The Tail

The next few days are supposed to be clear skies and sunny. After unpacking and eating lunch, Tyler and Emma take their bikes to go down to the shore. Before leaving, they see Calem with Mr. and Mrs. Blaze riding their bikes to the beach.

“Hi,” Tyler says to them.

“Hi, Tyler, Emma,” Mrs. Blaze says. “Are you guys going to the beach?” Tyler and Emma ride to the Blaze’s driveway.

“Yeah,” Tyler says.

“Calem said you guys met,” Mrs. Blaze says. “How about joining us?”

Tyler and Emma go to the beach with the Blaze’s. Calem has a boogie board tied to his bike.

“You also boogie board?” Emma asks.

“I’ve done it for a while,” Calem asks.

Jill stands by the front porch while waving goodbye. “Be careful,” she shouts out.

The beach is packed since it’s a Saturday afternoon. Visitors and residents of all ages swim in the water or lay in the sand. Many adults take the time to go for a jog or bike ride on the sidewalk where the street is. Tyler, Emma, and the Blaze’s ride their bikes on the same path, and stop at the parking lot to chain their bikes up. They take their stuff to head out to a quieter spot. Tyler and Calem go into the water while Emma stays on the beach to play in the sand. Calem’s parents lay on the beach to get some sun as they watch the boys go in the water. The boys catch some waves and at other times swim inside the waves. Children run on the sand, getting into the water quickly to cool off their feet. The ocean is at a perfect temperature for a hot day despite being pretty cold on the northeast coast. The seagulls take over the beach as they peck at the shells and plants being washed ashore.

Emma makes a sandcastle with her own hands and builds it up like a tower. The sun starts to get into her face. She decides it’s time to get out of the sun for a while, and to go stand in the shade.

“I’ll be over there by the shade,” she points out to the Blazes.

“Okay, just be careful, and stay where we can see you,” Mrs. Blaze says. Emma walks a few feet away to get out of the sun. She stands alone with no one around her. She watches her brother and Calem in the water before hearing a loud crashing noise, further down. Emma races to see what she heard. Emma isn’t afraid of walking to the sound. Once there, she takes steps closer to the water. Emma can still see the Blazes but she’s not sure where other beachgoers are. Away from the beach, Emma notices a group of men on a boat out in the ocean. They are dressed in waterproof clothes and are carrying fishing rods and nets. At first, they look like regular fishermen, but it’s strange as to why they are here, near the beaches designated for swimmers. As Emma walks further away from the beach, someone grabs her wrist. Emma flinches, but when she turns she sees Tyler, who is soaking wet.

“What are you doing over here?” Tyler asks. “We saw you walking away. You know you’re not supposed to go far.”

“Look,” Emma pointed. “Those men. I’ve never seen fishing boats here before.” Tyler looks at the fishermen like it is no big deal.

“They probably work here,” Tyler says. “We can’t interfere with their work.”

“But they have nets and fishing rods,” Emma says.

“A lot of them do,” Tyler says. “Come on. Let’s get back to the beach.” Calem runs up behind Tyler.

“My parents told me to come to get you two,” he says. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Tyler says. “It’s my little sister getting curious over a fishing boat.” Tyler lets go of Emma’s wrist. “Thinking that something’s wrong.”

“We also have to leave because it looks like it’s about to start raining,” Calem says. “So much for a sunny day.”

“But what if they’re doing something wrong that could hurt the animals in the ocean?” Emma says.

“It’s probably nothing,” Tyler says. “They don’t look like people who are hunting animals like whales.” Tyler and Calem walk away with Emma when suddenly they hear the waves crashing by the shore very loudly. “That didn’t sound normal.”

“There’s something else here,” Emma says. “I think there’s someone or something else out there besides the fishermen.” She and the boys walk close to the coastline. Nothing looks unusual, and then the fishermen start laughing at something while looking over the side of the boat. Emma sees a female hand reach up out of the water but the others didn’t see it. Tyler tries to keep Emma away from the water as she tries to run back to it.

“Nothing’s there, Emma,” Tyler says. As Emma steps closer to the water, she sees a human arm and hand coming out of the water before it goes back in. Looking up, she sees the fishermen turn their boat and ride away from the coastline.

“What was that?” Emma asks herself. She steps back near the water to look. Nothing is there, but then she slips and falls into the ocean.

“Emma!” Tyler screams. Emma picks her head up above water with the waves pushing her back and forth. She is a few feet away from the shore. The waves start to get a bit rough as Emma’s body is under water, except for her head with water splashes on her face. Emma’s body feels shaky and nervous as she looks back at how farther out she is from the beach. Suddenly, the boys hear a whistle blowing with Mr. and Mrs. Blaze running to the scene. A young lifeguard runs toward the sea, holding a rescue can to get Emma from the water. The waves become rougher as the clouds come in. Emma can’t speak but coughs while splashing her hands. She starts to feel something grab her legs and she screams. The people on the beach run to watch and gasp at what is happening. The lifeguard jumps in the water to save Emma. Emma however does not see the lifeguard, but she hears him. Tyler panics.

Calem holds him back to let the lifeguard do his job. “Don’t go in because you can also drown,” he says.

“Can you see me?” the lifeguard shouts. Emma still has trouble talking, but does her best to keep her hand up so he can find her. The lifeguard swims fast. Emma screams again after feeling something touch her.

“There’s something under me,” she thinks, scared. Emma feels something pushing her towards the lifeguard. The lifeguard grabs her arm and pulls her onto the rescue can, a piece of life-saving equipment.

“Are you okay?” the lifeguard asks. Emma takes a few short breaths.

“I think so, thank you,” she says. The lifeguard takes Emma back to shore where her brother is with the Blaze’s and other beachgoers. The beachgoers applaud as Tyler lifts her to hug her.

“Emma, are you okay?” he asks.

“I’m fine,” Emma says, upset. “I felt something touch me from underwater.” Tyler looks confused as Mr. and Mrs. Blaze and Calem run-up.

“I just called your parents, and told them that you’re fine,” Mrs. Blaze says. The lifeguard picks up his rescue can and starts to walk away.

“Thank you,” Mr. Blaze says to the lifeguard.

“You’re welcome,” he says. “Just be careful swimming over here, and stay with an adult,” he says. The Blaze’s take the kids home. Tyler and Emma's parents are relieved that Emma’s okay.