"summer Fun and sandcastles by the sea"

Every year when the school bell rang for the last time in June, twelve-year-old Mia knew exactly where she'd be spending her summer—at her grandparents’ beach house in Seabreeze Cove. It was a sleepy coastal town where the days stretched long under a golden sun and the nights shimmered with stars and the sound of waves.

This summer felt different, though. Mia’s parents were traveling for work, so she’d be spending the whole month of July by the sea. Alone. No siblings, no cousins, no distractions—just her, Grandma Clara, Grandpa Joe, and the endless beach.

At first, Mia worried she might get bored. Her grandparents didn’t even have Wi-Fi, and the nearest ice cream shop was a 20-minute bike ride away. But on her second morning there, as she walked barefoot along the shoreline, the tide cool on her toes, something magical caught her eye.

A sandcastle.

Not the simple kind with lopsided towers and plastic bucket turrets. This was a masterpiece. It had arched bridges, tiny stairs carved into the sand, and even a moat that filled with seawater. Mia blinked in amazement. Someone had spent hours on this.

She looked around but saw no one—just the cry of seagulls and the whisper of waves.

Over the next few days, she kept finding new castles each morning. Some tall and regal, others small and detailed with shell windows and seaweed flags. Mia felt like she was part of a secret game. One morning, she finally left a note on a smooth seashell near the newest sandcastle:

“Your castles are amazing. Who are you?” —M

The next morning, she found a reply etched into the sand next to a fresh creation:

“Thanks! I’m Kai. Want to build one together?”

Mia’s heart leapt. She scanned the beach and spotted a boy around her age, dark-haired and tanned from the sun, waving from the dunes. She grinned and waved back.

From that day on, Mia and Kai met every morning by the sea. They built sand kingdoms and invented stories to match them—some were pirate forts, others fairy palaces or dragon caves. Their hands were always caked in sand, and their laughter filled the air like seagull cries.

Kai lived just a few houses down with his aunt for the summer. He loved the ocean and talked about sea turtles like they were old friends. He taught Mia how to skim stones across the water and told her the best places to spot tide pools.

Their biggest project came mid-July. They decided to enter the Seabreeze Cove Sandcastle Contest—an annual event that drew crowds from all around. The prize? A giant basket of beach gear and, more importantly, bragging rights.

They planned for days, sketching ideas in the sand and collecting driftwood, shells, and even colored sea glass. On the morning of the contest, they arrived early and staked out their spot.

The sun beat down, and their fingers moved fast. Their final design was a towering sea-dragon fortress, complete with a winding tail that stretched down the shore. Curious kids stopped to watch. Even adults came over to admire it.

When the judges made their rounds, they nodded thoughtfully at the dragon's curled snout and shimmering sea-glass eyes.

Mia held her breath during the announcements.

“And the winners of this year’s contest are... Team Sea Dragons—Mia and Kai!”

They whooped and high-fived as the crowd cheered. Grandma Clara snapped photos while Grandpa Joe handed out lemonade to anyone who wanted some.

That night, Mia and Kai sat on the beach watching their sandcastle melt slowly into the tide. The sunset painted the sky in pinks and oranges.

“I don’t want summer to end,” Mia said softly.

“Me either,” Kai agreed. “But we still have two more weeks.”

They promised to meet every morning until then, and maybe—just maybe—to write each other letters when summer was over.

As the stars appeared and the waves sang their lullaby, Mia realized that some of the best summers aren’t about theme parks or plane rides. Sometimes, the best memories are made with sand between your toes, salty wind in your hair, and a friend who builds castles by your side.