Lost and FoundIwas moving as fast as | could, stepping cautiously from rock to rock along the uneven jetty. Far ahead, I could see the back of my brother's sandy hair and the bright orange of his shorts. “Too slow, sis!” | heard Sam yell as he hopped with ease. Til show him, I thought, and attempted a double jump. What a mistake! My left foot came down hard between the edges of two gray rocks, scraping my ankle. “Ouch!” I yelled, I tried to wiggle my foot out, but my shoe was stuck, I bent closer to the rock, and that's when I saw it: a shiny, square-shaped stone the color of water, attached toa glittery gold chain, It was just lying there on the wet sand, and a few seconds later it was in my pocket. “Why do you look weird?” my brother asked once Id freed my foot and caught up to him, We were walking back to Uncle Coop's house, where we spend a couple of weeks every summer. Uncle Coop lets us explore as long as we don't go too far. “[ don't look weird)’ I said. 2 Lastand Found It was just lying there on the wet sand, and a few seconds later it was in my pocket. Sam squinted in the sun, Could he tell I was hiding the most perfect discovery of the summer? I kept turning the treasure around in my pocket, pushing each corner of the square stone into my finger. I was giddy, but I didn’t want Sam to notice. He liked to tell everybody my business. “Ryan kept the paper napkins from the Andersons’ barbecue!” he had once announced. ‘They were stamped “R.A.” Those are my initials! Lostand Found 3.My family calls me their “little collector” Some mean kids at school call me “trash girl” “Ryan saved the mini cola bottle from the carnival!” It happens to be perfect for sand art! “Ryan wasted her allowance on salt and pepper shakers from the yard sale!” ‘They were antique piglets and cost only 50 cents! My family calls me their “little collector” Some mean, kids at school call me “trash girl” Sam and I walked along the main street, the small buildings giving us a break from the sun. Through the window of the candy shop I could see tubes of colorful jold. jelly beans. A sign on the window's glass read LOS’ and blue necklace. Verrry special. If found, call Chrissy at 555-9924, 4 Last and Found arnt Aram Copia Gold and lve necklace Necery Steel [ \efound, call Citey | S55 -VW24 \ ae Chrissy had drawn a crayon version of the necklace at the bottom of the poster and a border made of orange exclamation points. The necklace looked different from the one I clutched in my pocket, I decided. Rounder, bluer. The poster appeared old and weathered. It must have been put up months ago. “Hey,’ Sam asked, “are you coming with me?” Lost and Found 5I stared at the stone, so clean and polished. Could it be Chrissy's? We continued to walk, and I noticed four more posters, including two by Luann’s Luncheonette. Someone must have returned that necklace by now, | thought. Once home, | placed the necklace into my old yellow retainer box. I'd cleaned it out and made it my special spot for special things, So far, it held twin miniature seashells, a pebble that looked exactly like a robin’s egg, and ii half-burnt birthday candles, I stared at the stone, so clean and polished. Could it be Chrissy’s? Was it her “verrry special” necklace? “Uncle Coop? I called, “would you take me to the store?” We went into town together and stopped at Luann’s Uncle Coop let me borrow his cell phone to call the number on the poster. 6 Lost and Found “Holding on to it somehow makes things a little better” “Hello?” said a girl’s voice after one ring. “Hi? I said, nervous. “Is this Chrissy?” “Yes! “Um, my name is Ryan. I think I have something that belongs to you.” “My necklace?” Fifteen minutes later, | was sitting in a booth across from Chrissy. We were drinking milkshakes and sharing Lost and Found 7an order of sweet-potato fries while Uncle Coop and Chrissy’s dad drank coffee at the counter. “It was a gift from my mom; she said, “before she got sick” Chrissy looked down at the blue stone in her hand, “I'm really sorry,’ I said. “Holding on to it somehow makes things a little better” she said. “Do you know what I mean?” I thought about the mean kids at school and how holding on to beautiful things often makes me feel better. I nodded. “I think | do” WY] 8 Lostand Found