1 Ann stood on the sand. She looked at the water. It did not look happy.
2 The waves were high. Each one had a cap of foam. One by one they threw themselves on the sand.
3 Ann walked closer to the water. She stood on the edge of the surf. The water came right up to her toes. It washed around them. It tickled, and she laughed.
4 Then she stomped her feet. They made little splashes.
5 Mom followed Ann to the edge of the water.
6 "Look at your footprints, Ann," said Mom.
7 Ann looked down. The sand was firm under her feet.
8 "Why is the sand stiff here?" she asked. "It is not stiff up there." She pointed to the dry, white sand.
9 "This sand is full of water," said Mom. "The water makes it firm. Look while I press on it. My foot pushes some of the water out. When I take my foot away, some water comes back."
10 Ann watched with a smiling face. Then she tried it. Soon she was making her own footprints.
11 Mom and Ann went up from the water. Mom had put a blanket on the sand. On the blanket was a cooler. Inside were cool drinks. They each had a drink.
Paragraphs 12 to 32:
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