It was the summer holidays, finally. I woke early on the fourth; maybe fifth day excited at the prospect of a fresh new day and drew the curtains. For once it looked like it might be a nice day. The sky was a beautiful pale blue tinged with mauve faint cream coloured wisps of cloud gathered delicately along the horizon above the vast, glittering ocean. I grinned. Somehow I knew it was going to be an extraordinary day!
I pulled on my wetsuit, grabbed my board and ran the 300m to the beach. It was 6 o'clock in the morning and there was only one other person in the sea. Summer can be the worst time to go to the beach in Cornwall- it's hopelessly overcrowded, filled with the screaming offspring of and animals of rude, disrespectful, dissatisfied tourists. (The only way to escape it is getting up early or staying up late, the former being the more effective.) I pushed these thoughts from my mind. Why ruin a perfect day?
I surfed for a while. It was fun.
When I got out, it was around 9. The beach was still almost empty- only the locals enjoying the peace. Then I saw a curious blue box. It was on the sand under the cliff and it was totally abandoned. No one else appeared to even notice it. I walked up to it cautiously. I suddenly shivered as I stepped in to the shade. Every instinct told me not to do this. But I couldn't stoop myself moving towards this mysterious, irresistible… 'police box'? What even was a 'police box'?
I reached out and stroked the smooth wood. I felt a gentle flow of electricity between us. An electricity which promised adventures and cultures I could never have even dreamed of, told stories of pirates and rogues, of dragons and damsels and an eternal man, of the impossible becoming possible, of dimensions changing, defying reality, stars and skyscrapers, a mere button push away. Our souls sung together and I leant forward, intoxicated.
CRARRK.
The cry of a seabird startled me from my trance-like state. I shook out my limbs. I was being stupid – this was police property. I checked my watch. Only half an hour until work… But I'd got out of the water with an hour to spare. I needed to get back.
I hurried up the beach, keen to get home. I tripped on a rock and fell flat on my back at the feet of an attractive but arrogant boy. He sneered and my cheeks burned. I limped home thoroughly embarrassed, with a swollen black toenail to top everything off.