Over the past couple months, Noah wrote (i.e. Paul transcribed) and illustrated an original story about a boy named Escro. When Noah created the character of Escro, he wanted to create a character who shows courage, tells the truth, and tries to make things right, even when it is hard. Writing the story was a lot of work for Noah, but it was worth it! Enjoy!

Chapter 1 – Something to Sell

There once was a boy named Escro. He was very poor and his mother and father had died when he was very young, so he was an orphan. Escro had run away from the orphan asylum and built a house in the forest on a large island. He had only enough money to buy an old, rusty shovel.

One day, Escro was digging in the forest hoping to find something to sell, like rocks or metal. He found one piece of metal and five shiny rocks that he washed in the creek. It was almost night time so he went to the city and sold them. He only got two dollars for all his work, so he went back to bed, happy that he got at least some money.

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Chapter 2 – A Treasure Chest

When Escro woke up, he said to himself, “Maybe I should go dig, get some more rocks to sell, and save enough money to buy a new shovel that’s not so rusty.” He went out digging and hit something hard. Then he tried digging it up. Finally he got it up and could see what it was. It was a treasure chest!

“Where is the key?” he wondered. Finally he saw something shiny and silver in the dirt. He picked it up. It was the key!

Escro unlocked the treasure chest and peered inside. He was amazed at how much silver and gold there was. He picked a gold coin up and said, “This coin could cost $100 if I sold it.” So he went and sold the gold coin.

The people who bought the coin thought, “That must be his last thing to sell. We should buy it for $200 so he doesn’t starve to death,” not knowing that he had dug up a treasure chest filled with gold and silver.

Chapter 3 – Pirates Digging

When Escro got back home, he put his treasure chest in his house so no one would find it. Meanwhile pirates were coming to the island to find the treasure chest. One of the pirates spotted land and yelled, “Land ho! Island ahead,” and they sailed toward the island. They docked, got out their swords, and set out into the woods to search. They said to themselves, “We’ll dig until we find the treasure. The map shows us right where it is.” Finally they found the spot and started digging. (Fortunately they didn’t see Escro’s house nearby.)

All of a sudden the pirates heard someone yelling, “Why are you digging in my yard? This isn’t your property! What are you looking for?” It was Escro.

The pirates whirled around and said, “We are looking for our treasure.”

Escro decided to tell a lie. “Someone came and dug it up. See, they gave me this goblet of gold. I’ll give it to you if you leave right now.”

“You will need to give us more treasure than that!” cried the pirates. And they stomped away with mean looks on their faces. They turned around and said, “We’re going to bomb the island,” and then continued to stomp away.

“Oh no!” Escro cried. “I must go tell them the truth quickly, or they will bomb the island.”

Chapter 4 – Walk the Plank

Escro ran to catch up to the pirates. He saw that they were almost ready to sail away on their ship. He climbed on board just in time and the ship set out to sea.

Escro hid below deck where all the beds were. He gathered his courage and went up on deck to face the pirates. They were getting ready to shoot off their canons right when he interrupted and yelled, “I have the treasure! Take this goblet of gold and I’ll give you the rest of the treasure too, except for the one piece of gold that I already sold.”

“We will spare the island,” said the pirates, “but you must walk the plank.”

“What does ‘spare the island’ mean?” asked Escro. “Does it mean you will bomb it, or does it mean that you will keep it safe?”

“We will keep it safe,” answered the pirates, “but you walk the plank.”

“Ok. I have a silly question,” replied Escro. “Can I dive off the plank?”

“Yes, you may run and dive,” said the pirates. “We hope you belly flop.”

“I love belly flopping,” said Escro. So he ran off the plank and belly flopped.

Chapter 5 – Help! Help!

As soon as Escro got in the water, he swam as far as he could, but slowly, so he had enough energy to last him the whole way. Soon he got tired, and he spotted a ship out in the distance. It was a water taxi! He desperately cried for help. “Help! Help!” he cried, until the water taxi could hear him. Then the taxi let out a huge buoy. Escro gathered all his strength and swam until he reached it. Then the taxi driver pulled him on board.

“How did you get in the water?” asked the water taxi driver.

“I got in it when I walked the plank,” Escro replied. “Thank you for saving me!”

“You’re welcome,” said the driver. “I have a sign that says ’taxi’, but I really use this boat to save people.”

“Thank you,” Escro said again. “Can you bring me back to shore?”

“Yes,” said the driver. “I’ll take you back to shore. And I hope you don’t mess with the pirates again.”

So the driver took Escro back to shore, and Escro lived happily ever after.