The Footprints That Stopped at the Sea Wall

Mara is on the beach at seven in the morning. The sand is wet. She walks near the sea wall. She stops. There are footprints in the sand. They go to the wall. Then they stop. There are no footprints going back. Mara looks at the sea. In one hour, the tide comes in. The water will cover the footprints. Mara sees a small bag next to the wall. She opens it. Inside is a notebook. It says: 'FIND HER.'

An old man is on the road. He looks worried. 'That is Rosa’s bag,' he says. 'She is my granddaughter. She is lost.' Mara looks at the wall. She sees a small hole in the stones. 'Rosa?' she calls. 'Yes?' a small voice says. A girl comes out of the hole. She is safe. The old man runs to her. The tide comes in and the footprints go away. Mara smiles.