Treasure

Mary-Beth was tucked up in bed and she was excited. She was excited
because she was going to Cornwall in the morning for her summer
holidays. "Mum, will you read that story again? Please," she
asked.

"Which one, sweetheart?" asked her mother.

"You know. The one about the pirates who live in Cornwall," said
Mary-Beth.

Mary-Beth snuggled herself beneath the duvet. Her mum sat down and read
to her the story about pirates and treasure in Cornwall. Mary-Beth
didn't hear the end of the story, as she fell fast asleep to dream of
pirates and buried treasure.

"Isn't this exciting?" Mary-Beth whispered into Topsy's ear, as they
arrived in Cornwall. Topsy was Mary-Beth's dog.

It had been a long, long journey on the coach. But it didn't matter
now, as they had arrived at last. Mary-Beth couldn't wait to see the
pirates. She knew that she would have to hide, if she should see one.
She also knew that they might chop off her head, or something worse.
But she could take a little peek, couldn't she?

In the afternoon, Mary-Beth was sitting on the beach when Topsy ran up
to her. In Topsy's mouth was a large stone. "Drop it," commanded
Mary-Beth. Topsy dropped the stone into Mary-Beth's hand. Mary-Beth
looked down at the stone in her hand. It was the most beautiful stone
that she had ever seen!

"Mum, come quick," Mary-Beth shouted.

"What?" replied her mother.

"Come and see what Topsy's found. I've got some real pirate's
treasure."

Mary-Beth's mother walked over to have a closer look at the stone. "It
is a pretty stone," she said. "You can take it home and show it to your
friends."

"No," answered Mary-Beth. "I'm going to sell it, and be rich and live
in a big house and have lots of parties and be happy forever and ever,"
she said without pausing for a breath.

"This may be a problem," muttered her mother to herself.

"Come on, mum. We have to go to that shop that sells the pretty rings
and necklaces and things. We have to hurry before a pirate finds out
that the stone is missing," said Mary-Beth eagerly.

Mary-Beth, her mother and Topsy walked to a nearby jeweller's shop. It
was dark inside the shop and Mary-Beth gripped her mother's hand
tightly. She was frightened. She didn't like the man behind the
counter.

"Hello, young miss. What can I do for you?" asked the man behind the
counter.

Mary-Beth placed her stone on the counter. "I h..have a pretty stone to
sell."

The man looked down at the stone. "I'm sorry miss," he said, "but it's
worth nothing."

"It is too," said Mary-Beth crossly. "Anyone can see it's made of gold
and jewels."

"No, it isn't," answered the jeweller. It's fake jewellery, probably
from the local theatre. They're always losing bits and pieces."

Mary-Beth picked up her stone and marched outside. She wasn't going to
give in, not just yet anyway. Jeweller after jeweller she went to but
they all said the same. The stone was worthless.

"They're all cowards," said Mary-Beth. "They're frightened in case a
pirate finds out that they have bought my stone. Then they would get
their heads chopped off. That's why they wouldn't buy my stone."

Mary-Beth, her mother and Topsy walked slowly back to the hotel.
Mary-Beth didn't sleep well. She dreamt of pirates chasing her through
the streets of Cornwall.

The following morning after breakfast Mary-Beth and her mother went for
a walk along the sea front. Mary-Beth didn't want to go. She was still
upset. Eventually Mary-Beth agreed to go, but only if she could put her
precious stone in to her mother's handbag.

As they were passing a telephone box, Mary-Beth's mother told Mary-Beth
to wait outside for a minute, whilst she made a 'phone call. When she
had finished she took Mary-Beth's hand and they both continued on their
walk.

They were just about to turn and go back to the hotel, when Mary-Beth's
mother spotted a large sign on the pavement.

Mary-Beth saw the sign. "Mum, what does that say?" she asked, pointing
to the sign.

On the sign was written: Wanted: Rare and unusual stones. Good prices
paid. Call in today.

Her mother told Mary-Beth what was written on the sign. Mary-Beth
jumped up and down excitedly.

"I told you. I told you," she said. "Can we go inside, mum?
Please?"

"Okay, okay, okay," sighed her mother. "I'll get no peace until we
do."

Mary-Beth gently opened the door. She was surprised. This shop was
brightly lit. There was a pretty lady standing behind the counter.
Mary-Beth was puzzled. This shop had lots of pretty bottles in it. Not
rings and necklaces.

"Hello, little lady. How can I help you?" asked the pretty lady.

Mary-Beth opened her mother's handbag and reached in for the stone. She
placed it carefully on the counter. "Will you buy my pretty stone?
Please?"

"Let me have a look?" said the pretty lady. "My, what an unusual stone
this is? I've never seen one so lovely before. It would look very nice
on top of one of my bottles. Would you sell it to me?"

"Yes," replied Mary-Beth, beaming from ear to ear. "How much will you
give me? Will I be rich forever and ever?"

"I'll give you a good price. You won't be rich, but you'll have enough
to buy a new dolly and sweets," smiled the pretty lady.

"Okay," said Mary-Beth. A new dolly and sweets, that was rich wasn't
it? She might even have enough left to buy Topsy a juicy bone. She had
known all along that it was a special stone. She was glad that the
pretty lady had it now.

Perhaps it was a good thing that Mary-Beth didn't see her mother wink
at the lady behind the counter. Nor see her pass some money to her
either.

THE END