Beachcombing (229 words)
Beachcombing
by W. David MacKenzie
With the careful steps of old age, Eunice eased her stooped body over the grassy dune and out onto the windswept Bodie Island beach. Salt spray and grains of sand pelted her weathered face and the stiff Atlantic breeze caught at her wicker basket as if it were a parachute and tried to rip it from the crook of her arm, but she turned her body side-on to the gusts and trudged on. When Eunice reached the edge of the beach, where the waves crashed upon the shore and chased sandpipers with foamy tendrils of seawater, she kicked off her sandals and walked barefoot in the cool surging surf. Years seemed to melt away from her as she strolled along the beach, bending down now and then to pick up a small piece of driftwood or a particularly pretty shell. Eunice placed each nature-made trinket into her basket and made a mental note of just where she’d place it in her rockery or herb garden to add the perfect accent to her amateur agricultural efforts. After years of twice-a-week walks on this beach Eunice thought she’d seen just about everything the sea could toss ashore, but when her fingers closed on the small hard disk and she thumbed away the salt and sand to reveal the stamped face of an ancient golden coin, she knew she’d found something unique.
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Story Copyright 2006 by W. David MacKenzie
by W. David MacKenzie
With the careful steps of old age, Eunice eased her stooped body over the grassy dune and out onto the windswept Bodie Island beach. Salt spray and grains of sand pelted her weathered face and the stiff Atlantic breeze caught at her wicker basket as if it were a parachute and tried to rip it from the crook of her arm, but she turned her body side-on to the gusts and trudged on. When Eunice reached the edge of the beach, where the waves crashed upon the shore and chased sandpipers with foamy tendrils of seawater, she kicked off her sandals and walked barefoot in the cool surging surf. Years seemed to melt away from her as she strolled along the beach, bending down now and then to pick up a small piece of driftwood or a particularly pretty shell. Eunice placed each nature-made trinket into her basket and made a mental note of just where she’d place it in her rockery or herb garden to add the perfect accent to her amateur agricultural efforts. After years of twice-a-week walks on this beach Eunice thought she’d seen just about everything the sea could toss ashore, but when her fingers closed on the small hard disk and she thumbed away the salt and sand to reveal the stamped face of an ancient golden coin, she knew she’d found something unique.
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Story Copyright 2006 by W. David MacKenzie
posted by WDavid | 5/03/2006 10:33:00 PM
5 Comments:
There's no photo associated with this story. It's based on an exercise in a writing class I'm taking. The exercise, called Galumphing, give you three colums of 10 words. You pick numbers 0 to 9 three times, find the corresponding words and then write a story about them. The words I came up with were Basket, Gardener, and Sandy Beach.
Sounds like a good beginning to a story. Wish I was walking that beach. I'm glad you're taking the writing course. I never did get around to starting my poetry course. I guess we spent too much money this spring on the new car, extended warranty (which Merle had to have) and roofing for the shop/carport to warrant any extra spending for frivolous stuff like poetry classes. Maybe later I'll do it when our checkbook looks a little better. Maybe later... next time... when I get around to it... you know how it goes.
Hi Mom...Thanks for the comments. The old saying about life being too short is true...take the class! :-) I'll send you some funds for your birthday so you can enjoy a class or two on me. :-)
Here are the comments from the instructor and classmates on my Beachcombing Galumphing...
amandaW writes: ...as I found a rarity in your writing! such descriptive, imaginative verse and attention to detail this was wonderful. would make an excellent first paragraph for your short story as there are so many avenues to pursue.
Tamimae writes: Can I read More? I really enjoyed it, I love the ocean so much and you captured it wounderfuly. It was very refreshing Smiles:)
Teresa writes: David, great work! I have lived in the midwest my whole life, so ocean scenes are more exotic to me. You painted a vivid picture.
Lea writes: David: Good writing. I really felt like I was on the beach. I do walk the beach 3 times a week for exercise and sometimes collect trinkets along the way. Funny we did get the same words but wrote totally different things. Goes to show, all people think differently. Have a nice day.
Your Instructor--Ann writes: I think plotting must be one of your strengths. You've taken your three galumphing elements and turned them into the beginning of a story. The ancient golden coin is a real bonus. Great descriptions too. Fine galumphing!
Lois writes: David, your descriptions are wonderful, I struggle to find those descritive words for my writings. I look forward to learning from you and reading more.
BG writes: After reading your second galumphing exercise, I felt the need to find your first......I await your first novel. How will I recognize it?
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