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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Childhood / Youth
- Published: 04/21/2021
The Magic Sandcastle
Born 1980, M, from Exeter, United KingdomI Did not like going to the beach, every summer my family would get really excited. My Dad would always come in with a huge grin on his face exclaiming “It’s summertime again, you know what that means”? My little brother and sister would answer with a chorus of “Beach, beach, beach”. They would be so excited that they would already be dressed with a swimming costume, snorkel and mask. I would always be reluctant to get changed, “come on Jim, don't spoil a nice day again” said my Dad. “The beach is great” said Mum, and “you will be surprised how many friends you will make there”. I remained where I am, sat at the kitchen table eating my cereal. I ignore them and continue chewing. “Come on, try and participate, your brother and sister are really excited, please, for me, don't ruin the day”. I reluctantly get up, go upstairs, change into my swimming things, come back down and go to the car without a word.
As we drive to the beach, my brother and sister sing and my parents soon join in, even I get swept up in the moment and start to sing along with them. My Mum and Dad seem pleased and smile at me encouragingly in the rear view mirror. Once we arrive at the beach, my brother and sister race off to the waters edge but I hang back. "Mum, do I really have to go down, last time the boys made fun of me”. “That was last year Honey, I am sure they will be better by now, now come on, let's have a nice day”. No sooner had we all got set up and I sat down on a deck chair, did the boys see me and started taunting me. “Ah Jim, I can't believe you have come down here, you look like a beached whale”. I try to think of something to say back but cannot, the taunts really hurt me and I begin to cry hot tears running down my cheeks. Mum and Dad notice, Mum whispers “just ignore them, go down and make a sandcastle at the water's edge”. “A sandcastle? I shouted angrily. Mum I am not five”. “Go on” she says “it might make you feel better”. I stomp off down to the beach.
When my brother and sister see me at the water's edge, they call me “come over and play with us Jim” I ignore them and walk further down the beach “I want to be alone, why can't everyone just leave me alone”? I started building a sand castle, I don't know why, maybe to keep my parents happy. The more I build the more I get into it. When I finish something weird happens, I can no longer hear any sound from the beach, all of the noise from the ocean, including the noise of children playing and the calls of the gulls squawking have gone. Silence, I look around but all I can see is sand. What is this I thought, I look for my parents but I cannot see them. Just then a hermit crab came scuttling towards me pushing a rock. When he sees me, he stops. He has a long drooping moustache and glasses. “don't just stand there, grab some ammunition and help us defend the castle, pirates are coming. When I don't respond he says “hello, I am talking to you, help us”. I shake my head as if in a daze “you're talking to me” I say? “Of course, who else would I be talking to? There is no one else here. He gives me some rocks in exasperation ”. Come on shouts the crab Just then I hear someone else shout “Pirates have been spotted”. I followed the hermit crab up the steps to the castle ramparts. I am surprised to see I have a clear view of the horizon . When we get up there we see a starfish standing lookout. He has already begun firing at the plastic boat floating in the water. Using his five arms to hurl rocks at the red hulled pirate boat. As I watch, more boats appear. “There are too many of them, we can't do it alone”. Despite the many rocks being thrown at the enemy ships, they are dodging them. Being captained and navigating expertly, they are close enough to see that they are being skippered by Jellyfish with eye patches and black pirate hats with skull and crossbones on. I pick up some rocks and begin to help but even with my added fire power they just keep coming. Someone cries “they are about to make land we are finished!”. I look around and see the speaker is a shrimp. “What are we going to do?” The srip says waving her antennae in the air dramatically. “don't worry Ruby , chin up old Girl, we will be alright, we just need reinforcements "The crab replies. “You there boy” he turns to me. “What is your name”? “Jim,” I reply. “Well Jim, my name is Basil” said the crab. “Sorry we had to meet under such perilous circumstances, but I can't let our home be destroyed by pirates”.
The pirates were firing back now and sand was going everywhere as the castle walls crumbled. “We need your help, we want you to go over there and talk to the boys, I am sure with their help we can defeat the enemy”. “Not those boys, they will make fun of me” I beg. “Nonsense” says Basil, “time is of the essence, go over and talk to them, I am sure they will help us”. I went over to talk to them, to my surprise they were only too willing to help and they apologised for not getting to know the real me before this.
Back at the sand castle with all of us throwing rocks at the pirate ships, we eventually sunk the ships. The hermit crab, starfish and shrimp and many other creatures I had not previously noticed, crowded around us saying “Thank you” and shaking our hands. I said goodbye to my new found friends and promised to come and visit again soon.
Suddenly the noise of the ocean is back, I look around to see my parents, and brother and sister packing up. It is the end of the day.
Back in the car, my brother and sister chat excitedly about all of the games they played. My Mum asked me “did you have a nice time Jim”? I saw you, it seems like you have made some friends with those boys, see I told you they won’t be that bad, “Oh yes, the beach is so exciting, can we come again tomorrow so I can see my friends? Mum and Dad look perplexed and burst out laughing “we are so glad you have enjoyed yourself” “It’s been the best summers day ever”, my brother and sister say in unison yes been a great day. I can’t wait for tomorrow so I can go to the beach again.
The Magic Sandcastle(Christopher Long)
I Did not like going to the beach, every summer my family would get really excited. My Dad would always come in with a huge grin on his face exclaiming “It’s summertime again, you know what that means”? My little brother and sister would answer with a chorus of “Beach, beach, beach”. They would be so excited that they would already be dressed with a swimming costume, snorkel and mask. I would always be reluctant to get changed, “come on Jim, don't spoil a nice day again” said my Dad. “The beach is great” said Mum, and “you will be surprised how many friends you will make there”. I remained where I am, sat at the kitchen table eating my cereal. I ignore them and continue chewing. “Come on, try and participate, your brother and sister are really excited, please, for me, don't ruin the day”. I reluctantly get up, go upstairs, change into my swimming things, come back down and go to the car without a word.
As we drive to the beach, my brother and sister sing and my parents soon join in, even I get swept up in the moment and start to sing along with them. My Mum and Dad seem pleased and smile at me encouragingly in the rear view mirror. Once we arrive at the beach, my brother and sister race off to the waters edge but I hang back. "Mum, do I really have to go down, last time the boys made fun of me”. “That was last year Honey, I am sure they will be better by now, now come on, let's have a nice day”. No sooner had we all got set up and I sat down on a deck chair, did the boys see me and started taunting me. “Ah Jim, I can't believe you have come down here, you look like a beached whale”. I try to think of something to say back but cannot, the taunts really hurt me and I begin to cry hot tears running down my cheeks. Mum and Dad notice, Mum whispers “just ignore them, go down and make a sandcastle at the water's edge”. “A sandcastle? I shouted angrily. Mum I am not five”. “Go on” she says “it might make you feel better”. I stomp off down to the beach.
When my brother and sister see me at the water's edge, they call me “come over and play with us Jim” I ignore them and walk further down the beach “I want to be alone, why can't everyone just leave me alone”? I started building a sand castle, I don't know why, maybe to keep my parents happy. The more I build the more I get into it. When I finish something weird happens, I can no longer hear any sound from the beach, all of the noise from the ocean, including the noise of children playing and the calls of the gulls squawking have gone. Silence, I look around but all I can see is sand. What is this I thought, I look for my parents but I cannot see them. Just then a hermit crab came scuttling towards me pushing a rock. When he sees me, he stops. He has a long drooping moustache and glasses. “don't just stand there, grab some ammunition and help us defend the castle, pirates are coming. When I don't respond he says “hello, I am talking to you, help us”. I shake my head as if in a daze “you're talking to me” I say? “Of course, who else would I be talking to? There is no one else here. He gives me some rocks in exasperation ”. Come on shouts the crab Just then I hear someone else shout “Pirates have been spotted”. I followed the hermit crab up the steps to the castle ramparts. I am surprised to see I have a clear view of the horizon . When we get up there we see a starfish standing lookout. He has already begun firing at the plastic boat floating in the water. Using his five arms to hurl rocks at the red hulled pirate boat. As I watch, more boats appear. “There are too many of them, we can't do it alone”. Despite the many rocks being thrown at the enemy ships, they are dodging them. Being captained and navigating expertly, they are close enough to see that they are being skippered by Jellyfish with eye patches and black pirate hats with skull and crossbones on. I pick up some rocks and begin to help but even with my added fire power they just keep coming. Someone cries “they are about to make land we are finished!”. I look around and see the speaker is a shrimp. “What are we going to do?” The srip says waving her antennae in the air dramatically. “don't worry Ruby , chin up old Girl, we will be alright, we just need reinforcements "The crab replies. “You there boy” he turns to me. “What is your name”? “Jim,” I reply. “Well Jim, my name is Basil” said the crab. “Sorry we had to meet under such perilous circumstances, but I can't let our home be destroyed by pirates”.
The pirates were firing back now and sand was going everywhere as the castle walls crumbled. “We need your help, we want you to go over there and talk to the boys, I am sure with their help we can defeat the enemy”. “Not those boys, they will make fun of me” I beg. “Nonsense” says Basil, “time is of the essence, go over and talk to them, I am sure they will help us”. I went over to talk to them, to my surprise they were only too willing to help and they apologised for not getting to know the real me before this.
Back at the sand castle with all of us throwing rocks at the pirate ships, we eventually sunk the ships. The hermit crab, starfish and shrimp and many other creatures I had not previously noticed, crowded around us saying “Thank you” and shaking our hands. I said goodbye to my new found friends and promised to come and visit again soon.
Suddenly the noise of the ocean is back, I look around to see my parents, and brother and sister packing up. It is the end of the day.
Back in the car, my brother and sister chat excitedly about all of the games they played. My Mum asked me “did you have a nice time Jim”? I saw you, it seems like you have made some friends with those boys, see I told you they won’t be that bad, “Oh yes, the beach is so exciting, can we come again tomorrow so I can see my friends? Mum and Dad look perplexed and burst out laughing “we are so glad you have enjoyed yourself” “It’s been the best summers day ever”, my brother and sister say in unison yes been a great day. I can’t wait for tomorrow so I can go to the beach again.
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