Seaside Treasure

Each year, Jenny and her brothers, Garrett and Robby, would visit their grandparents in Long Beach, New York.

Long Beach is a magical beach town surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the smell of sea air hits you as soon as you open the car door.

Jenny and her brothers counted down the days until they were back at their grandparent’s house for the summer. They looked forward to spending the days boogie boarding and eating turkey sandwiches on the sand.

Their first day back at the beach started like any other. Their dad was out body surfing in the water and Jenny lied on a towel catching up on her summer reading.

Garrett and Robby were busy building a sand castle when something hit into the side of their moat. At first they didn’t notice, but Jenny could see something sparkle from where she sat.

“Hey guys, do you see that silver thing catching the light?” Jenny asked her brothers.

They crowded around the castle to get a better look.

“It looks like a key” exclaimed Robby.

“I think it’s a coin” added Garrett.

“You’re both wrong, it’s a locket necklace” concluded Jenny.

She carefully removed the necklace from the sand and brought it over to her towel, gently brushing it off.

On the front of the locket the name “Emily” was inscribed. Inside, was a grainy image of a man and woman, taken at least 50 years ago.

“Wow, what a find!” called out their dad as he made his way from the ocean.

“What do you think we should do with this necklace?” asked Garrett.

“Let’s bring this over to the lifeguard and see if anyone has reported it missing” said their dad.

While their mom guarded their beach chairs and umbrella, Jenny, Garrett, Robby and their dad began the trek up to the lifeguard’s chair.

The lifeguard climbed down from his post to inspect the necklace.

“You say you found this in the ocean?” he questioned the children.

“No, it washed up next to our sand castle” answered Robby.

“I see, let me radio over to our lost and found office to see if anyone has reported a missing necklace.”

The lifeguard pulled out his radio and explained the situation to the person on the other end.

“So, it turns out kids, you have made quite the discovery” said the lifeguard.

“Apparently this necklace was reported missing over a year ago and almost daily, a woman named Emily has called the lost and found looking for it.”

The children, their dad and the lifeguard walked over to the main office and dialed Emily’s number.

“Hello this is Emily” she answered on the first ring.

“Hi Emily, it’s John from Long Beach lifeguard station. I have some news that I think will make you pretty happy. A group of kids have found the necklace you have been calling about.”

A gasp was heard on the other end and Emily began to softly cry.

After a few moments, she said, “this is wonderful to hear. Could I trouble you to please bring the necklace to my house? I live close to the beach but am not too mobile these days.”

“Of course” the children’s dad answered.

The children, their mom and dad packed up their beach bag and began the short trek to Emily’s house as the sun began to set.

Emily’s small house was only a few blocks from the beach.

The children knocked on the door and an elderly woman with a walker answered.

Emily led the children and their parents into her humble home.

She offered them some lemonade and they made themselves comfortable on her sofa.

Jenny presented the necklace to Emily and she began to weep.

“I can’t even express how grateful I am!” Emily said.

“A year ago, my daughter was wearing this necklace in the ocean and it fell off when a large wave crashed into her. We have been looking for this ever since. Did you happen to open the locket?” Emily asked with a smile.

“We did, is that a picture of you?” questioned Garrett.

“It is me and my late husband, Tim. A photograph taken at our wedding day, almost fifty years ago.”

Emily placed a photo album on the table and a matching image to the one in the locket was found on the first page.

The children and their parents left Emily’s house smiling.

They had never expected their typical day at the beach to turn into such an adventure.

Happy to have helped solve a mystery for Emily, their vacation was already off to a great start.

As the children headed home, they wondered what else was in store for them this summer?

The end.