Island Shore
                     By Ainsley Bargaine

				Written for CHLIDREN 7+
This was a school project.... So sorry if it's rushed. And Gabion? If you want I'll keep up that bad spelling JUST FOR YOU. Dude, you need to lighten up.

	Anna silently shuts the door of the hut, making sure not to make any noise. Grabbing the grocery bag, she hustled off towards the market. Dark was fading quickly, and she must not let anyone see her.

	Taylor laughed, as she and her friend watched Soul Surfer. 
“I love this movie!” She exclaimed, collapsing on the sofa. 
“Hey!” Angie protested. The movie was over much too quickly, so they decided to come up with jokes to pass the time. Angie's mother was at the market, and wouldn't be home until an hour. Taylor's parents were in their offices, working with their clients. Mrs. O' Connel and Mr. O' Connel were lawyers. 
“OK,” Angie started. “Did you hear the one about the football player and his girlfriend?” Taylor shook her head eagerly.
“The football player took his girlfriend to one of his games. At the end of the game he asked how she liked it. The girlfriend shook her head and said she didn't understand one part. He asked her and she said, 'Everyone was yelling 'get the quarterback!' But it's just a quarter.'”
The two friends burst out laughing, and once again- fell on the sofa. 
They played a board game while they waited, and soon Mrs. Dane was rapping on the door.
“Over here Mom!” Angie called through the living room. Mrs. Dane hurried through the room- there's been a robbery!” She shouted, rather loudly Taylor thought. 
Who would rob this tiny island? Angie and Taylor exchanged a look. 
“No way.” Taylor said uncertainly. 
But Angie's mom sat down and explained.
“Apparently this had been happening for 6 days now. That old magician” At magician, Mrs. Dane made air quotes. “He thinks that the thief will strike lastly, tomorrow- April 8th.” 
	The girls held their breath and contemplated this situation. 
“Do they have any clues?” Taylor answered first. Mrs. Dane shook her head.
“Then best leave it to the police- they can handle it!” Angie replied with a little much enthusiasm. But secretly, Angie and Taylor both knew that they wanted to catch the thief.

	That night they hurried out into the dusky night. The air fizzled from moisture, and dew drops sprinkled the lawn. They snuck over to the “magician's” shack, and opened the door. The door squealed in protest before giving in, and Taylor called, “Hello?” A minute passed before a cranky voice called, “What do ya want?” Angie trembled but crept in towards the sound.

“We just want to-” she hesitated. “gather information about the 7 day thief.”
The girls held their breath. Then the shrill voice sounded again.

“Tell me what you wish to know, and may my wisdom guide your decisions.”
Taylor couldn't help but smirk at this, he sounded so serious!

“Your laughter keeps you from you information that you seek.” The voice reminded calmly. Taylor stopped grinning immediately. 

“We want to know about the thief....” Angie trailed off anxiously. 

“Ah, but you do not know Angie, what it is that you are up against, or perhaps you do.”

Angie made a small whimpering sound, and Taylor glanced at her worriedly. “What is it?” She whispered quietly. Angie shook her head, and backed up to the door.

So Taylor went up and learned this from the magician: First, the thief was too anxious, was leaving town tomorrow, and was someone she knew very well. 

Taylor thought hard, “So is it someone YOU know?” The magician answered,
“It is as I can feel their very-” he leaned it. His breath sent a tingling sensation across her skin. “Presence.” Back in the room Taylor heard a large gulp. 
“He's here! Isn't he?” Taylor flew across the room.”Angie let's go! Let's go! We've got to find him!” Angie stepped carefully across the room, avoiding the magicians gaze. They ran out into the now fading darkness and into the house. All was quite, but on the desk sat 3 plane tickets.
“What's this?” Taylor said looking quizzically at Angie.
Angie glanced at the ground. “Oh yeah I forgot to mention- we are leaving town..... for awhile.” Her eyes searched to floor hopelessly wandering in every direction. Taylor put two and two together. It all made sense.
Angie not liking the magician, gulping a lot, plane tickets.....
“Your the thief?” She asked quietly. Angie didn't speak, she didn't have to.
“It all makes sense! You- why didn't you tell me?”
Suddenly Angie burst into pure fury.
“You just don't get it do you?” She hissed angrily. “You're richer, we needed money. Every time we get together is because YOU don't like my, what as it? 'Puny, small house.' Well guess what? You got your wish, you don't have to come anywhere near that house because we are DONE! I'm leaving this island and never coming back.” She paused, then looked at the floor self- consciously.

“I had no idea.” Taylor said in a small voice. Angie blinked a few times, tears welling up in her eyes.
“We needed money Taylor- you have to understand that. No... you don't- you've always had what you wanted.” She sniffed.

“Oh Angie....” Taylor brushed her arm lightly. “I understand, I understand.”

“We needed money.” Angie repeated. “That magician, I was so scared. He was real Taylor, he was real. He knew everything, and I …. I don't know.”

The two girls cried on the stairs until Angie's parents came out. They blinked into the sunlit windows, staring at Angie's crumpled form and a crying Taylor next to her.

“OK, what'd we miss?” Mr. Dane said. He obviously didn't know his daughter had been thieving. But Mrs. Dane.......

Mrs. Dane folded her arms across her chest, apparently realizing that her daughter had been found out. “How could you let this happen?” She said in a whisper quiet tone. Her voice chilled the girls, and they stood up.

“I- mom, I don't want to steal. It isn't right.” Her voice cracked, and Taylor hugged her. 

“What's this?” Her dad said defensively. “You've been stealing! Why, Angie! Why would you do this?” Angie explained her motivations to her Dad, while he nodded, tapping his head.

“Oh.” He said in the end. Then he turned to Mrs. Dane.

“Caitlin?” He raised his eyebrows. Mrs. Dane sighed.
“OK, so we needed money- got a problem with that George? A little to spare you know?” She raised an arm, as if to hit him, but she dropped it, tiredly. She just went into “George's” open arms, and cried. 

A week later the two girls relaxed on the beach, eating tropical sorbet ice cream. Their toes twitching in the sand, facing the sunset. 

A perfect day, with their best friend- on the Island Shore.