Seek And You Shall Find. This story is aimed at primary aged children, and it is even better when read by an adult. It is dedicated to my late great Father who actually knew The Secret and it was only after he had passed, that in my searching  I stumbled upon The Secret and realized that he had it all along. As do we all if we look within.

This is a thinking story aimed at provoking much thought, discussion, and reflection. I see the illustrations in black and white, if at all. Or perhaps a beautifully textured ribbon bookmark to wind around your finger or gently stroke the side of your cheek as you read. It pays respect to our time and place and finishes at the starting line.
One, two, three, four, five. Coming ready or not!

Charlie looked behind the couch.
Charlie looked behind the bathroom door.
Charlie looked in the washing basket.
Charlie looked in the linen closet.
Charlie looked under the bed.
Charlie looked under the kitchen table.

Six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Coming ready or not!
Charlie looked in the basket of her brand-new bike.
Charlie looked in the backpack all packed and ready for the weekend at dads.
Charlie looked in the piggy bank on the top shelf in the bedroom brimming with bucks.
Charlie looked in mum’s jewelry box trying everything on and parading around the house.
Charlie looked through the latest and greatest toy catalogs highlighting favorites.

Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. Coming ready or not!
Charlie looked through magazines.
Charlie looked at his new best friend’s posts on socials.
Charlie looked in the wardrobe bursting with clothes, shoes, toys, and books, the resting place of the next best things.
Charlie looked at the latest trends.
Charlie looked at starting up karate, guitar lessons, drama classes, singing lessons, and code camp.

Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty. Coming ready or not!
Charlie looked at careers books and online courses.
Charlie looked for part-time work that would suit a busy social life.
Charlie looked at travel guides and places all around the world.
Charlie looked for tips and tricks to strike it rich.
Charlie looked at ways to drown the sorrows of growing up, of losing loved ones, broken hearts, and friendships.

Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five. Coming ready or not!
Charlie looked for a new flat and flatmates.
Charlie looked at trading in the trusty second hand car for a new one.
Charlie looked at diets designed to bulk up, slim down, glow, relax, energize, and get fit.
Charlie looked for an all night donut shop.
Charlie looked for a new career.
Charlie looked for a new partner who was definitely NOT in a band.

Charlie looked.
Charlie was sick and tired of playing games.
The game of Hide and Seek was getting very tiring.
Charlie had been seeking for an entire existence.
Looking for answers to life’s greatest secret.
Unbeknownst to Charlie, it was hiding in plain sight.

It was hiding in the bathroom adorned with randomly placed speckles of toothpaste.
It was hiding in the revision mirror of the car when trying to squeeze into the space for one.
It was hiding in the reflection of the shops in the main street albeit unrecognizable at times.
It was hiding in the unconditional love through the eyes of her grandparents.
It was hiding in the still.

Charlie’s Grandpa knew the secret; “Hold your smile for a minute, Charlie, you’ll find it.”
Sitting with him, Charlie always found it, rarely did it take a minute.
Charlie hears the echo of his voice,” What you’re searching for Charlie is happiness, and happiness comes from within.”
It’s not the first time Charlie has heard it; Grandpa always knew just what to say.
From that moment on Charlie changed up the game.
Ready, set, go!

Written by Emily Edwards
©Halidees Group Pty Ltd 2022