Water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.
Tipping her head back, she drained the last bit of Coca-Cola from the slim green bottle she held in her right hand. She could picture her mother’s face, grimacing at the sight. It wasn’t lady like, her mother would chastise her. That’s what the straw is for, Nora! But the paper always stuck to her lip. Wiggling her toes deeper into the sand, she took pleasure in the cooler grains buried a few inches beneath the hotter, top layer. This is the life, she mused. Stretched out in the sun on a comfortable barkcloth clad chaise lounge, and dressed daringly in her new strapless orange one piece, she’d spent the last two hours mostly dozing and dreaming, while palm trees and blue waves swayed and danced behind her closed eyes.
Her heart sank. A breeze was picking up, though trying to be playful. Kissing her cheeks, and lifting her bangs impishly off of her forehead. Shuffling the pages of the book she’d only half heartedly been reading. And the sun, as though suddenly gripped by a fit of regret over its own daring attire, was covering itself up with clouds. She shivered and reached for her polka dotted beach towel, draping its warmth around her shoulders as the first drop of rain splashed off the end of her nose.
Reluctantly vacating the soft cushions of her chair, she stood and gathered her book and empty bottle, and slipped into her sandals. Facing reality from the roof of her apartment building, she was reminded once again that palm trees and blue waves were a long, long ways away.
Water water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.
Just not here.
She pushed the dishpan, full of sand, under the chaise lounge.
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Sand. Word limit is 450.
That is hilarious, Valerie, and not only that...so-so timely! You got us directly involved in her fantasy, as if it were for real...genious! I just love your short-short stories!
ReplyDeleteSo I'm wondering if I got a dishpan of sand if I might feel better about the temps in my house right now? Still no power!
ReplyDeleteAwesome piece, you always make me smile!
How did I miss this?? Love the fantasy. I wish I'd thought of that!
ReplyDeleteNora's my kind of heroine. Her unladylike dismissal of the straw, daring bathing suit, polka dotted beach towel, and, of course, boundless imagination all add up to a character worth rooting for. Your characters are always so real; I find myself wanting to know more about them.
ReplyDeleteDawn, Melissa, Lisa, Cam and Tracy-thank you so much! I love each and every comment:)
ReplyDeleteI love your recurring themes of strong women at a time when it was not encouraged. And as always, you create such wonderful pictures with your words.
ReplyDeleteI really felt like I was there and dipping my toes in the sand! At the end, I too, felt the disappointment in returning to reality. Great story Valerie!
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