Sunshine peeps through the plastic covered glass sliding door. My eyelids pick up the rays and the insides flicker red. I stretch my arms to the water stained ceiling. What a fun night.

"Mom? Dad?" I ask as I scan the living room.

Somehow I ended up curled up on the couch. Mom and dad are nowhere to be seen.

"Mom? Dad? Is anyone there?"

Silence.

The sound of my feet scuffling on our hardwood floor is the only sound playing in our home. Maybe they went into their own bedroom? I scuffle down the hall towards their door, peek my head around the corner and find nothing.

"That’s odd."

They wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye, they never lave without letting me know.

I zip around on my heels and head for the kitchen. If they left without saying goodbye there will be a note on the fridge.

"Aha! Gotcha"

There it was, a bright green note. Mom’s handwriting was all over it.

"Joey dear, I had an emergency at the hospital last night and needed your father to help me with it this morning. Everything is fine, just routine tests. We love you very much and will see you tonight."

Well, there you have it. Duty calls them away again, but why would dad be needed at the hospital. He doesn’t normally go there. I wonder if something horrible has happened. I know mom said everything is fine but she always says that when the situation isn’t fine.

I took the note down and placed it on the counter. I zipped on the heels of my feet again and was off to my room. Time to start the day. Luckily for me, it was Saturday. No school for me. Off to the coves for me.

I hurly placed my clothes on and my best boots. Those cliffs can be tricky if you don’t have the right friction. I was born to be by the water though. Dad used to call me his little water lily. No matter the weather I was determined to be in or at least near the water.

Of course right now does put a damper on my aquatic ways. Mom would flip if she saw me swimming around. I can’t help but admire the ocean though. Even with it’s pollution it still manages to keep flowing, in and out. That greenish hue twinkles in the rising sun. I still feel drawn to the sea, like I really do belong there. Crazy huh? Me, a sea mutant.

I make my way, swaying side to side, to the ocean cliffs. I’ve got my bag ready for combing the coves. Just wish Brain was with me. Maybe I should ask mom about him later, see if he really was the boy that was taken into the hospital.

"Focus Joey, time to climb!"

I make my way, slowly, towards the side of the cliff. I’ve climbed this stretch long enough to know exactly where to go. What places have the best foot holds and spots to stay away from. My pace quickens as I reach around the cliffs, I see the cove in sight.

I know what you’re thinking, how can you get to the coves if the water is high, wouldn’t it just be flooded? That would be the case if the cove entrance wasn’t on top of the cliff. I could be simple and walk the top but this is more fun. Also, can’t resist the climb when the waters have drawn back a bit. It’s rare for low tide around here. Normally the waters are to the very top of the cliffs, but today they are only half way up the twelve foot cliff.

As I make my way to the top I notice a whole about several feet away from the middle of the cliff.

"That’s odd, I’ve never noticed another entrance before."

I wonder how I could’ve missed such an entrance. I’ve climbed these cliffs even before all this chaos started and there’s only ever been one cove entrance. At the tip top of the cliffs as it plummets in the cliffs themselves. I step down the cliff as I make my way over the the new entrance. As I reach the opening I notice as the earth starts to give way.

"This entrance must have sealed shut by dirt and with the rising of the water it softened it up. Now that the water is a bit lower, it’s revealed this new opening. Sweet!"

I can’t resist a new place to explore. I mean, who would? That would be madness, pure madness!

You’ll have to excuse me, I mean it’s not like there’s much to do anymore. There’s mandatory fun in the yard, schooling, and than back to home. How could anyone live in such a humdrum routine. Here’s a chance at adventure and possibly a new discovery. I can’t pass that up. I mean, I am the daughter of a scientist who only lives to discover. What would my father say if he found out I missed this rare chance at exploration.

I’m sure he be livivd, yeah, pretty darn positive he’d want me to do what’s in my nature to do... Explore!

"New cove, here I come!"