It was a cool October afternoon, and Frank Stevens was helping his dad pick apples in their backyard orchard. Wooden crates were filling up with crisp red and golden apples, ready to be sorted. His older brother Kent, home from college for fall break, was out helping too.

For a while, they worked near the side fence that bordered the neighborhood sidewalk. A few people passed by—joggers, dog walkers, kids on bikes. Mr. Grant from next door paused to chat.

Just then, a sleek black scooter came buzzing down the road. On it was Harry Porter, one of Frank’s classmates. He pulled up to the fence, took off his helmet, and grinned.

“Hey, Frank! Perfect day for apples, huh?”

Frank nodded, forcing a smile.

After a minute of small talk, Harry waved goodbye, an apple in his hand and two more stuffed into his hoodie pockets. He sped off down the street.

“Nice kid,” Kent said, brushing dirt from his hands.

Mr. Grant nodded. “He’s sharp, too. Blew us away at the school STEM night last week. Solved that math puzzle in under a minute.”

Kent raised his eyebrows. “Impressive.”

Frank stayed quiet, shifting apples from one crate to another without saying a word.

After Mr. Grant left, Kent looked at his brother. “You’ve been quiet all day. What’s up?”

Frank hesitated. Then he said, “What’s the point of trying when someone like Harry makes everything look easy?”

Kent leaned on the fence. “You mean because of STEM night?”

Frank nodded. “It’s not just that. He always knows the answer. He gets extra credit without even trying. And I—” He paused. “I bombed the last two math quizzes. I’m actually starting to fail.”

Kent let that settle. “And you think it’s just because he’s smarter?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Frank said. “He probably studies an hour a night and still has time to build robots or whatever. Meanwhile, I’m stuck reviewing the same problem five times and still don’t get it.”

“Okay,” Kent said, setting down a crate. “Let’s take five. Come sit with me.”

They sat in the shade near the garage.

“You know,” Kent said, “you’re not the only person to feel that way. I used to compare myself to other students all the time. There was this kid, Marcus. Perfect essays. Top of the class. And I’d sit there thinking, ‘Why even bother turning mine in?’”

Frank looked at him. “So what’d you do?”

“I almost gave up,” Kent admitted. “But then a teacher told me something that stuck: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

Frank frowned. “What does that even mean?”

“It means Harry might be ahead of you in math right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t catch up—or even pass him—if you figure out your own way of learning. It also means you get to decide what success looks like for you.”

Frank didn’t say anything. A light breeze rustled the leaves overhead.

Kent went on. “You’re smart, Frank. But more than that, you’re capable. Failing two quizzes doesn’t mean you’re done. It means you’ve hit a challenge. The question is: what do you do about it?”

Frank shrugged. “Try harder, I guess?”

“Not just harder,” Kent said. “Smarter. Get help from your teacher. Use those online videos. Set up a plan. Put your phone away for half an hour and really focus. Trust me, doing the hard work now will pay off more than you think.”

Frank picked up a small apple and turned it in his hand. “You really think I can turn it around?”

“I don’t think—I know,” Kent said. “And here’s the real secret. It’s not about being the smartest kid in class. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and not giving up when things get hard. That’s how you win—at school, and in life.”

They stood up, dusting off their jeans.

“Want help going over that last quiz?” Kent asked.

Frank nodded. “Yeah. That’d be great.”

They walked back to the crates.

“Hey, Kent?” Frank said.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks. I needed that talk.”

Kent smiled. “Anytime, Professor Stevens.”

Frank rolled his eyes—but smiled too. For the first time all week, he felt ready to try again.

_{“The Secret of it” by Nina D. Smith © 2025. Retelling of “THE SECRET OF IT” from A Day in the Country and Other Stories from “The Pansy” originally published in 1885.}

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“This Secret of It” is best suited for students in grades 4–6, as it features relatable middle-grade characters, real-life school challenges, and accessible language appropriate for upper elementary readers.