It was a cold, snowy, crisp morning on the coast; and the sandy Carolina beach was transformed into a magical landscape, unlike anything Lila had ever seen. She stood in awe, her breath visible in the crisp air. Finn, her best friend, was already gathering snow, his cheeks rosy from the cold. "I've never seen snow at the beach before," Lila exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's like a dream," Finn replied. “Let’s get to work,” Lila answered, determined to enjoy the cold winter day. Quickly, they began to mold the snow into the shape of a mermaid.

Lila and Finn both carefully sculpted the mermaid's tail, using shells to create intricate scales that glistened in the sun. Each shell was a treasure, adding to the enchantment of the day. "Look at her, she's almost real!" Lila said, stepping back to admire their work. "Let's give her a crown," suggested Finn, placing a larger shell atop the mermaid's head.

Then Lila spotted something shimmering beneath the snow nearby. She knelt down, brushing away the snow to reveal an ancient-looking bottle buried deep in the sandy beach. "What's this?" she wondered aloud, holding it up for Finn to see. "A message in a bottle!" Finn exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

With trembling fingers, Lila carefully opened the bottle, and slowly she unrolled the paper. She crinkled her eyebrows in concentration, and a smile spread across her face. “It’s a treasure map of course!” she exclaimed."Do you think it's real?" Finn asked, peering over her shoulder. "There's only one way to find out," Lila replied, her heart pounding with anticipation.

So the children walked, along the shoreline, past where the snow met the sea, and followed a path through the thick grassy hills,. The thrill of adventure coursed through them, driving them forward as they wadded through sand and snow. "I think we're getting close," Finn said, his voice barely a whisper over the waves. "Look, over there!" Lila pointed to a cluster of rocks, far off in the distance, where something glittered enticingly.

With bated breath, Lila and Finn climbed the dune and scaled the rocks , discovering the most precious of ocean treasures. It was a pile of perfectly formed shells, pearly white sand dollars, and sea glass that glistened in the early morning light. Lila was sure it was a real mermaid treasure. "This is the best day ever," Lila beamed, clutching a shiny blue smooth piece of glass to her heart. "We found real treasure," Finn grinned, his eyes sparkling with joy, as he pressed a shell tightly to his ear. They knew this snowy day at the beach was one they would remember forever, a day when magic truly came alive. All it took was an empty bottle, and a little imagination!