Today was Jon’s 14th birthday, but instead of feeling excited, he was sad. The lifeguard station by the beach had been his second home, filled with memories of helping, learning to swim, and saving a little girl’s sandcastle. But now, he had to move away; the station was full, and there was no room for him.
Standing on the beach, Jon felt alone despite the lifeguards around him. Sarah, one of the lifeguards, knelt beside him. “I’m really sorry you have to move,” she said gently.
“I just don’t want to leave,” Jon whispered.
Sarah comforted him, saying, “Wherever you go, you’ll take your memories with you. And you’ll make new ones too.”
Jon wasn’t sure her words would help, but they did bring some comfort. He tried to enjoy his birthday, and the lifeguards even threw him a small party. It wasn’t the birthday he imagined, but it was still special.
When it was time to leave, Jon took one last look at the station, feeling both sadness and hope. The ocean’s waves would always remind him of the home he was leaving behind, and maybe his new place would become another home filled with new memories.