Or some other mundane form of prankster, I thought to myself. "Hello! Very funny! Hello! Hello?" I cried into the night, my voice being absorbed by the endless crashing of waves.

When no one responded, I decided to take a closer look at the wooden statue. That was when...

...I realized it was ALIVE
...It slid back into the sea
...Someone responded to my cries
... it popped open!
...Other etc.

(Is that too short?)