On a stroll along the
beach after school let out for the day, I slowed to observe a
group of teens gathering in a circle.
“Stay back!” one teenage boy
shouted at the others moving closer to look at something partially submerged in
the sand.
“Is it a jellyfish?” asked a
pudgy adolescent girl.
“Naw, there’s only one, and
everyone knows that jellyfish swim in schools, especially this late in the
summer when they migrate.”
“Eeww, it’s wiggling. Touch it
and see what it does,” she suggested and tucked her toes neatly together, but seemed
more impressed with the brainy boy than the sea animal.
“Not me,” the discoverer faced
the young man who’d just arrived beside him, “ but you’re wearing shoes, so you
give it a push.”
The newcomer took a step
back, but a third boy announced with authority, “Stand over here with me,” as
he drew a straight line in the sand with his big toe and clapped his hands
three times, “because if you stand behind this enchanted line, it can’t get
you.”
The girl hopped behind the mark,
then let out a scream when the translucent, white head of the creature rose two
feet tall and spewed slime as it lunged across the intended line of protection at
their row of bare feet.
I shook my head knowing it
takes a curved line to block any creature born of the sharply angled waves
that fight wild autumnal temperature swings.
4 comments:
Terrific! I wasn't expecting the ending. I'm so glad I read this because you taught me something very important and I'll always remember it so I don't make the same mistake the children did. So obvious, so logical.:)
Hi Wendy! I'm so glad you enjoyed my little account.
Great work... must share this vital information. I see it going viral.
Love your work.
Thanks lots, Rosalie!
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