by Laurel Willow

Created on: August 03, 2008

An Unusual Find

As indescribable colors painted the sky over the ocean, Erika watched in awe on this Indian summer evening. She and three girlfriends had spent Columbus Day weekend on the far eastern tip of Long Island each year for the last 11 years. She leaned against the garbage can and looked at the curved horizon showing the shape of the earth. No wonder Columbus took the dare.

Erika rummaged through her bag for as clip to gather hair away from her face. This morning her hair was sleek and smooth; now it was a mass of frizz because of the humidity. She wanted to get a shot of this magnificent sky and the ocean with her camera.
If she stayed where she was, the picture would be all foreground. Her Multiple Sclerosis prevented her from walking on the sand and she needed to lean on her arms on her knees to hold the camera steady. Using her flowered cane, she lowered herself to the curb where the concrete pavilion ended and the sandy beach began. With her elbows propped up and her back against the trashcan, she zoomed in for a shot of the ocean and the few wispy clouds that added texture. She checked the aperture and that's when the kid came out of nowhere. He was running from the parking lot and stepped on the tip of her cane that jostled her arm and sent the camera flying and her bag spilling into the sand. The kid did a somersault onto his back and jumped up to run away. "Sorry, lady!" he called as he did another somersault.
She had to grin. It would have been nice if he'd stopped to help her but she chuckled at his exuberance. His energy and gymnastics were impressive. Her tissues, cigarettes and camera case were easy to retrieve. The camera, on the other hand, was a good 10 feet away behind the corner of the over-turned lifeguard boat and she worried what sand had done to it.
She had plenty of time to get the camera, have a cigarette and take a few shots before she was to meet the girls at the "Closed for the Season" concession stand directly behind her. She used the cane and the garbage can to help her to her feet. The camera's corner glinted half buried in the sand and reminded her of the Statue of Liberty in Planet of the Apes.
There were very few stragglers in the general area so Erika decided to leave her bag where it was and walk over to get the camera. She took off her Keds and stuffed her socks inside them. Using her cane, she began to make her way to the camera. The sand's top layer was warm from the day's sun and cool on her feet as her toes

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>