A little girl watched the water creeping closer.

“The tide’s just going to knock it down,” she said.

Noa didn’t ask if Simon could see the castle.

Noah didn’t ask if Simon could see the castle.

Noah packed another handful of sand into place.

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“That’s okay!”

“That’s okay!”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the tiny red paper flag he had made with his dad.

Then he smiled. “We’ll just build another one.”

He planted the paper flag on the tallest tower and ran toward the waves with the other kids.

Behind him, the little red flag stood alone in the sea breeze.

Waiting for the tide.

“We’ll just build another one.”

“We’ll just build another one.”