Hickory Creek, Inc.

"I'm telling you," Millie exclaimed. "Mixing the sand with clay will ensure stronger dexterity!"

"Where am I gonna get clay?" Linus demanded. "You're nuts!" This argument had been going back and forth all afternoon. I should probably explain what's happening. You see, my brother got roped into a sandcastle contest with his number one fan.

Poor Millie. She's head-over-heels for Linus. Not sure if that's just going over his head or he's deliberately ignoring this fact. Anyway, he agreed to help her several days ago after she helped him ace his math quiz. I came along to support my brother because I'm a good sibling.

Okay, fine, our television's in the shop. On to more important matters! Millie and Linus had built an impressive castle. They just couldn't seem to agree with each other on anything. So, it had taken longer than expected. Fortunately, the judges hadn't come by yet.

Not sure if Linus and Millie would pay them any attention anyway. They were pretty focused on their structural integrity argument. Though, Linus's rebuttals pretty much consisted of "You're nuts!". Quite the debater, that brother of mine.

As I watched the free show, someone walked up and knelt beside my beach chair. I cast a curious glance at Larry Shrubs. He was using a plastic shovel to dig right next to me. For whatever reason, the kid was holding a conch shell to his ear.

After a moment, Larry's hole was threatening to dislodge my chair. Typically, I don't pay kindergartners much mind. However, it seemed evident that this kid was taking instructions from a shell. That was enough to pique my interest.

"Whatcha doing, Larry?" I inquired.

"Looking for gold," was the answer. Larry abruptly stopped digging and listened intently to the seashell. He nodded and walked toward my brother's sandcastle. Apparently, a potential assault on their precious creation was enough to disrupt Linus and Millie's argument.

"No, you don't!" Linus bellowed. He picked Larry up and carried him toward my spot. Setting the kindergartner down, my brother turned to me. "Watch this kid!" he ordered. "Or I'll bury him up to his chin and leave him for the seagulls!"

"That feels excessive," I remarked. "Okay, okay, got it." Linus returned to his construction partner, and their loud discussion resumed. Meanwhile, Larry was sitting with the conch shell to his ear. He kept nodding as though someone was giving him invaluable life instructions.

After a moment, he scooped up his shovel and scurried toward a couple snoozing under an umbrella. When he started digging right next to them, I jumped up and hurriedly pulled him away. That's when I heard something coming from his shell.

Confused, I lifted it to my ear. There was a buzz of static. Then, a distinct voice ordered me to return the shell to Larry.

"I am Poseidon!" the shell declared. "My servant must recover the gold stolen by those who walk on land!"

"Poseidon, eh?" I inquired.

"Speak respectfully to me, mortal!" the conch thundered. "Else I shall flood your world!"

"Larry?" I asked. "How long have you been digging for gold?"

"All morning," Larry replied. "I'm kinda tired, but Poseidon says he'll reward me with a free trident."

"Do you know what a trident is?" I inquired.

"Well, no," Larry admitted. I sighed and peered into the shell. Nestled inside was a small walkie-talkie.

"Larry, just throw this in the ocean," I suggested. "Poseidon can't flood the beach anyway."

"Are you sure?" Larry asked nervously.

"I'll help you," I promised. Together, we walked to the water's edge. As Larry raised his hand to launch the shell, footsteps pounded behind us.

"Stop!" a familiar voice shrieked. Larry jumped when the same voice echoed from the conch. Turning around, we spotted Teddy Mercery racing toward us. I showed Larry the walkie-talkie, and the kid's face turned red. Angrily, he snatched the shell and hurled it into the surf.

"My radio!" Teddy wailed. He sprinted past us and dove into the ocean. While the charlatan sea god searched for his beloved electronic, I accompanied Larry to the snowcone shack. He deserved something after a long day of digging for fool's gold.

With cones in hand, we returned to the sandcastle contest. Millie was grinning widely when we arrived. She looked like the Cheshire Cat from Alice and Wonderland.

"We won!" she declared. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"Nicely done," I replied.

"That thing needs a moat," Larry declared. Before anyone could object, the kindergartner's shovel was flying. Unfortunately, he dug a tad too close, and the foundation gave away. Soon, half the castle had crumbled. Have to admit, I've never seen a kid run that fast.

Millie and Linus chased him down the beach. I collected my stuff and headed home. After a day of shell-phones and a disgruntled Greek god, I felt I'd earned some air conditioning. Wasn't too worried about Larry. After all, he'd had plenty of practice digging himself out of trouble today.

THE END