The Stick

A young girl, Max, is taken by her parents to meet her grandmother, who lives alone on an island somewhere in the Puget Sound. Grandmother tells Max an old family story and gives her a magic driftwood stick.

The adventure begins when Max goes off on her own looking for berries, taking her magic stick with her.

Max is unhappy to be taken from home to spend the summer away from her friends. She is not interested in the idea of living on an island or in meeting her grandmother. When she explores the island looking for berries, she becomes lost. With her magic stick and the help of animal spirits, she learns that she can overcome obstacles and find her way back home. She gains a new respect and love for nature, and realizes the importance of family.

The story was inspired by backpacking trips taken with family members on the West Coast Trail of Vancouver Island, B.C. While there, I found a wonderful piece of driftwood. I strapped it to my backpack and carried it out. I keep it to remind myself of those great trips and of the knowledge that I am able to accomplish difficult tasks as long as I trust my instincts, work hard, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.