Jackson woke up one morning to the sound of boxes being taped shut. "What's going on, Dad?" he asked, his robot arms whirring in confusion.
"Well, buddy," Dad said, smiling, "We're moving to the beach! Remember how much you love building sandcastles?"
Jackson did love sandcastles. He loved the beach, too! But leaving his home in Dallas felt strange. He'd miss his secret hideout in the backyard, where he pretended to blast off to the Robot Planet.
When they got to the beach, Jackson gasped. It was even better than he remembered! The sky was a bright, happy blue, and the waves whispered secrets to the shore. Palm trees swayed in the breeze like friendly giants.
"This is amazing!" Jackson shouted, his robot arms waving excitedly.
"Isn't it?" Dad laughed. "Now, let's find the best spot for our towels."
As they walked, Jackson spotted something incredible. It was a sandcastle, but not like any he'd ever seen. This one was huge, with towers that scraped the sky and a moat filled with sparkling shells. And sitting on top, its scales shimmering in the sun, was a dragon!
The dragon smiled, its teeth as white as seafoam. "Don't be scared," it boomed. "I'm Sandy, and I welcome you to the beach!"
Jackson's eyes widened. A real dragon! This was better than Robot Planet! He wanted to learn everything about Sandy. He asked, "What's it like being a dragon on the beach?"
"It's wonderful!" Sandy roared, a puff of smoke curling from his nostrils. "I love to watch the sunrise over the ocean and help the sea turtles hatch their eggs."
Jackson spent the rest of the day playing with Sandy. He learned about the different kinds of seashells and helped the dragon build an even bigger, more impressive sandcastle. He even got to ride on Sandy's back, soaring high above the ocean waves!
That night, as Jackson lay in his new bed, listening to the lullaby of the waves, he realized something. Moving to the beach wasn't so scary after all. It was a new adventure, full of exciting discoveries and magical creatures like Sandy the dragon. He couldn't wait to see what other secrets the beach held!
The next morning, Jackson ran to the window, eager to see Sandy again. But the beach was empty, the sand smooth and untouched. Had it all been a dream?
As he ate breakfast, he told Dad all about the friendly dragon and their incredible day. Dad smiled, his eyes twinkling.
"The beach is full of magic, Jackson," he said, ruffling his hair. "Sometimes, we just have to open our hearts to see it."
Jackson knew Dad was right. And as he ran out to explore his new home, he couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. He might not see Sandy again, but he knew that the beach held endless possibilities for adventure, friendship, and maybe, just maybe, even more dragons!
