摘要：
Foreword:InthewarmandsunnymorningofJune1st,theschoolyardwasfilledwithlaughter,joyandex... Foreword:
InthewarmandsunnymorningofJune1st,theschoolyardwasfilledwithlaughter,joyandexcitement.Thechildrenwerewaitingeagerlyforthestartoftheactivitiesthathadbeenplannedfortheirspecialday.Everyonewaswearingcolorfulclothesandhadbroughttheirfavoritetoysandsnackstosharewiththeirfriends.AmongthemwasaboynamedTom,whowasabouttoembarkonanadventurethathewouldneverforget.Tomwasacuriousandadventurousboywholovedexploringnewplacesandmakingnewfriends.Hehadalwaysdreamedofgoingonatreasurehuntandfindinghiddentreasuresliketheheroesinhisfavoriteadventurebooks.LittledidheknowthathisdreamwasabouttocometrueonthisChildren'sDay.Asthechildrengatheredaroundtheirteachers,theyweretoldthatamysterioustreasurehunthadbeenorganizedforthem.Theyweregivencluestofollow,puzzlestosolveandchallengestoovercomeinordertofindthetreasure.Thefirstclueledthemtotheschoolgarden,wheretheyfoundamessagewrittenonatree:"Followtheriverupstreamandyouwillfindthekeytothetreasure."
Excitedbytheprospectofarealtreasurehunt,Tomandhisfriendssetofftowardstheriver,hopingtobethefirstonestofindthetreasure.Theywalkedalongtheriverbank,jumpingoverrocksandsplashinginthewater.Afterawhile,theycameacrossawoodenboattiedtoatree,withanoteattachedtoit:"Rowacrossthelakeandyouwillfindthenextclue."Withouthesitation,Tomandhisfriendsgotintotheboatandstartedrowingacrossthelake.Thewaterwascalmandclear,andtheycouldseefishswimmingbeneaththem.Astheyapproachedtheothersideofthelake,theysawasmallislandwithatalltreeonit.Onthetree,therewasanothernote:"Climbtothetopofthetreeandyouwillfindamaptothetreasure."Tomwasthrilledbytheideaofclimbingatree,ashehadneverdoneitbefore.Heputonhisglovesandstartedclimbingupthetree,withhisfriendscheeringhimon.Ashereachedthetop,hesawapieceofpaperhiddenintheleaves.Itwasamapofthesurroundingarea,withanXmarkingthespotwherethetreasurewashidden.Thechildrenwerenowevenmoreexcitedanddeterminedtofindthetreasure.TheyrantowardstheXonthemap,stumblingoverbranchesandgettingscratchedbythorns.Afterawhile,theyfoundthemselvesinfrontofanoldabandonedhouse,witharustygateandbrokenwindows.Tomhesitatedforamoment,wonderingifitwassafetoenterthehouse.Buthiscuriosityandthirstforadventureovercamehisfear,andhepushedopenthegate.
Insidethehouse,theyfoundthemselvesinadarkanddustyroom,withcobwebshangingfromtheceilingandstrangeobjectsscatteredaround.Theairwasthickwithamustysmell,andTomfeltachillrunningdownhisspine.Buthisfriendsurgedhimtokeepgoing,andtheyfollowedthenextcluethatledthemtoahiddenroom.Astheyenteredtheroom,theysawachestsittinginthemiddleofit.Thechestwasmadeofwoodandhadgoldencarvingsonit,resemblingancientsymbols.Theyrealizedthatthismustbethetreasuretheyhadbeensearchingfor.Buttherewasacatch:thechestwaslocked,andtheydidn'thavethekey.Theysearchedaroundtheroomforclues,tryingtofindawaytoopenthechest.Afterawhile,theynoticedasmallholeinthewall,withapieceofpaperstuckinsideit.Tompulledoutthepaperandsawthatitwasariddle:"Whathasaheartbutnootherorgans,abedbutneversleeps,andamouthbutneverspeaks?"Tomwasgoodatsolvingriddles,andheknewtheanswerimmediately:"Atree".Heranoutsideandlookedforatreewithaheart-shapedleafonit.Afterawhile,hefoundoneandsawthattherewasasmallkeyhiddenbehindtheleaf.Hetookthekeyandranbacktotheroom,eagertoseewhatwasinsidethechest.
Heinsertedthekeyintothelockandturneditslowly,hearingthesoundofmetalclicking.Asheopenedthechest,hesawadazzlingarrayofjewels,goldcoins,andotherpreciousobjects.Thechildrengaspedinamazement,feelingliketheyhadjustdiscoveredasecrettreasuretrove.Butastheywereadmiringthetreasure,theyheardfootstepsoutsidetheroom.Theyrealizedthatsomeoneelsehadfollowedthemtothehouse,andtheydidn'tknowwhoitwasorwhattheirintentionswere.Theyquicklyclosedthechestandhidbehindthewalls,hopingtoremainunnoticed.Thefootstepsgrewlouderandcloser,untiltheystoppedrightoutsidetheroom.Tomandhisfriendsheldtheirbreath,waitingforwhateverwasabouttohappen.Suddenly,thedoorburstopen,andtheysawamanstandingthere,withamaskcoveringhisfaceandaknifeinhishand.Themanlookedatthemwithamenacingsmileandsaid:"Wellwellwell,whatdowehavehere?Abunchoflittlethievestryingtostealmytreasure?Idon'tthinkso!"Heraisedhisknife,readytoattackthem.
Tomandhisfriendswereterrified,notknowingwhattodo.Butthensomethingunexpectedhappened.Oneofthechildren,agirlnamedLily,steppedforwardandsaid:"Pleasesir,wedidn'tknowthiswasyourtreasure.Wewerejustplayingagame.We'llleaveithereandgobacktoourschool.Pleasedon'thurtus."Themanlookedatherforamoment,asifconsideringherwords.Thenheloweredhisknifeandsaid:"Alright,youwinthistime.Butdon'tevercomebackhereagain.Anddon'ttellanyoneaboutwhatyousaworheard.Understood?"Thechildrennoddedtheirheadsquickly,relievedthattheyhadescapedunharmed.Theyleftthehouseinahurry,runningasfastastheycouldbacktotheirschool.Whentheyarrived,theywereexhaustedbutalsoexhilarated,feelingliketheyhadjustexperiencedarealadventure.Astheygatheredaroundtheirteachers,theywereaskedtosharetheirstoriesofthetreasurehunt.Eachchildhadadifferentversionofwhathadhappened,buttheyallagreedononething:ithadbeenthebestChildren'sDayever.
Tomfeltproudofhimselfforhavingbeenbraveandresourcefulinthefaceofdanger.Healsofeltgratefulforhisfriends,whohadsupportedhimandworkedtogethertosolvetheclues.Herealizedthathehadlearnedsomethingvaluablethatday:thattruetreasurewasnotalwaysmadeofgoldorjewels,butalsooflove,friendshipandcourage.Thatnight,Tomwenttobedwithasmileonhisface,thinkingabouttheadventurehehadjustlived.HeknewthathewouldneverforgetthatChildren'sDay,andthatitwouldremainapreciousmemoryfortherestofhislife.Thenextday,ashewentbacktoschool,hesawLilywaitingforhimatthegate.Shesmiledathimandsaid:"HeyTom,thatwasquiteanadventurewehadyesterday,huh?I'mgladwemadeitoutalive."Tomsmiledbackatherandsaid:"Yeah,metoo.Thanksforbeingsobraveandsmart,Lily.Yousavedusall."Lilyblushedalittleandsaid:"Oh,itwasnothing.IjustdidwhatIhadtodo.AndI'mgladwe'refriends."Tomnoddedhisheadandsaid:"Yeah,metoo.Bestfriendsforever,right?"Lilynoddedbackandsaid:"Right."Astheywalkedintotheschoolyard,handinhand,Tomrealizedthathehadfoundatreasurethatwasmorevaluablethananythinghehadseeninthechest:atruefriendwhowouldalwaysbethereforhim,nomatterwhat.Andthat,hethought,wasthebestgifthecouldhavereceivedonChildren'sDay.
