‘Nah,’ said Tommy, ‘I’d miss you too much ’cos you couldn’t come on the boat ’cos no girls would be allowed.’

Sarah affectionately squeezed Tommy and he giggled in response.

Just as her arms were beginning to ache and she was about to put him down, he squealed, ‘Look – Sarah – I can see treasure!’

‘Can you? What treasure can you see?’ Sarah asked, playing along with him.

‘Down there, in the mud … LOOK.’

Tommy seemed very insistent, so Sarah put him down and leaned into the balustrade for a closer look. The mud and shingle appeared almost black, but Sarah spotted something gold glistening in the sun’s rays. ‘You’re right, Tommy, there’s definitely something down there.’

‘Come on, let’s go and get it. I bet it’s real treasure that’s fallen off a pirate ship,’ Tommy said, and began running towards some concrete steps that led down to the banks.

As he made a dash down the steps, Sarah gave chase. ‘Wait,’ she shouted, ‘it’s too dangerous. You stay here, I’ll go.’

‘But … but …’

‘No, Tommy, there’s no buts about it. I want you to sit on this bottom step and don’t move, OK?’

Tommy put on a sulky face but nodded his head.

‘Good boy. Sit tight and I’ll be back in a minute with the treasure.’

Satisfied that Tommy would follow her instructions, she cautiously stepped down onto the foreshore, half expecting her feet to sink in the stinking mud. Thankfully, it wasn’t as mushy or as deep as she had expected. She looked again for the shiny object and mapped a path in her head which would take her mainly across the shingle.

She slowly made her way through the mud, wrinkling her nose at the foul smell. Her black lace-up shoes were soon covered in thick gloop, and she nearly lost her balance a couple of times, slipping on green algae-covered rocks. As she got closer to the object, her heart began to race. She was sure it was a piece of jewellery. Finders, keepers, she thought, desperate for the money it could be worth.

Finally, she reached down and pulled the gold from the mud. It was filthy, but she could see it was a very thick and heavy gold bracelet adorned with several jewelled charms. It must be worth a fortune, she thought, quickly heading back towards the steps.

‘Is it treasure, Sarah?’ Tommy asked, as he jumped up excitedly.

‘Oh, yes, it most certainly is,’ Sarah replied, holding out the bracelet for Tommy to see. ‘Look.’

‘Wow, I’ve never seen nothing like that. Is it ours now? Can we keep it?’