Old Oak Secrets. Chapter 10. Stones from the Valley of Friendship.

Stones from the Valley of Friendship

In the evening, when the kids were about to close the treehouse for the night, a familiar cough came from behind the oak trunk.

“Ahem… May I come up?” a raspy voice asked.

Rostik, Mila, and Rada looked at each other—and tapped on the floor three times together.
“That means ‘with ice cream!’” Mila giggled.

And sure enough, the Gnome appeared through the hatch. A small bag hung over his shoulder.
“Well, I don’t have ice cream,” he smirked, “but I do have something better.”

He placed the bag on the table and poured out colorful little stones—smooth and shiny, as if polished by water.
“These are special stones from the Valley of Friendship,” the Gnome explained. “If you arrange them into a symbol or a beautiful pattern, it will remind you of your promise to respect others and follow the rules.”

“That’s amazing!” Rada exclaimed. “Let’s make a ‘symbol of friendship’ right on the wall!”
“Maybe a heart?” Mila suggested.
“Or a circle,” Rostik thought aloud. “In a circle, everyone is equal—just like us.”

After a short discussion, they decided to create a circle symbol from the stones on the wall. In the center, they would place three handprints with small hearts—blue, green, and yellow—each color representing one of them.

The Gnome taught the children how to mix glue from resin and ash (safe for both wood and stone), and soon a magical pattern began to appear on the wall.

When they finished, the Gnome said seriously:
“Now this house is not only built by your hands, but also held together by your hearts. The ‘symbol of friendship’ will shine brightly when you are together and honest with each other. And if you argue—it will glow softly.”

And indeed, when the sun set, the stones began to glow with a warm, gentle light, as if a piece of golden sunset had settled inside the treehouse.

“And what about a secret entrance?” the Gnome added with a sly wink.
“There’s one?” the children gasped.
“Of course!” he laughed. “Every real treehouse must have a secret path. I’ll show you how to make a rope ladder that can be raised and lowered only by those who know the special signal.”

The children listened with wide eyes, already imagining how they would start building their new “secret” the next day.

Pleased with their excitement, the Gnome stroked his beard and added:
“But remember: a secret stays safe only when there is no anger or hurt in it. A hidden entrance is not for tricking others—it is for protecting the secret of your special place.”

He looked once more at the glowing symbol on the wall, nodded in approval, and disappeared, as if melting into the shadow of the oak.

“Well,” said Rostik, “now we don’t just have a treehouse. We have a Home—with a soul.”
“And with rules!” Rada reminded.
“And with a magical symbol!” Mila added happily.

They hugged and sat for a long time, watching the soft glow of the magical stones, knowing that many more wonderful discoveries still lay ahead.