The Beach

I lie on my perfect beach staring at an unblemished blue sky unmarked by cloud or plane. The only sound I hear as I close my eyes is the crash of the surf as it hits the coral reef that guards my island paradise before gently lapping the beach at my feet.
A slight breeze arises to caress my face before continuing its journey rustling the palm trees that stand as sentries along the edge of my beach onwards and once more flowing out to sea. Another gust follows the first; it is a cooling respite from the fierce sun that beats down upon me causing me to squint as I raise my head to survey my home.
My beach is untouched no footsteps mark its white glistening surface, no driftwood or flotsam mar its gentle slope to a pure blue sea. A sea as smooth as glass in my pool formed by the reef surrounding my home, keeping the wild ocean at bay.
My beach stretches to the edge of my vision curving gently around before disappearing behind the palms. I look up to see the cliffs rearing above the trees to remind me that not all my paradise is so hospitable. The northern side is rocky and rough, the sea a maelstrom of eddies and whirlpools, the waters desperately seeking a way out of the tumbled boulders that rise from the shallow water.
It is dark and foreboding under those cliffs and an unseen malice pervades the atmosphere. No, not all my island paradise is perfection. I lower my eyes again and a shadow rises from my vision as I once more look out at my ideal.
A raucous lonely cry turns my head once more to settle on my only companion, a gull that lives high on the cliffs.
"Hello my friend how are you this fine day?
But I get no answer other than a repeat of his mournful greeting as he disappears once more into his home in the shadow of the cliffs.
Again as I once more close my eyes I am alone in my tropical paradise, lying in peace and tranquillity.

"Daddy, daddy, daddy, my peaceful reverie is shattered by a wall of sound. The exited chatter and high pitched screams of children enjoying the beach, an ice cream van chiming in the car park and the drone of traffic on the busy seafront highway behind me.
I open my eyes to the silhouette of my youngest standing over me proudly holding her small plastic bucket for me to inspect the contents.
"What have you got there then? I say as I sit up to admire whatever treasure she has brought me.
I look into the proffered bucket to see a small crab scuttling from one side of the bucket to the other in a desperate but futile attempt at escape.
"Shall we take him down to mummy in the water and let it have its freedom I ask gently not sure how she will react to the thought of letting her prize go.
" Let it go? She enquires in a quizzical voice.
She frowns as she weighs up the pros and cons of my suggestion.
"OK she decides and skips off in the direction of the water. I rise and stretch my slightly stiff limbs before following her to the calm, grey water's edge and the rest of my family.
My wife spots us and raises a hand in greeting, a happy grin splitting her pretty face as she invites me to join her and my eldest in the water.
" In a bit I have to rescue a crab first I turn to the crabs jailer and we squat at the waters edge while she takes the beast from its prison and gently lowers it into the surf as it retreats from its endless but futile assault on the shore. The crab scuttles deeper into the water before being sucked into the waiting ocean.
We stare at the spot where it disappeared for a moment before my daughter stands and runs into the water to her waiting mother, the crab immediately forgotten as a splashing bout ensues. The flying water spays over the both of us so what else are we to do but return fire.
That is enough for me, a quick dip in the cold sea is all I am prepared to do.
" That's it, I am going back to get dry I inform my still splashing family.
" Coward says my wife with another grin and another wave of flying water.
I retreat and make my way back to our towels and stoop to pick mine up and engulf myself in its warmth.
I lay my towel back on the yellow sand and after picking up an old coke can and depositing it in our carrier bag of rubbish lie back with a sigh.
I can still see my cherished family laughing and shouting as they send water flying at each other and a fond smile appears on my face.
I lie back and close my eyes listening to the sounds of a happy summer's day.

I lie on my perfect beach staring at an unblemished blue sky unmarked by cloud or plane. The only sound I hear as I close my eyes is the crash of the surf as it hits the coral reef that guards my island paradise before gently lapping the beach at my feet.
A slight breeze arises to caress my face before continuing its journey rustling the palm trees that stand as sentries along the edge of my beach onwards and once more flowing out to sea. Another gust follows the first; it is a cooling respite from the fierce sun that beats down upon me causing me to squint as I raise my head to survey my home.
My beach is untouched no footsteps mark its white glistening surface, no driftwood or flotsam mar its gentle slope to a pure blue sea. A sea as smooth as glass in my pool formed by the reef surrounding my home, keeping the wild ocean at bay¦¦.