“Let’s go,” said Sherri.

“I’m almost finished,” Dan said. “See my bridge?”

Sherri and Dan had been playing in the sand about two hours. 

"Mom wants us home.  Soon."

“I know, I know,” Dan answered.  “Just one more thing.”

“We don’t have time,” Sherri urged.  “Anyway, the wind will come and blow it away.”

“My bridge?” Dan asked. 

“Yes, your bridge,” Sherri said smartly.  “Your precious, lovely bridge.”

“So, your castle’s gonna get blown away too.”

“No, it isn’t,” Sherri said. “It’s built better.  It’s stronger.”

“Let’s see,” Dan said as he took the bigger pail shovel and began fanning the castle as hard as he could.  Tiny grains of sand went flying all over.

“Stop!” Sherri shouted.  “you’re mean!” She grabbed her little brother’s arm to stop him.

“I’m not!” He said.

“You are!” Sherri retorted.  “Let’s go now. Mom will be angry.”

“But my bridge,” cried dan. “It’s almost finished!”

“It isn’t important right now,” Sherri said, taking her brother’s arm again and pulling him away from their sand creations. Both began walking in the direction of their house. Dan was crying and dragging his feet but that only made Sherri pull him harder and harder.

Sherri then heard the familiar far-off sounds that had become a part of their daily existence as long as they could remember. The sounds were slowly getting closer.

“Quiet, shhh!” Sherri ordered Dan. “The soldiers! They’re coming again.”

Dan didn’t make another sound. He knew Sherri wasn’t kidding. He knew the soldiers didn’t play.

END OF “The Sand Bridge”