A Day at the Beach

 

        Sandy’s second trip down to the soft sand gave her another little pail full to bring back to where her mother sat on their blanket.  She carefully dumped it out next to the edge of the blanket and with her little shovel began to spread it out searching for tiny treasures from the ocean.

She had already collected three small shells and a broken sand dollar.  As she ever so gently spread the pile of sand out, she noticed two feet right in front of her.  She slowly looked up and saw a seagull standing watching her sort through the sand.  He seemed very curious.  Sandy mumbled something that sounded like, this is mine.  Go away.  But the seagull just kept watching her look through the pile of sand.

It was almost exactly at the same time that the sun sparkled off of something in her pile and the gull reached forward and pecked it out.  He quickly took two steps back and dropped the item on the sand in front of him.  Sandy saw it was a shiny ring, with what looked like a good-sized diamond.  

Annoyed at the seagull stealing her treasure, Sandy gave the ground a sharp whap with the back of her shovel.  The seagull took another step back, but didn’t appear too concerned, as again he reached forward, picking up the ring and this time flying off towards the water.

“What are you doing with that seagull?” asked Sandy’s mother.  “He was trying to take my shells, but I chased him away.” 

“Good for you, honey.  Don’t let those things get too close.  They're full of disease and stuff.” 

Later that afternoon, Maryann and her husband returned to the beach with their rented metal detectors, searching for her lost engagement ring.  I know this because I’ve been sitting watching all this activity since right after breakfast.  I would have said something right when the ring first appeared, but like I said, that seagull was quick.  Hopefully he dropped it before he was out over the water.

 

PS
        I was just guessing the lady's name was Maryann.  I have no idea who they are, but I did hear them talking about the ring. 

 

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