500 Words 2025/26: read a finalist's story from the 5-7 category

This story was chosen as a finalist for 500 Words 2025/26.

Remember, spelling, punctuation and grammar are not taken into account for a 500 Words story, therefore all the top 50 stories have been published how they were submitted.

My Patka, My Crown, My Roar by Harmilan P.

There was once a boy called Arjan Singh when he started school, his parents were nervous.

On his first day his Mum Amrit kept smoothing the creases on his black patka like it was the most important thing in the world. His Dad, Amar smiled, but Arjan could see the worry in his eyes.

His parents were nervous because Arjan looked different to everyone else at school. Arjan wore a patka, a little turban.

Amrit and Amar dropped Arjan to school and waited for him to go into his class. Before going in Arjan turned around and gave them a big hug and they said "you've got this Arjan" squeezing his hand tight.

In class Arjan sat on the carpet next to a boy called Alfie. He stared at Arjan's head and said,"What is that and why are you wearing it?"Arjan replied "I'm a Sikh boy. We don't cut our hair it's special."Alfie asked "So your hair is really long?"Before Arjan could answer, another boy giggled, "It looks like you've got a tennis ball on your head!"

For a second, Arjan's cheeks felt hot like toast, he got angry and upset. He didn't know what to say. Then he remembered his Dad Amar's words saying "your patka is your crown, wear it with pride" so Arjan said to Alfie "That's my crown. Everyone's crown looks different."Arjan grinned to himself thinking "A crown! I liked that". Amar had taught Arjan that Sikh boys are known as Singhs' which means a Lion and they wear their patka as a crown. In that moment Arjan realised that he wasn't just a boy with a patka, he was a lion with a crown.

After that, Arjan started to roar a little louder inside. Not an angry roar, but a brave one.When someone asked about his patka, he didn't hide it, he told them it was his crown that reminded him to be kind, brave and strong. Even the "tennis ball" boy said, "It's actually kinda cool."

One day, the school was holidng a Crazy Hair Day.At home, Arjan told his Mum that he felt left out. "Everyone's going to have wild hair, and I can't change mine."His Mum hugged him and whispered, "You don't need to change your hair to shine. You already wear your crown."

Next morning, Arjan chose his brightest, boldest red patka the one that made him feel seen like a superhero version of himself.When he walked into class his teacher gasped, "Wow, that's amazing!"Even Alfie said, "It's great to see you wear a bright colour patka"Arjan smiled with happiness.

Now when Arjan looks in the mirror he doesn't just see fabric tied neatly around his head. He sees courage, he sees love, he sees a lion.

Because his patka isn't just something he wears, it's part of who he is. Now every morning he reminds himself that "It's my crown, my pride, and most of all, my roar."

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