It was a quiet weekend afternoon, and Daisy was spinning in the kitchen, practicing her pirouettes. “Watch this one, Mum!” she called as she whirled into a perfect turn.
“Lovely, Daisy,” Mum said, smiling over her book. “Just don’t knock into the table.”
But Daisy wasn’t listening—she was imagining herself performing on a grand stage, the spotlight shining down.
Suddenly, Dad burst into the kitchen, holding a piece of paper. “I’ve got a surprise for everyone!”
Daisy stopped mid-spin. “What is it?”
“An old colleague of mine just opened a tower climbing course out by Brindlewood Forest. It’s a challenge with puzzles and rope bridges, and there’s even a big twisty slide at the top!”
“Sounds fun,” Daisy said, bouncing on her toes.
“Not just fun,” Dad added with a grin. “It’s an adventure.”
Fred rolled his eyes. “Let me guess—Daisy’s going to turn it into a dance-off?”
Daisy smirked. “If you can’t keep up, don’t complain.”
Arriving at the Tower
The Twisting Tower stood at the edge of the forest, taller than Daisy had expected. It was made of wooden beams, ropes, and platforms that zigzagged upward into the trees. A spiral slide wrapped around the outside, disappearing into the forest below.
“We’re going all the way to the top!” Dad said enthusiastically, adjusting his backpack.
“Not before we solve the puzzles,” said the guide at the entrance, handing Daisy a small key-shaped card. “The tower is full of challenges. Every puzzle you solve unlocks the next level.”
Fred groaned. “Great. More thinking.”
Daisy grinned. “I bet I’ll be faster than you.”
The First Challenge
The first level was a wooden platform surrounded by ropes and gears. A glowing screen lit up with the first puzzle:
“Find the missing piece to make the gears turn.”
“Easy,” Dad said, scanning the platform. Daisy, however, noticed something right away—a faint pattern of footprints on the wooden planks.
“Look!” she said, pointing. “The footprints lead to the edge.”
They followed the prints to a small box tucked behind a rope. Inside was a shiny gear.
“Nice work, Daisy,” Dad said, slotting the gear into place. The ropes above them shifted, revealing a ladder to the next level.
“One down, a few more to go,” Daisy said, climbing up.
The Wobbly Bridge
The second level was a long, wobbly rope bridge swaying in the wind. Below them, the forest stretched out like a green ocean.
“I don’t like this,” Fred muttered, gripping the ropes tightly.
“It’s just like dancing,” Daisy said confidently. “Balance, and step carefully!”
Halfway across, the bridge creaked loudly. Daisy froze.
“Uh… Dad?” she called.
“Don’t panic,” Dad said from behind her. “Stay calm and keep moving.”
But before Daisy could take another step, a sudden gust of wind sent the bridge swaying violently. Fred let out a yelp and clung to the ropes.
Daisy gritted her teeth and thought of her dance moves. One step, two step, spin…
“Follow me,” she said, moving steadily forward. “You just need a rhythm.”
With Daisy leading the way, they all made it across safely.
“See?” she said, grinning. “Dancing is useful!”
The Puzzle of Lights
The next level was a circular room filled with mirrors and coloured lights that bounced across the walls. Another screen displayed the puzzle:
“Align the lights to unlock the path.”
“It’s like a disco,” Daisy said, twirling under the coloured beams.
Fred groaned. “It’s not dancing—it’s physics. Light reflects off mirrors.”
Together, they angled the mirrors to guide the beams into a central crystal. When the crystal glowed, a trapdoor in the ceiling slid open, revealing a ladder to the top.
“Almost there!” Dad said, climbing up.
The Twisting Slide
At the very top, the view was breathtaking. The forest stretched out in every direction, and the late afternoon sun painted everything in golden light.
“Totally worth it,” Daisy said, spinning in a circle.
But just as they were about to take the slide down, a loud cracking sound echoed below them.
“What was that?” Fred asked, his face pale.
Dad looked over the edge. “One of the lower platforms is loose. We need to get down quickly!”
Racing the Clock
The slide was the fastest way down, but it wasn’t designed for everyone at once.
“You first, Daisy,” Dad said.
Daisy hesitated, but then she thought about the wobbling bridge and the puzzles they’d solved. She took a deep breath and stepped into the slide.
“Here I go!”
The spiral slide twisted and turned, faster than she expected. Wind rushed past her face as she zipped through the tower, finally landing in a soft pile of sand at the bottom.
“Next!” she shouted, waving.
Fred came flying down, followed by Dad, both landing in a heap.
“We made it!” Daisy said, brushing herself off.
Home Again
That evening, as they drove home, Fred finally admitted, “Okay, your balance thing was pretty cool. You handled that bridge like a pro.”
Daisy smirked. “Dancing saves the day again.”
Dad chuckled. “Next time, we’ll do something easier.”
Daisy shook her head. “No way. Let’s do something harder!”
And as the car rolled on, Daisy imagined herself spinning her way through her next daring adventure.