based on Exodus 14:21-28 by Lacey, 12, Alabama

"1, 2, 3 . . ." Jared Jellyfish counted. "18, 19, 20 . . ."

I quickly searched for a place to hide. My name is Frank Flounder, and I love to play hide-and-seek with Jared, Sammy Swordfish, Ollie Octopus and Sally Sunfish.

"48, 49, 50! Ready or not, here I come!" Jared called. I quickly ducked behind an old clamshell.

"I see you!" Jared cried.

"Aww! I’m always found first because my legs stick out!" Ollie whined.

"Stop whining and help me find the others," Jared said.

Suddenly, a huge rumbling rang through the water. Things shook so much, it rolled me, Sally and Sammy out of our hiding places!

Then the rumbling stopped. "Ha, ha!" Jared yelled, trying to tag me. I quickly swam for base (another clamshell) but screeched to a stop.

A bunch of people were walking through the middle of the sea on dry ground. They kept looking over their shoulders, and saying things like: "They’re getting closer!" and "They’ll kill us all!"

By this time, the others had seen, too. None of us could believe that the sea had parted!

After all the people passed, a bunch of men dressed in bright shiny stuff holding pointy things in their hands rushed by.

"Those must be the people who are chasing them!" Sally said.

Suddenly, another rumbling started. "Not again!" Sammy moaned. The sea rolled back into place, on top of the soldiers and we quickly swam away.

A couple of days later, we came back to that spot. Every one of those soldiers had drowned! I wonder if something as amazing as that will ever happen again? Meanwhile, I’ll play hide-and-seek.

	Q: Why did the dog lay on its back with its feet sticking in the air? A: It was trying to trip birds. Amy S., 11, Illinois Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe