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Max's Great Sea Adventure
By G. S. COLTMAN, Hilbert Bermejo Trafford Publishing
Copyright © 2014 G. S. Coltman
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-1805-7
CHAPTER 1
The bright morning sun was shining as the soft wind blew from the big, blue ocean. The beach fog lifted, and the air was warm as it came in over the creamy white sand dunes, and Max couldn't wait to run down to the shoreline. His father called out and cautioned him. "Slow down, Max. The ocean isn't going anywhere," he said. The flock of sandpipers crested the dune covered in lush coastal surfgrass, ready to spend another day at the beach. It had been a good summer as the family of birds enjoyed yet another day along the Oregon coastline, but Max desperately wanted to get his next tail feathers, showing off his growth. Second-summer birds in the flock were always kidding Max about being the youngest, fresh out of the egg. They never let Max take the lead when racing through the dune grass or the foamy surf as they looked for their meals in the wet sand. Max's dad, the leader of the flock, kept a proud eye on his son, knowing Max was headstrong much like he was himself when he was Max's age.
"Be careful, Max," his dad said. "The waves can be very tricky. And never, ever turn your back to the ocean or get in too deep."
"OK, Dad, OK." Max sighed; he was not a baby egg.
CHAPTER 2
The sandpiper family moved up the beach in a tight group, the flock darting about and pecking in the sand. In the gentle, shallow waters along the shore, none of the flock noticed though that Max and two of the older birds have started to straggle behind. And no one noticed the big, dark breakers starting to swell offshore.
"Max," one of the older birds said to him, "bet you can't get your tail feathers wet and dip your beak in at the same time."
"Yeah," said the other older piper, coaxing Max into taking a risk of going into deeper waters. "You are always going to be the baby if you don't." They bullied him. "Might as well go back to the egg." They laughed.
Max didn't like the bullies, but more so, he didn't want to be a baby egg and was going to show them just how brave he could be. "I can do that," he responded, "watch this." Max was a little scared as he waded out deeper than he ever had. Just as he dipped his beak down under the water, the wave hit and came crashing on the shore.
"Max, look out!" his father yelled as he turned to see where his son was. It was too late, and Max couldn't hear with his head underwater.
CHAPTER 3
In an instant, the flock was scattered and was sent scurrying for higher ground. The two older pipers who had been bullying Max turned and ran, leaving Max alone in the incoming surf. And then Max was gone, swept out to sea as the riptide pulled him under, away from his family and out into the ocean! Max tumbled through the bubbles and foam, out and away into the vast ocean. Max's dad flew as fast as he could to save his son, but it was too late. Max was gone.
CHAPTER 4
Max didn't know how far he was swept under the waves or how he was able to keep his breath underwater for so long, but he did. Over and over, he struggled against the mighty waves and struggled to break to the surface. Once he did, what he saw scared him even more. He was now hundreds of yards offshore and was just a tiny speck in the roiling surf and being pulled out farther. This can't be happening, he thought. I can make it back. I have to make it back. As he twisted and rolled over in the ocean, what he saw next struck even more fear in him; he was being pulled toward the sea caves and the pounding waves crashing on the rocks that protected them. He knew the rock caves were where nothing ever came back from as the heavy surf crashed onto the rocks, sending foam high into the air. As Max got closer, he could see the jagged rocks covered in slimy seaweed, razor-sharp barnacles, and the shells and feathers of those unfortunate enough to have been caught in the ocean's deadly power.
CHAPTER 5
Max broke the surface and sucked in as much air as he could. How he came up or where he was, he had no idea. Completely soaked through to his matted short feathers, Max grabbed the first solid contact he made. Unfortunately for Max, it was a grumpy—and scared himself—old red starfish.
"Get off me," said the starfish, pushing Max away. "I'm trying to hold on myself," he grunted. The soaked tiny piper could feel the cold water start to pull him back out, ready to return Max with a powerful smash into the deadly rocks. As he closed his eyes waiting for the crashing wave, Max met the first of many friends whom he would share an awesome adventure and change his life forever.
CHAPTER 6
Pete the Puffin grasped Max's short tail feathers and held on for all he was worth. As the waves pulled back, ready to strike again, Pete pulled Max up and out of the water into a flat area where he had been sitting just moments earlier, waiting for the waters to calm.
"Thank you," Max gasped, trying to look brave but tightly holding on to Pete's leg. "I thought I was a goner for sure," he said.
"You're welcome," Pete answered back. "I'm just glad I could help. My name's Pete, and I'm a puffin," he said proudly.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Max's Great Sea Adventure by G. S. COLTMAN, Hilbert Bermejo. Copyright © 2014 G. S. Coltman. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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