Prologue 

You’ve probily been to Cheerie island, in the summer of course without ever knowing it. It’s one of those places. The sun would of been shining and seagulls stealing your chips. The ice cream stall would be packed selling: chocolate, berry cherry and vanilla ice cream. Children would of been digging holes with there buckets and spades. People buying souvenirs. But you would of gotten in the car to go home and gotten ready to forget all about your day at the seaside. But it’s not like that in the winter.

Try going when the first winter storms blow in, when the ch of Cheerie island flicker out to spell eerie island! No one visits then, even the locals stay of the beach then and they have a good reason to. When the winter storms howl everyone locks there doors and closes their shutters. Owen or crazy O as people call him swears he has seen the legend Frogamander but no one believes him until now…

Chapter 1

My name is Joshua Pineapple and I work at Cheerie island beach. Most people call me Josh. I am a lifeguard at Cheerie island. It’s quite exciting in summer when guests come flooding in with the smell of fresh crepes being made and everyone buzzing. But in winter the only thing to keep me company is the slow waves crashing on the beach. No crowds, no crepes it really is different in winter. 

It’s 3:15. The beaches most active part of the day. It’s noticeable the most buisiest summer yet. Then I see a crate in the water. Strange I thought? I go to investigate. I wait as it lands on the beach. And what I see is very odd. A boy. Maybe age 9. He opens his eyes startling me.

“Um what’s your name?” I say.

“Dunno?” Says the boy.

He must of banged his head. So I decide to call him Dylan Avocado as he looks like a Dylan and his crate is full of avocados. I tell him his new name and he smiles for the first time. Dylan Avocado it is I say. Then a horn blares I look up. A ship is heading straight towards us. I look at Dylan his eyes have widened and he has gone a ghostly shade of white.

“There after me.” He squeaks.

“Help me.” He says even more quietly this time.

I help him out the crate and hurry to my apartment. I can hear the captain of the ship yelling at his crew. He must of seen me take the boy.

Before I carry on with what happens next, let me tell you of a locel tale. It happened so long ago that no one knows the exact date that someone saw it. It’s a legend that only comes out when streats are desserted or when it’s night but most commonly thought to be seen is during a storm. It is though to be a frog. A giant frog. That’s where it got it’s name Frogamander! It’s as big as a T-rex as strong as a dragon it smelled of deceased fish it had eaten. Do not go out when the first winter storm blows in as that is when it appears.

Were at my house now. And I demand an explanation. So Dylan opens his mouth and begins. But then his tummy grumbles. I get the message and go to my fridge and get a sandwich. After he finishes his peanut butter jelly sandwich. I tell him to start so Dylan opens his mouth and begins. It happened so many years ago when I was just a young boy. My parents stayed in a hotel near these parts. I was with them. We were a rich family and a captain wanted the money. We went to the beach one day and we played hide and seek and they hid under the pier. I saw them out the corner of my eye but before I could get them someone or something took them. The captain is still after me. 

I nod. “But how did you end up in a crate?” I say. 

“I don’t know?” Says dylan.

“Wait are you here to try and find out what took them I ask.” I say. Exactly says Dylan. You could help me find it Dylan said excited.

“I’m afraid not as I have a job.” I say sadly.

“Pleaseeeee.” Says Dylan. I can’t say no to that face. 

It’s the next morning and me and Dylan set of to the beach. It’s misty outside and the streets are deserted. Even the fish and chip shop isn’t open. We make our way down the steps to the beach. We walk across the beach as the sun starts to rise. But then in the mist you can see a figure crouched beneath the pier. Then it backed away back into the unknown.