DELILAH AND THE WIND OF CHANGE

Helenka Brooks, 11

Sheffield, Kingston Upon Thames

In a golden field of daffodils stood a windmill, the home of a girl named Delilah. Delilah wasn’t just any girl; she had an extraordinary power. She could call the wind when she was in need of help. It was as though the wind was her best friend who was always there for her.

One breezy afternoon, a letter flew through the air, and Delilah jumped up to catch it. The letter read: SOS – From Bryn. Bryn was Delilah’s cousin who was stranded on top of a hill called Mount Debris. Without a moment to lose, Delilah set off to rescue her cousin.

Delilah’s journey began with a walk through a stretch of bleak land. Once a thriving forest, it was now an empty, lifeless piece of land. There, sitting on a lonely tree stump, was a squirrel looking heartbroken. “What’s wrong, little squirrel?” asked the girl.

“The humans chopped down my forest,” the squirrel squeaked sadly. “Now I have no home and no food.”

Delilah called upon the wind and from her pocket, she scattered seeds high into the air. The breeze carried them across the land, planting them gently in the soil. In moments, saplings sprouted, and the forest came alive again. The squirrel’s whiskers twitched with joy as he scurried into his new home.

Delilah soon reached a shimmering sea, but something wasn’t right. Near the surface floated a fish with a miserable face. “What’s the matter, fishy friend?” asked Delilah.

“The water is full of plastic and chemicals,” gurgled the fish. “It’s no place to live.”

Delilah called the wind once again. Together, they lifted the waste and carried it far away, leaving the sea crystal-clear. The fish flipped its tail happily and dived back into the deep depths of the sea.

In a meadow further along, Delilah spotted an exhausted bee, barely able to fly. “What’s wrong, little bee?” she asked.

“There aren’t enough flowers anymore”, the bee buzzed faintly. “I can’t find enough nectar.”

Delilah reached into her pocket once more, pulling out wildflower seeds. The wind scattered them across the meadow, and soon, colourful flowers blossomed. The bee buzzed with happiness, darting from flower to flower.

Finally, Delilah reached the enormous, dark Mount Debris, and it was unlike anything she had ever seen. The entire mountain was made of unwanted electronics: phones, laptops, televisions—all glittering like black crystals. High above, she heard a voice calling for help. It was Bryn! Delilah began a difficult climb with her feet slipping on glossy surfaces.

At the summit, she found Bryn who cried, “I’m stuck, Delilah. The waste keeps piling up!”

Together, they dismantled the mountain piece by piece and discovered threads of gold. The gold was turned into coins that they used to save the Earth, planting trees, cleaning oceans, and restoring wildlife.

With the mountain reduced to nothing and treasure found in scrap, Delilah and Bryn smiled, knowing they had turned a problem into hope.