Ravi and the Dare on Hollow Street

Ages 6–8

When the older kids dare Ravi to smash windows in the abandoned house, he must decide whether to throw the stone in his hand or find the courage to simply walk away.

Children learn that real courage sometimes looks like calmly walking away from pressure, not proving yourself to a crowd.

Ravi kicked a pebble down the cracked sidewalk of Hollow Street, his lucky stone warm in his pocket. "Strength isn't loud," he whispered to himself, remembering his grandfather's words. Up ahead, Marcus, Denny, and Priya waited by the leaning fence. "Took you long enough!" Marcus called, waving him over with a grin.

"See that window up top?" Marcus pointed at the house's tallest broken pane. "Bet you can't hit it." Denny snickered. Priya's smile faded. Ravi looked up at the dark, jagged glass and felt the lucky stone grow heavier in his pocket, like it already knew what was coming.

Marcus scooped a rough stone off the ground and pressed it into Ravi's palm. "Go on. Everybody's done it. Even Denny." Denny nodded fast. Ravi rolled the rough dare-stone between his fingers, feeling his own smooth lucky stone still tucked safe and separate in his pocket, steady and cool.

Make it with your child's name and photo · Browse the Story Library