Stranded!

Derek stooped to yank his sandals off his feet, not bothering to unfasten the straps. “Come on, let’s go!” he hollered to Trey. “If we hurry we can make it to the secret beach, explore a bit, and cross back over without getting stranded by the tide.” Leaving the sandals perched on a boulder, Derek continued across the rocky outcropping, leaving Trey to scramble after him.

The surf pounded the rocks just off the shore, leaving the approach to the beach beyond the point unobstructed by seawater. Derek had studied the tide tables carefully, planning this excursion for days, looking forward to being able to make the trek to the often inaccessible stretch of shoreline. He jumped down from his perch to land on a thin layer of residual saltwater on the sand below.

“Right behind you!” Trey paused to balance on the jagged rocks, before leaping down to join Derek. “Wow! Let’s go investigate the caves.” Both boys loped across the beach toward the caves at the base of the cliff.

Engrossed in their explorations, the boys didn’t realize how far away from the access point they’d wandered, until Derek turned to watch a magnificent wave crash to shore. “Trey! We need to head back, or we’ll be caught when the tide comes in.”

Derek and Trey raced down the beach, setting challenges along the way to see who could outrun the other, until they arrived at the point. Seawater swirled and eddied below the rock outcropping as they clambered along the pathway over the point. Just before the descent to the main beach, they stopped to survey the situation. Rippling waves and sea foam filled the crevices between the rocks below, engulfing their access to solid sand.