Writer: Elif Mina Direk (9 years old)
Translator: Mehmet Akif Acar (15 years old)
Today sun was reminding a fireball. There was dazzling brightness. But the air was a bit breath-thinning.
In one of the streets of the holy city, a little girl in a small house's garden named Rim was playing in joy. She was running under the hot sun with her bare feet and dancing with her arms opened widely. She tied her hair on sides divided between. She was looking so beautiful that, she had the spring in her smiling. She was so tired while running... her cheeks became candy pink reminding watermelon.
When she got tired, she sat down in the olive tree's shadow. She began to array the rocks one by one that she collected. She was trying to turn them into a house. She was humming songs while building her fairytale world. Her Grandfather was watching her from the kitchen window. Seeing the smile on Rim's face was giving him hope. Her grandfather was saying "Soul of my soul" for Rim. Flowers were blooming in this old man as he looked into her eyes. He loved her too much.
A deafening sound filled up the courtyard. Rim's innocent laughter turned into fear. The old man took his granddaughter inside sprinting. Uneasiness built up in his eyes. He looked to the sky by raising his head. The cruel and ruthless giant descended once again on the holy city. First, explosions echoed with a sky-ripping sound. Then descending destruction over houses.
Grandfather took refuge under the olive tree's shadow to protect her granddaughter. Everything except the courtyard was sinking in darkness. The cruel and ruthless giant's feet sounds were coming closer and closer. They were feeling that the soil was quaking and the walls were crackling. Rim nestled her head tightly to her grandfather's chest. The old man's eyes were drowned in sadness. Death rained into the streets of the holy city once again.
Grandfather and granddaughter hugged each other tightly. Grandfather was praying. Grandfather said; "Don't be afraid Rim, don't be afraid dear. These lands are stronger than us. We "took roots all those years like olive trees. After now, these roots will never tear" with his trembling voice. Rim was still so afraid. She was praying that her grandfather taught her. The cruel and ruthless giant was determined to upset the whole order. Because he was insatiable.
That night, the spring, joy and hope in the courtyard dimmed out. The cruel and ruthless giant's hand left a pain in the courtyard. The old man caressed his granddaughter's face. Kissed her from her eyes, he entrusted her to his most beloved.
But there was a bit of hope in the old man's eyes. These lands were going to bloom again. Spring was going to come again to the holy city. He believed in this with his whole heart.