csSara+J.

“Okay kids, we’re there!” Bailey’s parents said as they pulled up to Rehoboth Beach. Seven-year-old Bailey loved the beach. Her family went there every year in the summer. Bailey’s family was made up of her mother, father, four-year-old sister, Maya, and two-year-old brother, Erick. They all unloaded beach items like chairs, an umbrella, a blanket, and toys from the mini-van. Bailey’s parents found a nice spot on the beach and started setting up the area. Bailey quickly took off her yellow sundress, leaving on only her new pink, flowered tankini. She started searching in their bags for sunscreen as her parents helped Maya and Erick undress. After they all had sunscreen applied, Bailey’s parents took them down to the water. Bailey ran ahead, screaming in delight that she was back at the beach. She started splashing around in the shallow water. After playing in the water, finding seashells, and trying to build a wall to block the water, Bailey and her family decided to dry off and play in the dry sand. Bailey made sure she got her Barbie towel before Maya got it. Bailey had a lot of toys from which to choose. She had three red buckets, small, medium, and large shovels, a special cart to push in the sand, and special buckets that made imprints. There were plenty of toys for Bailey and her siblings. “Bailey, can I use the star fish shape?” Maya asked. Bailey thought about the sand castle she was building and replied, “No Maya, I need it.” Maya then was upset but asked, “Can I use the fish one then?” Bailey was frustrated with her sister for annoying her while she was building. “No Maya! I’m building! Go away!” With tears in her eyes, Maya walked away. Bailey was lucky that her parents didn’t see her since she knew that kind of behavior was unacceptable. She continued building her castle and when she finished the main castle, she decided to make a whole village. In the middle of building the town library, Erick tottered over. Bailey looked up at him, irritated. “What?” she said in her best get-out-of-here tone. “Hi, Bail-wey,” Erick smiled. “Go away, Erick! I’m building and I don’t want you here!” Bailey screamed. Bailey then pushed her younger brother. Erick fell to the ground and started crying. As her parents came over, Bailey’s eyes got wide. She knew she was going to get in trouble. “What happened here?” Bailey’s mother asked. Bailey knew it didn’t matter how she answered because they probably saw her do it. “I, well, I mean, what happened was, um…” “Bailey, we saw what happened. You yelled and pushed your brother. Can you tell us why Maya is so upset, too?” her father asked. “She wanted my toys and I wouldn’t give them to her,” Bailey grunted. Bailey’s parents took her under the umbrella and sat her down. “Bailey, they aren’t YOUR toys. They are the family’s and anyone can use them. You need to stay here on time out until you learn that you have to share and you can’t push your brother.” Bailey sat and pouted while she watched Maya and Erick play. After a few minutes, she was bored and looked around the beach. There were older kids running around, adults lounging and reading, and lifeguards perched on big white chairs. But what Bailey saw to the right of her really surprised her. There were two kids, about the same age as her and Maya, sitting on a dirty blanket. One was a girl with a faded blue bathing suit and the other was a boy with a bathing suit that looked like pants that had been cut. They had no toys at all. Seeing the looks on those kids’ faces made Bailey feel sad and confused. She wondered why they didn’t have any toys. Tempted to be stubborn and not talk to her parents, Bailey sat there and folded her arms. But curiosity got the best of her and she called her mother over. “Mommy, why don’t those kids have any toys?” Bailey asked, pointing to the kids. “Well, some people don’t have as much as we do. That’s why it is important to share. You are very lucky that you have all of the toys that you do.” “I feel sorry for them,” Bailey said honestly. “Me too, sweetheart. We’re getting ready to go on the boardwalk now so get you’re clothes on and get ready.” Bailey thought about the kids just sitting there more and more as her family packed up. She wanted to do something, but what? Just as they were about to walk off the beach, Bailey came up with an idea. Bailey quickly grabbed a bucket and a shovel. She ran over to where the kids were sitting and said, “These are for you. I hope you have fun playing.” The children’s faces immediately lit up. Bailey smiled just looking at their faces. She felt good that she gave the toys to them. “I’m proud of you, sweetie,” Bailey’s father said as she walked back to them. He gave her a kiss on the forehead and they all left. Bailey learned something very important that day at the beach. She learned to appreciate the things she had and also to give to others that don’t have as much as she does.