The Ocean Tides
    
One exciting day, my dad took my two friends, Max and Chris, and me on a trip in his sailboat across Chesapeake Bay to the Atlantic Ocean. As we sailed about three hundred miles into the Atlantic Ocean, my friends and I were excited to be on the water seeing dolphins. The dolphins raced the bow of the sailboat. They crisscrossed and jumped in and out of the water having fun.
    
My dad said, “Did you kids know that the Atlantic Ocean’s name makes reference to Atlas of Greek mythology?” Before we could answer, the boat made a loud sound and started smoking near the engine.
    
“Is everything OK?” asked Max.

“I think so,” I replied.
    
“Don’t worry, kids. I am sure it’s nothing serious,” said my dad. I could tell he didn’t know what was actually wrong. He just didn’t want us boys to panic. I have seen that look many times before.
    
While my dad worked on the engine, he diverted our attention by asking, “How do you think the ocean tides are created?”
    
“I believe they are created by the strong winds,” said Max.
    
“I think they’re created when going from high tide to low tide,” replied Chris.
    
I said, “It has to be the storms and rain!”
    
As we continued to disagree, the sailboat started to shake. An unexpected visitor surprised us. It was Poseidon, the brother of Zeus. He rode over the surface of the ocean in a seashell chariot and sea horses. Once he was close to us, he asked, “What’s the problem?”
    
“We can’t agree on how the ocean tides are created,” I said.
    
“Gentlemen,” said Poseidon, pointing his trident, “the ocean tides are actually caused by the rotation of our Earth and the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun acting on ocean water. Never fight in defense of what you don’t know.”
    
After the shock of our unexpected visitor, he rode away over the surface of the ocean. We excitedly said goodbye. The engine quickly started, and we talked about this adventure all the way home.