Riptide

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

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.