Riptide by Ava

Riptide

AVA LUSTIG

Table of Contents Riptide……………………………………………….….3 Briar……………………………………………………..5 Coming Home…………………………………..……...7 Jealousy………………………………………..……….9 The Beach…....……………………………….……….11 Feud……………………………………....…………....13

Chapter 1: Riptide Name: Madison Gender: male Age: 9 France 1710 The water crashes beautifully on the shore as we run across the mushy sand. We had been at the beach all day making sandcastles and mingling with our fellow acquaintances.

Evangeline and I are the best of friends and we do everything together. The beach is our favorite place in the world seeing as we go here almost every day. We would stay here forever if we could but sadly it is very unlikely that my parents would tolerate that.

Mother told me to be back to the house by dark so we are to be leaving soon.

“The sun is to be setting soon; we should be getting back to our families,” I explain.

“Just one more minute, Madison,” she calls. I agreed and I sat on the edge of the glistening water as she ran into the sea. The fish were swimming in such a way that they almost looked like delicate glass gliding through the crystal clear water. Suddenly the fish looked distressed and in one swift motion pulled from the shallow coast into the dark brine .

“We really need to get back now, Evangeline,” I called out but she couldn't hear me. I ran to her as she ventured deeper into the ocean but it was too late… she had been swept up by the riptide.

The rest of the day was all a blur; all I remember was

3

weeping at the beach for the rest of the night and waking up in my bed.

“Where is Evangeline?” I asked my mother, assuming the day before was all a dream.

“I’m not sure, Madison; she wasn't with you when I found you on the beach this morning. She most likely walked home and didn't want to wake you,” my mother said softly. I knew that wasn't possible because she doesn't know her way home because when it’s dark she can't navigate but I didn't want my mother to assume that I was responsible for her being swept off to sea.

“Would it be ok if I visited her?” I asked. My mother agreed and I walked to her home. When I rang the doorbell, her mother answered the door.

“Where is my daughter, Madison?” her mother asked me nervously. I had to lie or else I would be an outcast to everyone in my village.

“Evangeline told me that she was going to walk home alone because she knows the way Ma’am.” I’m not a very good liar but this was important so I tried very hard to sound realistic, and it worked because the next thing I knew Evangeline’s mom was looking far and wide for her daughter. I felt bad for not telling her the truth but it wouldn't make things any better. The village gossip told me that her mother never found her and settled in England. I miss Evangeline but I hope that her mother has since recovered.

4

Chapter 2: Briar Name: Madison Gender: male Age: 12 It’s been three years since the incident, but I still miss Evangeline. To be honest I don't think that I’ll stop missing her any time soon. I did meet Briar though; she is one of my very best friends. Her golden hair shines in the sun as we walk along the beach. I’m not fond of the beach like I used to be but Briar loves it so I go with her often. As the waves crash on the shore, she asks me what my greatest secret is. I get nervous when people ask me this question because I can not possibly tell them about Evangeline, so I just tell her that I have no secrets and she starts going on about a different topic.

Every time I go to the beach I try my very hardest to be extra cautious around the water. Briar once asked me why I don't go in the water, so I just told her that I couldn't swim and luckily she never asked again. It's very hard for me to lie to her because we are so close but I mustn't take the risk of her telling somebody. If anybody finds out, I will be an outcast and not even Briar will be friends with me. Since she is very popular, she would never risk her reputation even if it meant losing a friendship. As of right now the village including Briar believes that Evangeline was kidnapped because kidnappings aren't too out of the ordinary where I live. On the other hand, if the roles were reversed I would never alienate her because of something that wasn't even her fault. I will most likely never tell a soul about it. It's not that I don't trust Briar; it's just that she has a tendency to start gossip.

5

“It’s starting to get late so we must be getting back; I don't want to worry mother,” she says.

As soon as my head hits my cotton pillow I drift off into a deep sleep. I see the ocean and a figure in the distance.

When I get closer to the figure, I start to make out the silhouette of a young girl. She looks about eight, and she has a familiar appearance. I’ve been having the same dream for about a week now so I already know how it will end. The girl I see in the distance calls my name repeatedly until I answer.

Her voice gradually gets louder until I hear a piercing cry and I can't help but answer. As soon as I answer ,the girl is swept away by the waves.

I always wake up in tears and cannot sleep for the rest of the night. I don’t know why this is happening now seeing as it has been years since the incident. It could possibly be a sign that I need to stop feeling so guilty about it, but I think that I will find that impossible. The guilt is tearing me apart from the inside out and there is nothing I can do about it.

6

Chapter 3: Coming H ome Name: Evangeline Gender: female Age: 12 The sky is a beautiful blue which I have not seen in a long time. In Avington there have been very many rain storms lately which makes it hard to go outside. My mother decided that we should move back to Paris because she did not like the weather in Avington. I have just moved here today but I don't remember much so I hope to gather the confidence to go up to a couple of people and get to know them a bit better.

I used to live here when I was little until a horrible accident happened. On a quaint summer day I was playing with my best friend Madison at the beach. We would walk there almost every day because the waves were so calming and we would sit on the shore for hours just talking. That day was scorching hot so I decided to get into the water. By the time I descended into the blissful ocean, it was too late. I heard Madison behind me but when I turned around the waves grabbed me, and I was taken far away. I presume that Madison drowned after trying to save me but I can't know for sure. I think about what could have happened to him often, but the truth is that there is a very small chance that he survived. It all happened so fast that I couldn't comprehend the situation until I was cast onto a huge rock that I sat on for about six hours until the sun rose and I set off for shore.

Thankfully after almost two hours of swimming I landed on a far away shore and a very kind lady let me stay with her for about a month until I found out that the lady knew my mother and sent a letter telling her where I was. When my mother

7

found me we decided to stay in Avignon. I was only eight but I remember the day at the beach like it was yesterday.

As I walk into town I see many people selling and buying all sorts of different things from little trinkets to golden jewelry. My mother sent me here only to buy milk and bread so I must ask somebody for directions. I see where the bread is being sold so I walk up to the stand and ask for two loaves of bread. As I wait for the stand owner to give me my bread, I can feel eyes burning the back of my neck. I do not like when people stare at me so I feel extremely uncomfortable and I guess it shows because the man selling the bread is asking me if I am okay.

“Are you okay, Miss?” the man asks me.

“Oh yes, I am fine, thank you for the bread.” I answered confidently.

8

Chapter 4: Jealousy Name: Madison Gender: Male Age: 12 Since it is so beautiful today my friends and I are talking in the center of town. My friends and I always come here to talk and buy things when it is nice outside. Since Briar has so many friends they always invite me along because they know that Briar and I are friends. In total there are about six of us: Briar, William, George, Gilbert, Roselie, and me. All of them are very kind so I am happy that I became friends with them.

Out of the corner of my eye I see a girl about my age walking towards the bread stand. I ask my friends if they know her and they all shake their heads no.

“We should introduce ourselves.” I say.

“Why would we do that?” Briar says visibly upset.

I didn't want to argue with Briar because that usually ends up with her ignoring me so I just leave it at that. We start talking about our plans for the weekend and Briar reminds me that we are going to go to the beach. I hope it won't rain but since it has been raining often it wouldn't be a surprise, but by how it looks today you would never suspect any chance of rain.

Just as we were about to leave I saw the girl buy bread, turn around and decided to introduce myself anyway, but when she looked up I was astonished… it was Evangeline.

9

“M… Madison is that you?” she said, looking as shocked as I did.

“Oh my goodness I… I can't believe it.” I responded. I couldn't believe that she was actually right in front of me.

Tears started streaming down my cheeks as I stood there speechless. There were no words to describe how I was feeling at that moment.

“Who even are you?” Briar asked “I’m Evangeline, what's your name?” She answered.

“How do you know Madison?” She asked, completely ignoring Evangeline's question.

“We were very good friends when we were little.”

Evangeline said.

“Well he doesn't need you anymore because he has new friends like me.” Briar said confidently.

“Ok, I understand I should be heading home anyway.”

Evangeline said while walking away with tears in her eyes.

“Why would you say that Briar?” Rosalie asked.

“She was trying to steal Madison away from us, I was just defending him.” Briar clapped back.

“Whatever it’s getting late, I'll see you all tomorrow.”

Rosalie responded.

10

Chapter 5: The Beach Name: Evangeline Gender: female Age: 12 I don't know what happened yesterday, Briar was being very rude to me. I can't figure out why Madison is friends with her if she usually acts like that. Maybe she was just having a bad day but nevertheless I wish that I had stuck up for myself.

I should never let anyone bring me down but I suppose that it’s in the past so there is nothing I can do about it now. I hope that when I see them next, which will most likely be today I will be patient and try to be kind even if others aren't.

It is a very nice day outside so I am going to go into town. I hope to make amends with Briar today because I want to make sure that she doesn't think that I don't want to be her friend. I think that if Madison likes her I can learn to do the same even if it's difficult. “ Hello Madison!” I said as he came into view.

“Hello Evangeline, how are you doing today? He responded.

“I’m doing well, where is everybody else?” I asked politely.

“Oh they're not coming because they are all busy today.” Madison explained.

“Well if you aren't doing much today would you like to go to the beach with me?” I asked him.

11

“Yes I would love to.” Madison replied politely. *Madison’s POV* As we walked to the shore line my heart pounded faster and faster. I can still see the visions in my head of the last time we went to the beach together.

Even though it was years ago I can still remember the waves crashing against the sand as I trampled behind her trying to get her back. She looks very excited to be going to the beach so I doubt that she’s nervous. I am also a bit excited because every time I go to the beach with Briar I am reminded of losing Evangeline but now that she is back there is nothing to worry about. Thinking about Evangeline just reminded me that I have no idea how she survived the riptide.

“Evangeline, what happened after you were swept away? ” I utter.

“I don't remember much but the riptide pushed me pretty far into the ocean so it only took a few hours to swim to Avington where I stayed until I came here.”

We walked the rest of the way until we got to the beach where we swam and played games just like old times.

It wasn't like it usually is with Briar where she is always talking about herself or worse talking bad about other people. It was the most fun I had had in a long time even though it only lasted a couple hours until I had to go home to eat supper.

12

Final Chapter Coming soon

Riptide The fish were swimming in such a way that they almost looked like delicate glass gliding through the crystal clear water. Suddenly the fish looked distressed and in one swift motion pulled from the shallow coast into the dark brine .

“We really need to get back now, Evangeline,” I called out but she couldn't hear me. I ran to her as she ventured deeper into the ocean but it was too late… she had been swept up by the riptide.

“

Beautiful words! ~ Malena Torres

”

AVA LUSTIG