Hey, Taleblazers, I'm Rebecca Cunningham, and this is Girl Tales, a kids' podcast packed with

girl power and stories where every child's voice matters. Now on to our episode.

This is Mariela and the Glass Hill.

Enjoy!

I'd like to tell you about a friend of mine.

Her name was Mariella, and she lived here in freshwater long ago, back when it was still called Aquinova. She and I never met, but her

act of strength and generosity makes her a legend and a dear friend to all in freshwater. Mariela and her father lived on a large

meadow, and the summer solstice, the most magical time of year, was upon them. For generations,

Mariela's family grew the tallest grass in all of Aquanova, which they would turn into the

finest hay.

But for the last two years, their grass mysteriously disappeared in the night,

before the summer solstice, preventing them from selling any hay.

Alas and a lack, Mariela's father cried.

Despite my attempt to catch our mysterious grass bandits, I haven't been able to stop them.

One year prior, father decided that he would hide out in the barn to see if he could catch the

grass bandits in the act.

But that night, the ground rumbled so roughly beneath him that the barn shook wildly.

It was so scary father couldn't handle him.

He ran right into the house and didn't catch the bandits.

And that brings us to the present moment.

If our grass disappears again tonight, we will have to sell our home.

I can catch the bandits, father. Mariela chimed in.

...