Pip scuttles sideways across the warm sand. He spots a shiny blue bucket near the tide line. A seagull squawks as he pokes it.
A faint sniffle comes from under a palm leaf. Pip nudges the bucket closer. He hears a tiny, sad trumpet blast that makes his claws twitch.
A gust of wind blows sand into Pip’s eyes. He freezes and blinks rapidly, wiping his face with a claw. The wind drops suddenly.
Pip lifts the bucket high above his head, straining with all his strength. His legs tremble as he takes one careful step forward. The child watches with wide eyes.
A wave rushes up the beach, knocking Pip off balance. The bucket slides toward the child. The child gasps and catches it just before it tips over.
The child offers Pip a tiny cracker from a pocket. Pip taps it with his largest claw. They sit together on the sand, watching the waves roll in.