Chapter One Wind howled around Kyleâs house. A big gust rattled his window. Rain pounded the roof above his head. Waves crashed on the beach. Kyle pulled the covers over his head. He didnât want to think about his dad. But the storm made him remember. When there was a big storm, Dad always woke up early. He always made pancakes for breakfast. He always called Kyle and Mom. They ate pancakes until they almost burst. While they ate they looked out the window. Waves tumbled and roared against the beach. âThis storm will bring lots of treasures,â Dad always said. After breakfast, Kyle and Dad always put on their rain slickers. They took their treasure bags. Hand in hand they went in search of treasure. One day Dad found a glass fish float. Another time Kyle found a running shoe. It fit his left foot. The best treasure they ever found was a toy sailboat. It was yellow and red and had a white sail. âIt must have fallen from someoneâs boat,â Dad said. That morning Kyle felt happy and sad. He felt happy for himself. He felt sad for the child who lost this special sailboat. This morning Kyle felt sad again. He felt sad for himself. He pushed the covers from his face. Morning light crept around his window blinds. He looked at the beautiful toy boat on his dresser. His eyes watered. There would be no more treasures. Dad didnât live here anymore. Kyle shut his eyes tight. He tried not to think about treasures. He tried not to hear the roar of wind and waves. Soon he drifted off to sleep. He dreamed about Dad. He dreamed they walked along the beach hand in hand. He dreamed they found the other running shoe. âKyle!â his mom called. Kyleâs eyes flew open. He smelled coffee brewing. He smelled pancakes cooking. Was his dream real? He leapt out of bed and ran to the kitchen. His mom was making pancakes. She bent to give him a big hug. âGo and get dressed,â she said. âThe wind is dying. Itâs almost time to search for treasures.â She smiled at him with watery eyes. Kyle blinked. His eyes filled with tears. Mom and Kyle didnât eat very much. They werenât hungry today. They watched green and white waves break against the beach. Rain streaked down from a dark gray sky.
Kyle helped his mom clear the breakfast table. âGo put on your rain slicker,â she said. âAnd donât forget your treasure bag.â Kyle didnât want to go out. But he didnât want to disappoint Mom. She was trying to make things better for him. So he dressed in his yellow rain slicker. He took his red mesh treasure bag from its hook. They walked hand in hand along the sand. Clumps of seaweed lay tangled on the shore. Chunks of driftwood dotted the beach. Kyle carried his treasure bag and tried to smile. âLook, Kyle.â His mom stopped at a clump of seaweed. âThis might hold a treasure.â Kyle lifted handfuls of green eelgrass. He dragged a long brown piece of kelp from the clump. It felt cold and slimy in his bare hands. Underneath was a stick of driftwood. âNot much of a treasure,â he said. The stick was just right for walking, though. Kyle carried it with him. He poked at another clump of seaweed. Underneath was a big, red, dead jellyfish. âDonât touch,â Mom said. âThe stingers hurt even after the jellyfish dies.â âThatâs no treasure.â Kyle sighed. He wanted to go home. âLook at that!â Mom said. Kyle looked down the beach, near the waterâs edge. He saw a huge clump of tangled seaweed. âIâll bet thereâs a treasure under there,â Mom said. They lifted away handfuls of seaweed. They moved chunks of driftwood. Underneath was a huge, flat driftwood board. On it lay something black. And wet. And hairy. It was tangled in seaweed. âDonât touch,â Mom said. âI think itâs a dead seal.â But Kyle lifted one more handful