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.

The Adventures of Lily Leafhopper by Orla R.

Hi, my name is Lily Leafhopper and this how I got lost and in BIG trouble all in one day.

I'm 7 years old and live in the tallest tree you've ever seen - it almost touches the clouds! I live with my mum and dad, Mr and Mrs Leafhopper, and my big brother Lupin. We are amazing at, well, leaf hopping…oh, and I'm only 1cm tall!

Leaf hopping is where you hop from leaf to lead just for fun. It's tricky in winter, a bit dangerous in autumn, and in summer we have to be careful because of the tree trimming people.

One sunny day Lupin was feeling cheeky and climbing very high up our tree on Oak Wood Drive. "I bet you can't hop this high Lily." "Of course I can!" I said, but I knew mum wouldn't want me past the third branch, and this was number 5!

I hopped my way up. "Tada!" I said, "told you I could." "Lily, I dare you to touch the very highest leaf." I felt nervous but Lupin knew I couldn't turn down a dare - he's only a bit taller than me but he's so brave. I wish I was that brave. "Watch this" I said. Lupin had a smirk on his face. He didn't believe I could do this - neither did I!

Before I knew it, I was standing on the highest leaf. I'd done it! "I TOLD YOU I COULD DO IT" I shouted down. I was doing a little happy dance when suddenly…" Lupin, help!" The leaf snapped. I screamed. It was like the worst roller coaster - so fast with loops and drops. It was horrible, I felt sick. Thud!

I landed on my bum. Oh no, I'm on Lime Tree Avenue and they have a cat! I felt so scared. What if I couldn't find my way home? What if I get eaten by a pigeon? What would mum say?!!! I sat down to think about how to get home and remembered that at Acorns, the school I go to, that we learnt leaf reading and how to cross a branch safely.

Could I really find my way home on my own or would I get more lost? "Lily, you can do this" I said to myself. I stood up, brushed myself off and off I went.

"LILY LEAFHOPPER!" I knew that voice. It was mum. She was furious. "What on earth are you doing thinking you could climb to the 12th branch. Anything could have happened to you!" She carried on without stopping for 7 whole minutes.

She didn't let me explain it was a dare or how proud I was for going so high. I'm grounded. So is Lupin. I bet you thought my story was going to be about being eaten by a car, stolen by a pigeon, or how I made my way home all on my own. Nope! I'm 1cm tall and 7 years old, that would have been crazy!

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