Sofia sat on the warm golden sand with her pink bowl of açaí. The sun was bright over Rio. A spoon was halfway to her mouth when she froze.
Down the shore, someone in a bright yellow shirt was waving! Sofia's spoon clattered into the bowl.
She leaped up, açaí bowl in hand, and started running. A wave lapped at her toes. She hopped back — nearly spilling the purple fruit!
She kept going, squinting through the bright sunlight at the end of the beach. A surfer was riding a wave — but the shirt was not yellow.
Sofia sighed and turned around. Her bare foot scuffed the wet sand. Then a voice called out: 'Sofia?!'
Sofia spun around. Alisson stood there, grinning, a beach ball tucked under his arm. 'Sofia! I've been looking everywhere!'
Sofia dropped her empty bowl. They both laughed out loud and hugged. The beach ball rolled away into the surf.
Sofia and Alisson sat side by side on the warm sand. The ocean whispered against the shore. 'Tell me everything!' she said.
The sun dipped low, painting the sky in stripes of orange and pink. Alisson pointed at the water. 'Look — dolphins!'
Sofia laughed. 'I missed you so much,' she said. Alisson bumped her shoulder with his. 'I missed you too.'
The ocean whispered against the shore. Stars began to appear above the silhouette of the mountains. Sofia smiled, her friend right there beside her.
Some days you run far down the beach. Other days, your friend is already waiting for you. Sofia knew this one would be a good one.