Hi! I’m [Jett](2SWGCB57). Guess what? Today we’re going on a beach camping trip. I’m so excited I can hardly stand still. My whole body wiggles from head to toe. Adventure is calling my name.

I hear [Mom](6HT2NSKH) calling from the kitchen. 'Race you to the car!' she says. I grab my backpack and bolt for the door. [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) races beside me, his paws thumping across the floor. We burst outside and sprint down the driveway. We tumble into our seats, laughing and out of breath. 'I won!' I shout. [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) barks like he thinks he won too.

The car zooms down the road. Trees zip past my window in a green blur. I press my face against the glass. SQUISH! My cheeks flatten like a silly fish. 'Blub! Blub! Blub!' [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) sticks his head out the window. His ears flap wildly in the wind. Suddenly—PLAP! A string of dog slobber smacks the window. '[Chase](4MH6MKJ6)!' I laugh. [Mom](6HT2NSKH) laughs from the front seat. 'This is going to be quite the adventure.'

SCREEECH! We stop. 'We’re here!' [Mom](6HT2NSKH) announces. Before the door is even all the way open—[Chase](4MH6MKJ6) bolts out. I jump out right behind him. The salty wind rushes across my face. Sand crunches between my toes. The beach stretches out forever. It’s calling my name.

We race toward the water. The wind whooshes through my hair. Sand crunches between my toes. My heart thumps with excitement as I run. Faster. Closer. Closer!

SPLASH! Cold ocean water jumps up and kisses my face. I gasp and start laughing. [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) charges straight into the waves like a furry torpedo. Water sprays everywhere! I chase after him, splashing like a wild sea monster. Best. Day. Ever.

[Chase](4MH6MKJ6) bolts out of the water and shakes himself dry. SPLOOSH! Droplets fly everywhere. Then—DIG! DIG! DIG! Sand sprays everywhere as [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) digs like a furry excavator. 'Hey!' I laugh, brushing sand out of my hair. [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) suddenly grabs something in the sand and pulls. Pull… pull… PULL! Out pops a long, crooked piece of driftwood. I brush the sand off the end. I swing it through the air. WHOOSH! I grin. 'This is totally a sword!'

I charge across the sand with my sword held high. 'For the kingdom!' I shout. [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) dashes beside me, barking bravely. CLACK! CLACK! Our swords clash again. The waves crash like giant sea dragons. The wind roars across our battlefield. And [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) the Brave fights right by my side.

I raise my sword for one final charge. 'Take this!' I shout. Suddenly—Ruff! Ruff! Ruff! [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) freezes. Two tiny eyes peek out from a hole in the sand. A crab! [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) pounces. But the crab skitters sideways faster than lightning. I laugh. 'Nice try, brave knight.' The crab wins this battle.

The wind shifts across the beach. Suddenly my nose twitches. Something smells amazing. [Chase](4MH6MKJ6)’s nose lifts into the air. Sniff. Sniff. Sniff. His tail starts wagging like crazy. Then I see it—Smoke curling into the sky from our campsite. [Mom](6HT2NSKH) is waving from beside the fire. And I know exactly what’s cooking. Hotdogs. [Chase](4MH6MKJ6) bolts toward camp. I race after him.