One sunny Sunday morning in summer, Cornelius Trembles took Kitten Kaboodle to Abe’s Deli as was their custom. But this time, before leaving the apartment, Cornelius helped Kitten Kaboodle into his harness, and also took his travel bag and leash.

“Meow?” asked Kitten Kaboodle

“Today, Ketzele,” said Cornelius, “We are going down the shore!”

“Meow!” said Kitten Kaboodle.

An adventure was about to happen!

At Abe’s, Cornelius got two sandwiches; a bialy with butter and whitefish salad, and an onion bagel with lox and cream cheese. Kitten Kaboodle wondered if the second sandwich would be for lunch.

“Here you go, Pisicuţă,” said Abe as he gave Kitten Kaboodle an extra-large piece of smoked salmon.

After Kitten Kaboodle finished his breakfast, he and Cornelius set off. Instead of going to the bookshop, they went to the garage where Cornelius kept his car when he wasn’t driving it. When they got to the car, Cornelius put Kitten Kaboodle into his travel bag, and then carefully suspended it from the passenger side seat belt harness so that Kitten Kaboodle could watch the scenery go by as they drove. Kitten Kaboodle liked his travel bag. It was roomy, and soft, and had big mesh windows all around so he could see and sniff everything around him. Next, Cornelius put the paper bag with his sandwiches on the passenger side seat, got in, fastened his own seatbelt, and started the car.

“Are you ready Ketzele?” he asked.

“Meow,” said Kitten Kaboodle.

They set off.

When they reached the highway, Cornelius rolled down the windows just a little bit, so they could have plenty of fresh air. It was a long drive, but the sun was warm, and the car rumbled in a most relaxing way, and Kitten Kaboodle’s travel bag swayed gently, like a hammock. Kitten Kaboodle soon fell fast asleep.

When Kitten Kaboodle awoke, he could smell salt in the air, and he heard the distant crash and roar of water. He wondered where they could possibly be.

They were parked on a small city street. Cornelius took Kitten Kaboodle out of his travel bag, and attached the long leash to his harness. He took his paper bag from Abe’s. There was only the one bagel left in it. Cornelius had evidently eaten his bialy while they were driving. Kitten Kaboodle hopped up on Cornelius’ shoulder, and Cornelius locked the car, and then they started walking.

They walked right up a broad wooden ramp onto a broad wooden boulevard. Kitten Kaboodle looked around excitedly. Scores of people ambled to and fro across the boardwalk. There were countless shops lining the street side of the boardwalk, from which Kitten Kaboodle could smell a plethora of peculiar and delicious smells. And there were so many birds! Cooing pigeons, screeching seagulls, the occasional chirping finch or sparrow, and even a crow here and there.

On the other side of the broad walkway was a broad expanse of sand, ending in the greatest amount of water Kitten Kaboodle had ever seen in his life!

Cornelius Trembles took in a deep breath.

“Ah, smell that sea air, Ketzele!” he said.

“Meow,” said Kitten Kaboodle.

Cornelius sat down on a bench on the edge of the boardwalk overlooking the beach, He reached into his paper bag, and began to eat his bagel as he closed his eyes and took in the sea air. Kitten Kaboodle scampered about as far as his leash would let him, and had fun chasing the pigeons around. After a little while, Cornelius finished his bagel, tossed the empty bag into a trash can, and stood.

“Come on, Ketzele,” he said. “Let’s go see the sea!”

They descended some nearby steps to the beach and began walking toward the water. Kitten Kaboodle had never walked on sand before. It felt very different from the pavement back home, and the wooden floors of his bookshop. He bent down to sniff at it as they walked across the expanse toward the waves. Before long, they reached the dark, grey ocean.

Cornelius took off his shoes and socks fastened Kitten Kaboodle’s leash to his belt, and walked into the water until the waves were breaking halfway up his knees. Kitten Kaboodle stayed at the end of his leash on the dry sand. He puzzled at Cornelius, standing in the water, getting his feet wet. How could he do that?

“Meow!” he warned his friend. But Cornelius didn’t seem to hear him over the sound of the waves. He simply stood there, looking out to sea.

Kitten Kaboodle crept up on the shoreline, stalking the water that lapped at the edge of the sand. He followed the water as it went out, trying to get closer to Cornelius, meowing as he did so. But suddenly, the water started chasing him! Kitten Kaboodle dashed back up to the dry sand. He played this game of chase with the surf for long minutes as he waited for Cornelius to come to his senses and stop being wet on purpose.

Eventually, Cornelius came out of the sea and sat down on the dry sand, waiting for his feet to dry.

“Well, Ketzele?” he asked. “What do you think?”

“Meow,” replied Kitten Kaboodle, and he chased a sand-bubbler crab he found on the damp sand near the water.

Eventually, Cornelius Trembles’ feet were dry, and he put his socks and shoes on again.

“Come on, Ketzele,” he said. “Let’s go for a walk.”

They spent the rest of that day walking along the boardwalk and playing. They stopped at a place called Steel Pier, and rode on carnival rides right there over the water. They went to a shop that was owned by a large peanut wearing a top hat and a monocle. Cornelius bought a small bag of chocolate covered pretzels, some roasted nuts, and  a small open bag of raw peanuts. When they went back outside, Mr. Trembles fed the raw peanuts to the pigeons.

The pigeons were so tame, they would come right up to Cornelius and take the peanuts from his hand. Kitten Kaboodle was a little bit afraid; usually birds ran away from him. Here, they were all crowding around for food. Kitten Kaboodle stayed perched on Cornelius’ shoulder and batted now and then at the pigeons that fluttered about their heads.

They walked up and down the beach, playing ‘chase me’ with the rolling surf. They bought something called “saltwater taffy” to take home.

When the sun dropped low in the sky, Cornelius said, “I think we had better be getting home now, Ketzele. What do you think?”

“Meow,” replied Kitten Kaboodle.

Cornelius sighed, smiling. “Next time, we’ll make time to go feed the sea lions, and maybe collect some seashells.”

Cornelius Trembles and Kitten Kaboodle returned to their car. Cornelius put Kitten Kaboodle into his travel bag, and put his purchases on the passenger side seat. Then he got in and drove them home. Kitten Kaboodle quickly fell fast asleep, and never even noticed when they got home. He never even woke up when Cornelius carried him upstairs to his apartment on the third floor.