice.
Things weren’t so good around here. On the way home from school, a mysterious
creature lead us lost into this forest. “ I hope we get back home in time. I have a
dance show on Saturday!” Isabelle worried. “ Don’t worry, Isabelle. Today’s
Thursday so we have two days to get out of here in time for your dance show.” I
assured her. “And my gymnastics demonstration!” Mckenna reminded. “And the art
festival.” Saige added. I nodded. Plus, I also had something important on Saturday. I
was the lead horse-rider in the Book Fiesta, so I couldn’t miss out.
Saige began making a fire, while Mckenna and Isabelle set about building a
little forest hut. I decided to get some food and water for the group. So I set off,
deeper into the forest, in search of tasty treats and clean water. I found a few familiar
edible things. I collected apples, nuts, and berries. As I walked deeper into the forest,
I suddenly uncovered a part of the forest I had never seen before. I pushed the bushes
and tree branches to one side and gasped at the amazing sight. It was a green, grassy
lawn, complete with a lake, trees, and cheerful animals. The fish were making
splashes in the lake, while the squirrels happily munched on their nuts. It was a sight
to remember. I sat down near the lake and started catching some fish for the group’s
supper. I noticed a road leading to an end to the sign of nature. I peered through the
branches, my heart sinking like the sun sinking into the ocean. Unlike the grassy
field, I was shocked to see no trees, animals, or even grass in this bare-grounded
field. People were cutting down trees in the forest all over the world, destroying
animals’ habitats, careless about what they were doing. I knew I had to do something,
but what. I sighed. I gathered up and went back to our hut. I loved the complete
version of the hut. It was built out on a grassy field, under a canopy of trees. There
were four mattresses inside the hut, one for each, carefully weaved out of straw.
There were two wells outside for collecting water, a papyrus roof and holes outside
for the restrooms. Small oil lamps welcomingly hung by the walls and the grassy
doors, and baskets made of straw held food supply. We also used our clay pots we
made at school in art to store and serve food.
We cooked the tasty fish over the fire and munched on the delicious apples
and nuts. We stored leftovers in our clay pots. After supper, I cheerfully
asked, “ Who wants to go collect more food for breakfast with me?” “ Me!”
Isabelle raised her hand. “ Let’s go then!” I exclaimed.
On the way, Isabelle noticed, “ I’m glad we brought our backpacks with us.
There’s all sorts of useful things in them. Saige said she has a navigating app
on her phone, so we can use it to find our way home.” I was relieved,
knowing we wouldn’t be lost here forever. Then I remembered about the no-
animal-no-trees-no-grass-bare-grounded field. I began to pick up speed and
pace, and soon we got there. I showed Isabelle the grassy lawn, and the bare-
grounded field. “ I think we should do something about it” I told Isabelle.
“But what can we do? We’re just kids!” Isabelle pointed out. I sighed. Isabelle
was right. But I felt somewhere in my heart that I knew what to do. And I had
to find where. We quietly fished and picked berries, and then we returned to
the hut sad, disappointed, and discouraged. What are we going to do?
The next morning, Mckenna and Saige were up early, testing Saige’s
navigation app to get ready for the journey home. When Isabelle and I finally
woke up, we ate our delicious breakfast, a trail mix of berries, nuts, apples,
and some fish as a side dish, created and made by Saige. Then we packed our
bags, taking home the straw mattresses and baskets, the oil lamps, and our
kind-of-dirty clay pots. Then we were on our way, setting off north(according
to Saige’s navigation app). Along the way, we only took short breaks to eat
and go to the restrooms. Then we came to a crowd. They were planning to cut
down all the trees in this forest. I knew I had to do something. I couldn’t let
them do something so cruel to the animals’ habitats and the environment.
“Wait!” I shouted, rushing up to the stage, “I don’t think you should do this
because you’re endangering the animals humans depend on for survival.
You’re destroying the trees, which takes in carbon dioxide and produces
oxygen from the carbon dioxide. Humans are also using a lot of chemicals,
which actually also lead animals to extinct. One time the use of the pesticide
PPT, almost drove the bald eagle to extinction in North America. We have to
remember that we share this planet, along with all the other living things. It’s
been a big problem for the past decades, and you have to help us, because it’s
becoming a bigger problem today. Thank you.”
The crowd thought about what I said carefully and then they clapped. I was
very proud of myself. The crowd clapped even harder when I smiled and
thanked them so much for understanding and that I wished they wouldn’t cut
down the forest. I jumped down the stage and was about to run to my friends,
which were also clapping really hard, when a woman from the crowd rushed
said. So I would like to give you something. Think of it as a prize, or award.”
“ A reward? That’s really kind of you, but no thank you, I like helping the
planet, and I shouldn’t get awards for doing what I like. But that’s really nice
of you, miss.” I refused. “No, I just want to thank you for the lovely speech.
Anyway, your prize is… four pets of your own!” the woman explained.
“Thank you so much!” I exclaimed. My four pets were: a horse, bunny,
Chihuahua, and a turtle. I gave each to a friend: The bunny to Mckenna, the
turtle to Saige, and the Chihuahua to Isabelle. I kept the horse. I said good-
bye to the crowd and slowly rode my horse home, still waving at the crowd,
until they were out of sight. Then I went home and continued my normal life,
but I never forgot, the day when I got lost in the wilderness, turned into a
saving-a-forest adventure in the end.
