The Beach Kids in Oceans of Trouble

By Elizabeth Taylor

Jazz Baker is just itching for an adventure. If she can’t find one she will dream one up and make sure that her little sister, Lizanne and friends Sarah and Badger Marsky are included.
A few years ago the kids had discovered a secret cove near their hometown of Luna Beach, California. Every year Basil, a giant turtle that befriended the children, returns to the cove for a few days. The kids play games on pink sand and turquoise water while they wait for Basil’s return.
One day they find two strange kids sitting in the cove. Jazz asks the two, Kat and Splitter, to leave. Thirteen-year-old Splitter doesn’t like being bossed around by an eleven-year-old girl. He decides to go to Luna Park and make a bonfire for himself and Kat. Jazz warns him that the dry seasons of California can be dangerous for fires.
Later that night the kids and their parents hear a loud explosion from the park. Fire trucks rush to the scene! But Jazz just wants clues to prove who started the blaze. What clue does she find near the charred storage shed in the Park? Did Splitter do this terrible damage because of his dumb idea of a bonfire to show off to Kat? She must find him and convince him to admit his mistake.
How can the kids help Splitter without tattling on him? His reason for starting the fire shocks the kids and makes it hard for him to admit his part in the fire.
And when will Basil return to the Cove? Will they ever see him again? Will the Cove ever be the secret playground for Jazz and her friends again? But there is a surprise letter and an old friend waiting for the kids in the Cove at the end of their adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books for Pleasure
• Release date: Sep 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781553491231

Book preview

The Beach Kids

Oceans Of Trouble

ADVENTURE 1

Written By

ELIZABETH TAYLOR

Cover Art By

PAULA MOSS DRAMM

Copyright Elizabeth Taylor 2003

All rights reserved

ISBN # 978-1-55349-123-1

Published by Books for Pleasure at Smashwords

DEDICATION

'For Tess, Annabelle, Beth and Evan.

To Remember the Magic’

CHAPTER 1

REMEMBER BASIL

What’s big and green…well, kind of a muddy brown, hard and soft all at the same time? Lizanne asked her older sister.

Basil, of course, Jazz said.

Right! And we’re going to our secret place to look for him. Lizanne Sugarman sat on the beach sifting warm, golden sand through her fingers. He likes me most so I know he’ll come when I call him, she said of the giant sea turtle. Then a frown clouded her forehead. But he should be in Luna Beach by now.

I want to find him too, but we'll have to check with Sarah and Badger. You can't always have your own way. And besides, turtles don’t come when they’re called.

You’re not the boss of me. Lizanne stuck out her tongue. Tonight I’ll write in my diary that we went to Basil's Cove and tried to find the big guy. I can't write things down that didn't happen. It wouldn't be a diary if I did that.

You’re so weird, Lizanne. Jazz twisted a long strand of her blonde hair around her finger. Hey, I wonder if the mayor of Luna Beach would like some free advice from an eleven-year-old. I’d tell him ‘mirrors every fifty feet along the beach’. Wind and the sand can totally wreck your hair.

Yeah, well, he’s bald. I don’t think the wind worries him that much.

Jazz dug into her pocket and pulled out her favourite treasure. True. Good thing I have my trusty mirror with me. She peered at her image. Do I have gorgeous eyes or what? Big and green and…

Sounds like Basil, Lizanne giggled. You part turtle, Jazz?

Funny. Jazz eyed her nine-year-old sister. Your mop could use a little attention.

As if I care. Lizanne kicked sand at two sea gulls that were squawking over a piece of bread. Then she glanced at her watch. Hey, it's 2 o'clock. Saturday’s almost over. I'm tired of waiting for Sarah and Badger.

Geesh – what a redhead's temper. Jazz tweaked her sister’s strawberry curls.

Ow! Get away from me, loser.

Jazz walked towards the water. Gladly. But Mom makes me play with you so…

Lizanne covered her ears. I can't hear people who annoy me. I’ll write that in my …hey… She lowered her hands and followed her sister’s gaze. What’re you looking at?

Jazz stared up at the popsicle blue sky. I have this strange feeling that something weird is going to happen. I just got chills – a scary tingle all through my body. She shivered and hugged herself. It happened just now, while I was watching that puffy cloud change into a turtle. Basil's trying to tell me…hmm…I don’t know what...yet. I wish I could understand cloud-talk.

You’re nuts! Lizanne folded her arms across her chest and stomped to the edge of the water. Weird…how?

Like some kind of…warning.

Well, I don’t like ‘weird’ so I hope I'm not around when it happens. Lizanne brushed sand from her lime green shorts. And clouds don’t talk, banana brain.

The girls heard a screen door slam and looked towards Sarah and Badger Baker’s house. The families lived next door to each other along the beach in the small seaside town.

Sarah and Badger ran across the warm sand to join Jazz and Lizanne.

I hate sunscreen, Badger said. It stinks. Have you ever had it in your eyes? The stupid stuff dribbled into my…

No one cares, Badge. Sorry we’re late, guys. Of course it was his fault, Sarah said pointing to her brother. Then she flipped a triple cartwheel. Hey – love your new t-shirt, Jazz. What does it say on the front?

No one cares, Sarah, Badger bellowed.

Jazz fingered her shirt. It says, ‘Luna Beach for Sun and Fun’. Do you think the lemony color looks good with my hair, Sarah? Jazz posed like a model so her friend could make up her mind.

What doesn't look good on you? Sarah’s grin pushed up her pink cheeks. She was the shortest girl in her class and thought her peanut butter brown hair and freckles made her look younger than her eleven years. She admired Jazz’s height and dot-less