The sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky as our family made its way down to the beach. Alysia skipped ahead, her laughter carried by the sea breeze. Grandpa George followed with a large straw hat perched on his head and a basket of snacks in hand, a sly grin playing on his lips.
Ethan and Alice walked arm in arm, looking every bit like the perfect couple. Ethan carried an umbrella, his expression as calm as ever, while Alice held a bag of colorful towels, already chatting excitedly about the best spots to enjoy the view.
"Do you think we'll see dolphins?" Alice asked, her eyes lighting up.
Ethan gave her a soft smile. "If they know what's good for them, they'll stay away from our group. Especially Dad."
"HEY! What's that supposed to mean?" Grandpa George barked, but his grin widened.
"Exactly what it sounds like," Ethan muttered under his breath.
I walked alongside Aunt Mary, who was carrying a cooler filled with drinks. "This is going to be so much fun, Alyso!" she said, ruffling my hair.
"It's already fun," I replied, smiling.
---
By the time we reached the sand, Alysia was already digging a hole with her hands. "I'm going to build the biggest sandcastle ever!" she declared, her determination unwavering.
"Need some help?" I asked, kneeling beside her.
"Yes! But only if you follow my instructions," she said, pointing at me with mock authority.
We spent the next hour constructing a towering sandcastle. Grandpa George joined in, adding his own eccentric touches, like a moat that led out to the waves. At one point, he placed a seashell on top of the castle and winked.
"There we go. That's the 'Crown of Destiny.' Legend says whoever finds it will… never get a date," he said dramatically, then burst into laughter.
"Dad, stop corrupting the kids," Ethan said, rolling his eyes as he spread out a blanket for Alice.
"Corrupting? Me? I'm teaching them important life lessons!" Grandpa retorted, smirking. "Speaking of lessons, Alyso, if a pretty girl ever asks you to build a sandcastle with her, always say yes. It's basically a date."
Alysia scrunched her nose. "Ew, Grandpa! Girls don't like boys who talk about sandcastles. We like boys who share snacks."
Alice covered her mouth to hide a laugh, and Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. "See? Even my seven-year-old knows you're wrong, Dad."
---
After our architectural masterpiece was complete, we turned our attention to the water. Aunt Mary took Alysia's hand and led her into the waves while I stayed on the shore with Grandpa.
"You've been working hard lately," Grandpa said, handing me a seashell.
I nodded, the memory of my training sessions still fresh in my mind. "I just want to get better. Stronger."
"You're already strong, Alyso," he said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle. "But remember, strength isn't just about fighting. It's also about knowing when to enjoy the little things."
I looked at the shell in my hand, its surface smooth and shiny. "Like this?"
"Exactly." He grinned. Then, lowering his voice conspiratorially, he added, "And if you ever want to impress a girl, don't just give her a shell. Write her name in the sand with it. Works every time."
Ethan, who had overheard, sighed loudly. "Dad, do you ever stop?"
"Not when I'm on a roll!" Grandpa said, laughing.
---
The water was warm against my feet as I waded in. Alysia spotted me immediately, her mischievous grin matching mine.
"Don't even think about it, Alyso!" she warned, holding her hands up defensively.
I splashed her anyway, and soon we were locked in a full-scale water battle. Aunt Mary joined in, her laughter echoing across the beach as she soaked both of us with a well-aimed splash.
"Truce!" Alysia shouted, holding up her hands.
"Only if you promise not to attack me later," I said, narrowing my eyes.
"No promises!"
---
We dried off under the shade of the umbrella, munching on sandwiches from Grandpa's basket. The beach stretched out endlessly before us, the waves crashing rhythmically against the shore.
Ethan and Alice sat nearby, enjoying their own quiet moment. Ethan read from a book while Alice sketched the scenery in a notebook.
"You two are so boring!" Grandpa called out. "Come on, Ethan, get in the water with your wife. Show her your abs—oh, wait. Never mind."
Ethan's face turned red. "Dad, I swear—"
"Don't even try," Alice interrupted, patting Ethan's arm. "He's impossible."
---
It was then that a boy around my age approached, his hair windswept and his clothes slightly too big for his frame. He carried a wooden bucket filled with seashells.
"Hi," he said, his voice quiet but friendly. "I'm Alex. Are you guys building sandcastles?"
"We were," Alysia said, gesturing to our now slightly crumbled masterpiece. "Are you good at it?"
Alex nodded. "I think so. I've been practicing."
"Well, come on, then!" Alysia grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the sandcastle.
---
It didn't take long for Alex to fit right in. He showed us how to reinforce the walls of our castle using damp sand, and together, we rebuilt it even bigger and better than before.
Grandpa watched from the side, his chin resting on his hand. "Ah, young friendship," he mused. "Alyso, let me give you a tip. The secret to making lifelong friends is—"
"Let me guess," I interrupted. "Something ridiculous?"
"Ridiculous? No! It's sharing embarrassing stories. Like the time Ethan tripped in front of his crush and fell into a fountain."
Ethan groaned. "Why are you like this, Dad?"
"I live to embarrass you, son. It's my calling."
---
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, we gathered around a small fire Grandpa had built.
"This is perfect," Alice said softly, leaning against Ethan.
"It really is," Aunt Mary agreed.
"Can we come back tomorrow?" Alysia asked, her voice sleepy.
"Maybe," Ethan replied, brushing sand off her hair.
Grandpa handed me a marshmallow on a stick. "Enjoy days like this, Alyso. They don't come often."
I nodded, feeling the weight of his words.
---
Later, as we walked back along the beach, I glanced at the Hero's Book tucked under my arm. Grandpa had given it to me earlier, saying it was "for when you're ready."
I didn't know what he meant, but as I looked up at the stars, I felt a strange sense of anticipation.
"Whatever comes next," I thought, "I'll be ready for it."
---