One sunny morning, Grizz Ranger wandered from his home down the path that led to the beach.  He thought he would collect some pretty seashells.  

When he got to the beach, Grizz gathered lots of shells and shiny rocks.  He pretended he was a pirate burying his treasures.  

"Arrr!" Grizz said to himself in his best pirate voice, "They'll never find me booty!" 

Grizz giggled at the word 'booty', even though he knew it was another word for a pirate's stolen treasure.

Grizz decided to make the hole bigger.  Then he dug a trench from his hole to the ocean and watched it fill up with water.  He decided he wanted to build a model of the nearby town, so he piled sand around the trench and the hole.  

"Virginia lives here", Grizz said as he imagined a pile of sand being someone's house, "and here is her school." He made another pile of sand.  

Grizz didn't notice he was being watched.

Virginia, a young girl who lived in town, watched Grizz play in the sand.  She moved closer to see what he was doing, then started making piles of sand too.  Grizz looked up and smiled, glad to have company.  Soon they were joined by several more children, all working happily on the sand city.  

"Wow, Grizz!" said Virginia, "This is really cool!"

Grizz and the other kids agreed. 

By now, the sun had risen high overhead and it was starting to get hot.  

"Phew!" said a boy named Peru, "It's getting hot! I'm ready to get in the water."

"Me too!" agreed the kids, as they ran to the surf.   Grizz didn't move; he just looked sad.  

Audrey noticed his expression. "What's wrong, Grizz?" she asked.  "Don't you want to swim with us?"

Grizz looked down. "I don't know how to swim," he admitted quietly. "I wish I could learn," he added.

"Well," said Audrey, "I know where you can go to learn! You should go with us on our field trip. We are learning to swim at the Aquaplex, and they can teach you too!"

"Really!?" gasped Grizz. "I can go too?"

"Sure," said Audrey as she hugged him.  I know it will be just fine!"   

The next day, Grizz woke up early to go to school.  He had never seen so many children in one place.  The principal, Dr. Dunbar, greeted Grizz at the door.

"Hello, Grizz," said Dr. Dunbar. "I heard you were going on the field trip with the 2nd graders."

"Yes," replied Grizz happily, "I'm going to learn how to swim!"

"Good job, buddy!" said Dr. Dunbar, "Make sure you follow the rules and listen to the teachers."

Grizz nodded, "I will!" he promised as he walked down the hall.  

Grizz waited patiently in Mrs. Cox's classroom with the other students. Soon, it was time to get on the bus and travel to the Aquaplex.

Grizz sat on a bench while he waited for the kids to get dressed in their swim gear. He was amazed by the big pool.