A wave crashed near Tilly's tide pool. She tucked inside her shell right away.
Her pink toes curled inward. The rough shell felt solid all around. Something tapped outside — tap, tap, tap.
Tilly peeked one eye out. A sand dollar was flipped on his back, legs waving on warm rock.
The water kept pulling back. Tilly heard him say, "Help!" and she held very still.
"Please!" called the sand dollar. Tilly waddled down the rocky slope as fast as she could.
She nudged his edge with her nose. He just tipped back. She pushed from the other side — scratch, scrape.
Then she saw it — a sticky thread looped tight around a sharp piece of coral. He was caught!
Tilly stretched her neck and braced her shell against the hole. She pushed with all her might.
Pop! Sunny tumbled free and rolled onto his flat side. Tap-tap-tap went his shells — a happy ring.
Tilly stood there with her beak open. She wasn't hiding at all.
Now Tilly walked the shore with her head held high. Click, click went her legs against the stones.
The tide came in and out. Tilly kept watching for anyone else who might need a push.