The Secret of the Hidden Glade - The Den Kit Co. Short Story
It was a crisp winter morning when Polly slipped on her boots, grabbed her Den Kit,
and darted out of the house with an adventurous grin. She’d been waiting for the
weekend to explore the woods at the edge of her village, a place whispered about in school as full of mystery and secrets. Today, she was determined to find out if the
rumours of the Hidden Glade were really true.
Polly’s Den Kit swung on her shoulder as she marched down the winding path.
Before setting off, she had checked everything she needed was in there; the tarp,
rope, tent pegs, mallet, and even a little flag she had stitched herself with a golden
star in the middle. Polly's heart thudded with excitement as she imagined herself
uncovering a secret place and building her own hideout.
She reached the edge of the woods and stood still, listening. The air smelled of
damp leaves and pine. Somewhere, a robin chirped cheerily. Polly adjusted her scarf and ventured deeper, the path narrowing as the trees thickened.
The woods seemed alive with rustling leaves and darting squirrels. Her sharp eyes scanned the area until something strange caught her gaze: a cluster of ancient
stones, half-hidden by moss and brambles. She knelt to inspect them. Carved into
one was a faint symbol—a swirling spiral.
"This must be the entrance to the Hidden Glade!" she exclaimed, her breath puffing in the cold air.
The stones formed a circle, and beyond them was a narrow trail Polly hadn't noticed before. Heart racing, she followed it, ducking under low branches until she stumbled into a small, sunlit clearing. There it was—the Hidden Glade!
It was magical: the winter sun filtered through the bare trees, casting long shadows on the soft mossy ground. Polly dropped her Den Kit and got to work immediately. She unrolled the tarp and tied it between two sturdy oaks, fastening it tightly with the ropes. She hammered in tent pegs with her mallet and created a snug little shelter, perfect for spying or hiding from imaginary foes.
To make it truly her own, she planted her golden star flag at the top of the den.
Standing back to admire her work, Polly grinned. "This is the best den ever!"
She settled inside her creation, munching on a biscuit she'd stuffed in her pocket earlier. Just as she was imagining herself as the leader of a band of explorers, she
heard a noise—a crackling of twigs. Polly froze. Was it a wild animal? Or maybe...
someone else had discovered the glade!
"Who's there?" she called, her voice steady but curious.
A boy about her age stepped into view, holding a wooden walking stick. His cheeks
were red from the cold, and his hair was wind-tousled. "Oh, hello!" he said, looking
as surprised as Polly. "I didn’t think anyone else knew about this place."
Polly stood tall. "I found it first. This is my den."
The boy smiled. "It’s brilliant. Did you build it yourself?"
"Of course," Polly said, a touch proudly. Then, feeling generous, she added, "I
suppose I could let you join my explorer's club. But you’ll have to pass the test."
"Test?"
Polly handed him her mallet. "Help me camouflage the den without it collapsing!"
The boy grinned and they set to work, weaving fallen leaves and twigs around the
den. He proved himself a worthy ally. Soon, the two were laughing, pleased with
their hard work and imagining daring escapades—fending off wild beasts, solving
woodland mysteries, and planning secret meetings in the Hidden Glade.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Polly packed up her Den Kit, promising to return. She waved goodbye to her new friend and skipped home, her heart full of adventure.
Little did she know, this was just the beginning of her woodland tales—and the
Hidden Glade would soon become the headquarters for many daring missions to
come.