Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: BEACH (09/01/22)
-
TITLE: The Salty Truth | Previous Challenge Entry
By Karen Dick
09/07/22 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
It wasn’t easy to understand why my family had taken this unplanned vacation to the beach. Mom said Dad needed a break. I’m not sure why since he had been gone for the last couple of weeks at some kind of mental health retreat. Now we were at the beach and Dad was lying down in the bedroom… and I was away from Arnie.
My brother’s face suddenly appeared above me. “Snap out of dreamland. Mom said to go help her make lunch.”
“Why can’t you?” I sprung up and faced him.
“‘Cuz I’m a guy.” He ran down the beach and jumped into the waves.
With a glance back at the cabin, I ran after Joe. I dove in, grabbed his leg, and pulled. He jerked away. As I emerged, he splashed a wave of water toward me.
A mouthful of salt water caused me to gag and cough. I stumbled past him and toward land.
“Serves you right,” he yelled.
Staggering up the beach I glanced at my hand. My ring finger was bare. The ring was gone. My heart thumped as I ran back to the water. Please God, help me find it.
As I waded in, the waves flowed around me.
“What’re you doing?” Joe swam toward me.
“My ring came off! I have to find it.” My throat constricted and I swallowed.
“You won’t find it.” He stood and pushed through the water toward shore. “Your boyfriend got it out of a Cracker Jack box anyway.”
He walked up the beach and grabbed my towel. “Hurry up, I’m hungry,”
I waded out of the water and followed my brother to the cabin. With a sigh, I went through the door and stared at Mother.
She stood at the kitchen counter making sandwiches. With a glance toward me, she stopped, took a handkerchief out of her pocket, and dabbed her eyes. “I’m glad you’re here. You need to get paper plates and Cokes.”
Wiping her nose with the hankie she glared at me. “Move.”
“Oh, Mother,” I cried and plopped onto a kitchen chair while a tear dribbled down my cheek.
She shook her head as she dropped a slice of bologna on a piece of white bread. “I don’t know what’s up with you, but we have to get lunch for your father. He needs his meals on time.”
With a deep breath, I stood when Dad quietly appeared from the back room. He nodded as he passed, and went outside. The screen door slammed.
Mother pushed a paper plate toward me with a sandwich on it. “Take this to him.”
I followed Dad to a lounge chair where he had stretched out. “Is that for me?” His eyes were puffy, his face pale.
“Yes.” I handed him the plate and turned to leave.
“Isn’t the beach wonderful?” He asked quietly.
He took a bite of his bologna sandwich and I slowly lowered myself onto a metal chair
beside him. As I entwined my fingers together, the memory of my lost ring returned and a tear dropped onto my hand. Dad stopped chewing.
“What’s up, my girl?” His voice was soft.
I took a deep breath and the tears flowed. “I hate the beach. My ring is gone. My life is over.”
“Well…” Dad took another bite of the sandwich, then gently set the plate down.
He quietly gazed out at the ocean, then turned his head to meet my eyes.
“I understand your feelings about your life being over….but, I’ve learned a few things the last couple of weeks.”
Sniffing loudly and wiping my face with my hands, I watched Dad. His face brightened and a smile emerged.
“I learned that perhaps stuff isn’t as valuable as we think it is. Perhaps God has given us family and friends…. relationships. And even himself.”
I rubbed my naked finger and nodded. He put his hand over mine and squeezed.
“It’s an important lesson. I guess you and I are both learning it the hard way.” He winked.
“Should we go test the water?” He asked.
With a grin, I stood. “Yes.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
