The key turned. The engine stopped. The car was parked. The family had reached their destination.

Tom was first to get out of the car as soon as they stopped. He got out, waited for everyone impatiently while wagging his tail.

"Can't wait! It has been so long since the last time we came here." John said getting out of the car & getting everything out of the trunk. " Hope this time somebody doesn't do anything stupid." He said while looking at Hannah with narrow eyes.

"We'll see," Hannah replied while taking the beach basket out.

"Isn't it a wonderful day Rose?" Mr. Jackson asked his wife.

"Indeed, David. It's a beach perfect day. Glad we planned a family outing. It was so long since we got out together." Mrs. Jackson responded and inhaled the fresh beach breeze & put on her sunglasses. "

Tom barked while jumping up & down, wagging his golden tail as if he cannot wait anymore to get on the beach & play. Everyone giggled.

"Alright, Tom! Let's go!" Hannah said bending towards Tom, petting his soft fur & then both raced to the beach.

------------

"All set!" Mr. Jackson shouted to the kids who were setting the hammock after he & Mrs. Jackson had finished setting the chairs, the umbrellas & the basket.

It was a perfect day to plan for the beach trip. The beach was not too crowded nor too quiet. Some were swimming, some were surfing, some were making sandcastles, some were just relaxing under the shade.

"We're almost finished too, just a little more air and these pizza floaties will be done in no time," John said giving a thumbs up.

When John had finished blowing them up & putting them in water, he asked Hannah, " Hannah, could you grab the orange juice from the cooler for me? " as he hopped on the pizza floaties.

"Why do you always have to lie down on this thing when you can swim or run on sand or collect seashells or do anything? " Hannah said while handing over the juice.

"Nah! I wanna relax on the water, drink this juice, feel the sun on my skin, and the breeze on my face."

"Your wish. C'mon Tom, wanna play frisbee? Fetch!"

Tom ran after the frisbee, caught it mid-air, and returned while wagging his tail for some more fetch.

"Who's the good boy? You are!" Hannah said in a babyish voice while petting him.

Mr. & Mrs. Jackson had put on their snorkel gears, John was relaxing and Hannah was playing with Tom. It seemed like any other normal family beach day but there was something more to it than meets the eye.

"John come here. I have something to show you." Hannah called him.

John was about to go towards the sand when something caught his eyes. Something was floating in the waters towards him. It was kind of shining a green, mesmerizing light but he couldn't make out what exactly it was until it came closer and closer. He put his hands in water to grab it. It was a stone, a green one but not any ordinary-looking stone. It appeared as a gem, a precious, priceless, beautiful emerald polished stone with designs and carvings on the inside too.

"John!"

He wanted to go but it felt like he was hypnotized by the beauty of the stone. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. All he wanted to do was look at the stone. He was so dazzled by it.

"John!"

He grabbed the stone, put it in his pockets, and went towards the sand.

"What took you so long?"

"Nothing."

A few minutes later, both were startled by the worried sound of their mother.

"Kids! Come fast!" Mrs. Jackson yelled.

Both of them ran towards her and saw their dad with a sprained ankle & a huge bruise.