She pushed off from the shore on her board, but its fins dug into the sand - she went nowhere. As she stood up she looked at me and told me about the jellyfish that were out a little deeper. She moved along the river bank a little and tried again.
Having no more success she left the boogie board where it was on the river edge, and started hunting for shells. She crouched next to the pier, and studied the sand and weed that was between her knees. Red and black rash shirt, black biker's shorts touching the wet sand. Beyond were other piers, motor boats and the occasional surf ski outside these houses with their waterfronts.
"Ooh," she suddenly said, "something moved under my feet." The look of terror and wonder, as she scurried a few paces away, almost justified it all.
Another girl I saw... or Back to HQ
© Farmer 26 January 1996