Beaching Ourselves

March 23, 2017 — fiction #writephoto, holiday makers, rowboat, simplicity, story

empty sandy beach

The sandy beach was sunlit and appealing as we stepped ashore. We had all been on a picnic party out to the island that had become a bit too rowdy for some of us. We left our jolly drinking friends to make their own way back, since they had become argumentative and feisty in a rude way. We could see that they had more than enough rum left to bring the evening to some kind of roaring conclusion, but we had roared quite enough with the crowd. They were always the same. We rowed the short distance back to mainland and felt the peace descend gently just as the sun sunk lower on the horizon, reflecting in the water.

I like to watch the sun go down from those dunes when the summer is starting to warm up. The sailing and kayaking pick up as weather permits. The bay becomes crowded with vessels, visitors, pretenders, and kings. The cottages are rented or opened for the just summer by those who can afford multiple dwellings. The visitors employ plenty of staff in the kitchens, gardens and drawing rooms. There are chauffeurs and butlers hanging out at the tavern in town late at night telling all the stories of their households to the other servants.

No secret lasted long, and no juicy gossip traveled on unembellished. Stories of wild lavish parties, intrigue and financial ruin were the daily bread of this summer society.  They did not separate themselves from city life to be out of touch with all the news.  They savored the tales of family strife or business struggles with relish.  We enjoy a week at the cottage my aunt lends to us every year at this time.  We do go to a few parties, like the picnic today, but we don’t really come for the social life. We like the beach when it is empty.  Our pleasures are simple and all our needs are easily met.  We pull our green rowboat out of the water and lift it over our heads to carry it back to the boathouse. The day is complete.

This story is based on the inspiration drawn from Sue Vincent’s photo prompt.  Please join us to submit a poem or story, read, or comment on last week’s photo  here.

#writephoto