The Bridge of One Hundred Steps

The Bridge of One Hundred Steps Yavuz DEMİRKIRAN

Theo stood at the edge of the magical bridge, his heart thumping like a drum. The bridge stretched across a wide, misty river, and its wooden planks shimmered with a soft, golden light. An old sign read: 'One hundred steps to the other side.' Theo gulped. He needed to reach the faraway village before sunset, but the bridge looked endless. He took a deep breath and stepped onto the first plank. 1

As Theo walked, the bridge hummed beneath his scuffed leather boots. On the tenth step, a tiny creature popped up from the railing. It was Pip, a palm-sized fuzzy green thing with round golden eyes and translucent wings. Pip wore a little acorn cap and giggled. 'Hello! I'm the bridge guardian. To pass, you must solve a small challenge. Are you ready?' Theo's amber eyes widened, but he nodded bravely. 2

Pip pointed to a cluster of colorful stones on the railing. 'Find the one that doesn't belong,' they chirped. Theo looked closely. Most stones were smooth and blue, but one was rough and red. 'That one!' he said, pointing. Pip clapped their tiny hands. 'Well done! You have sharp eyes.' Theo smiled, feeling a little proud. He took another step, ready for what came next. 3

Theo continued up the bridge, counting his steps. At step twenty, Pip appeared again, this time with a tiny hourglass. 'Patience is key,' Pip said. 'Wait until the sand runs out, then tell me the color of the last grain.' Theo watched the sand trickle slowly. It felt like forever, but he waited. When the last grain fell, it was purple. 'Purple!' he said. Pip cheered, and Theo felt a warm glow of success. 4

Step by step, Theo climbed higher. The bridge swayed gently, and the river below rushed softly. At step thirty, Pip brought out a small, tangled rope. 'Untangle this knot without pulling hard,' they said. Theo's fingers worked carefully, and soon the rope lay straight. 'You're doing great!' Pip encouraged. Theo's worries began to shrink, replaced by a growing curiosity about the next challenge. 5

At step forty, the challenge was about kindness. A tiny, lost butterfly fluttered near the railing, its wings dusty. 'Help me find my way home,' it whispered. Theo gently cupped the butterfly in his hands and carried it to a flower growing from a crack in the bridge. The butterfly thanked him and flew away. Pip nodded. 'Kindness is the best magic,' they said. Theo's heart felt full. 6

Theo kept walking, his mustard-yellow tunic flapping in the breeze. At step fifty, Pip asked him to listen closely to the river's song. 'What sound do you hear?' Theo closed his eyes and listened. 'It sounds like laughter,' he said. Pip beamed. 'Yes! The river is happy you're crossing.' Theo laughed too, and suddenly the bridge didn't seem so endless. He was halfway there! 7

At step sixty, the challenge was to balance a feather on his nose for ten seconds. Theo tried, wobbling and giggling. At last, the feather stayed put. 'You're a natural!' Pip cheered. Theo felt like he could do anything. He took a deep breath and marched on, his scuffed boots tapping a steady rhythm on the shimmering planks. Each step was a small victory. 8

At step seventy, Theo met a friendly merchant coming the other way. The tall man wore a rust-red coat with many pockets, a striped scarf, and a wide hat. His deep brown eyes crinkled with a warm smile. 'Hello, young traveller! I'm on my way to the village too. How are you doing?' Theo admitted he felt a bit tired. The merchant chuckled. 'One step at a time, my friend. That's the secret.' 9

The merchant walked beside Theo for a while, his bulging pack jingling. 'I've crossed this bridge many times,' he said. 'Every tenth step brings a challenge, but each one is small. Focus on just the next step, and soon you'll be across.' Theo nodded, feeling braver. At step eighty, Pip asked him to spot a hidden star in the sky. Theo looked up and found it twinkling. 'Got it!' he said. The merchant clapped. 10

At step ninety, the last challenge arrived. Pip handed Theo a tiny seed. 'Plant this in the crack of the bridge and make a wish for someone else.' Theo thought of his little sister, who was sick at home. He planted the seed and wished for her to get well. A tiny green sprout appeared, and Pip's golden eyes glowed. 'Your wish will come true,' they said. The merchant smiled proudly. 11

Theo took a deep breath. Only ten steps left! But the bridge ahead looked steep and a little scary. The merchant put a gentle hand on his shoulder. 'Remember, one step at a time. You've already done ninety. What's ten more?' Theo nodded. He counted each step aloud: one, two, three... The merchant cheered him on. 'You can do it!' Theo felt a burst of courage. 12

Four, five, six... Theo focused on his boots, one after the other. Seven, eight, nine... The merchant's voice was warm behind him. 'Almost there!' Ten! Theo stepped onto the solid ground of the far side. He had made it! The merchant beamed and shook his hand. 'I knew you could. You learned the secret: big goals become easy when you go one step at a time.' Theo grinned from ear to ear.