The City That Ran (Short Story for Kids)

Once there was a city that was alive. It breathed through winds and was aware of what was happening inside it. People who lived in it were happy and took care of it. They planted trees, kept their houses and streets clean and followed a disciplinary approach to live in it. The city in turn gave them fresh water, fertile land and lot of resources that made their life beautiful.

With time people got tired and started ignoring the needs of the city. They still took whatever they needed from it, but no longer did their duties towards it. For years the city ignored their awful nature and continued giving them fresh food and shelter. However, when the cracks of buildings began showing in open, it decided to teach them a lesson. So once night, when everyone slept, the city woke up and ran. It locked its roads and travelled north for days. When the city finally stopped, the people discovered that they were surrounded by bitter cold.

“We have always lived in spring. How do we get back?” they asked each other as they explored the surroundings.

After searching for days and not finding any way to go back, they decided to speak to the city.

“So this is how you take care of us when we show our trust in you?” They said. “Well, get ready, because we know how to bring a city to its knees.”

In the weeks that followed, the people and the city had a rough fight. While people tried to open the blocked roads, the city did everything to stop them from getting out. In the middle of the fight, the cold started to freeze the homes of people and crack the walls of the city. When they had nothing left to eat, the people – masters of the city – realized the only way to win is to make peace. And so they began cleaning the streets and repairing the damages. The city also noticed that it liked the refurnished look and began easing out its anger. Soon enough, the town began sparkling with cleanliness. The city got so happy that one night; it ran back to the country it belonged to.

They arrived just before dawn, delighted with the little trip they all had taken together. The lasting pristineness meant the city could finally rest in peace.

The only thing known about the city now is that when it grew old, it was taken down wall by wall and distributed all over the world. Some stones from those walls could well be part of your town today, so don’t forget to take care of it so that the old city is forever happy.