Look out! Mad writer on a rampage! Two updates in a single hour!
: - )
After a few more songs, Gram excused herself. "I'm going to take a rest, dear." She told Lucille. "Have to keep my energy up for when the fishing party returns."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she smiled sweetly as she left the room. "Just a bit tired."
In her lap, Gordon strummed softly on the strings still. "Is Gram all right?"
"Yeah, honey." Lucille paused and bit her lip before brightening. "Hey, want to go for a walk? Let Gram have some quiet?"
"Sure."
"We'll head down to the beach."
Gordon was less than enthusiastic about his mother's choice in destination. What was it with her and the ocean anyway?
It wasn't long before Gordon found himself holding his mother's hand as they crossed the hot asphalt and headed down a short wooden walkway that traversed the sand. Gordon's flip-flops scuffed along as he played with the grains left from the treads of other beach-goers. "The sand's kinda fun."
Lucille grinned as she looked down at him. "Not all bad, huh?"
"John says you can build castles in sand."
"He's right. That might be a project for you guys this week."
Gordon started to lay out plans as his mother guided him down the walk. It would be big with lots of towers, maybe a moat. . .
"There it is."
He looked up. Before him lay the dark blue expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, stretching on towards the horizon. It was endless. The gentle waves crashed into the golden sand and retreated, only to come back again. Further out, people frolicked in the surf, floating on rafts and jumping the waves as they began to build.
"Wow," Was the only response Gordon could muster.
"What do you think?"
"That's a lot bigger than the lake."
"Just a bit. Want to get closer?"
Gordon nodded mutely and followed his mother's example by sliding off his shoes. He took it all in as they went to the water, the sound of the waves and the taste of the air. The sand underfoot and between his toes.
Suddenly, it became overwhelming. He stopped causing Lucille to turn and look at him strangely. "What's wrong, Gord?"
He stared for a few more minutes before finally muttering, "It's too big."
She knelt in front of him. "There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Yes there is."
"Honey," she stroked his arm. "The ocean is big, and I'll tell you, it can be dangerous."
"I knew it!"
"But it's also beautiful. And exciting. There's a whole other world below the surface that very few people ever get to see. Just respect the ocean and always remember that it is bigger than you."
Gordon still had his doubts. "I'm still scared."
"Scared is just your good Tracy sense kicking in." Lucille said as she stood back up. "It's good to be scared, but don't let it stop you from trying something new."
Swallowing, Gordon followed her down to the water's edge. Lucille stopped on the wet sand. "Just wait here a sec."
Gordon did as he was told and then looked back at the water. His eyes widened at what he saw. A large, forceful wave was heading straight for him. "Mom!" he shrieked, managing to climb up into her arms, nearly knocking them both over.
"Gordon!" she laughed loudly. "The wave died down, see?" He watched as the thin veil of water moved up the beach and caressed her toes. "Why don't you just trust me and hop down? The water's warm."
He looked down, looked back at his mother and emphatically shook his head no.
"Honey, I'm right here with you. Nothing is going to happen."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart."
Reluctantly, he slid from his mother's grasp. The next wave was already on its way in. It was bigger than the last, or so it seemed. Gordon closed his eyes tight and clenched his mother's hand.
The next thing he felt was something tickling his feet. His eyes popped open and he stared down. The water had come up just as before. As promised, it was warm and he giggled as it flowed back out, carrying the sand with it.
He then spotted something tumbling along with the tiny grains and quickly reached down to pick it up before it could be carried away. He held the prize high, admiring the colors in the bright sun. "Neat!"
"A shell! How pretty." Lucille took the gift her son offered. "Thank you, love."
Proud of himself Gordon stooped to grab another. Unfortunately, he forgot to look before he swooped. Another wave rolled in, the majority of the spray catching him in the side and face. He sputtered loudly, frowning at the salty taste.
"Are you ok?" Lucille used the tail of her shirt to wipe his eyes.
"Yeah, but my shell got away."
"I'm sure we can find some more." She stopped and looked past Gordon, out to sea. "Hey, look out there."
Gordon turned to see a group of dark triangles breaking the surface of the water. They rose and disappeared as the creatures paralleled the shore. "Are those sharks?"
"They're dolphins." Lucille pulled out the silver charm that hung from her neck. "Like this."
"Do they bite?" Gordon could still see the resemblance to the creatures he had seen on TV.
"No. They eat fish. They're probably just passing by."
The animals drew closer, coming near enough for Gordon to make out their long snouts as they swam. "They're pretty."
"I'd have to say the dolphin is my favorite animal." Lucille said as she wrapped her arms around him. "So peaceful and graceful."
Gordon watched them for another few seconds before declaring. "I like them, too."
"And that's only one of the beautiful creatures that live out there."
As Gordon watched the dolphins swim off, he wondered what else could be out there. He was beginning to see what his mother was talking about and with that he found his fear ebbing away. An incredible curiosity took its place, filling him with a sense of wonder. There were a lot of things out there to see.
And he wanted to know about them all.
***
"Sco-otttt" He groaned and rolled over, praying that the little voice plaguing him would simply disappear if he ignored it long enough. "Scott!"
"Scotty!" No such luck.
After a few seconds, he thought the source of the annoyance had finally taken the hint. That comforting thought was completely dispersed when he felt the wind knocked out of him and a weight on his stomach. His eyes popped open and he found himself staring into impossibly huge amber eyes.
His first impulse was to scream, which he did. Virgil, yanked from a dead sleep, did the same. "What?!"
It only took a half-second to realize who the eyes belonged to. He fell back on his mattress with a sigh as his little brother sat on him and giggled. "It's only Gordon."
"Then why did you scream?" Virgil groused from the sofa bed.
"Because he's wearing those stupid goggles that Gram bought for him last night and I thought I was being abducted by aliens."
"I don't think they want you anymore, Scott." Virgil smirked as he settled beneath the covers again. "The last time they tried to suck your brains, they came up empty handed."
"Cute, Virg." A particularly lucid moment for his brother at such an unholy hour. Scott looked out the windows from his bed on the floor. The red sliver of the sun was just beginning to crest the horizon. "Gord, what are you doing?"
"Let's go to the beach."
"Later," Scott turned his face to the pillow, hoping Gordon would get the point and go back to bed.
"No, now. See? I got my swim trunks on." Scott couldn't help but look and snort with amusement. Gordon tugged at the black fabric that sported colorful little frogs. He was also wearing a life preserver and a snorkel.
"It's not time to go to the beach." Scott said back into his pillow. "Nobody's awake yet."
"The dolphins are awake."
"I'm not a dolphin."
"Fine."
Gordon gave up his harassment and ran from the room, making a flapping noise as he went. Scott looked up just in time catch a glimpse of yellow swim fins. "What has gotten into that kid?"
"Mom! Hey Mom!" Lucille opened her eyes groggily just in time to see an auburn headed blur throw himself at her. The bed bounced as Gordon landed on it. "Mom, let's go to the beach."
She nudged the man sleeping next to her. "Your kid is awake."
"Oh no you don't. He's only mine when he's asleep." He looked over his wife's shoulder. "Gordon, it's 5 a.m."
"I know, Dad. We're wasting beach time!"
"Gordon, the beach will still be there in an hour or two."
"But there will be a whole bunch of people there!"
"Okay, okay." Lucille stretched. "Give me a couple of minutes? Why don't you go get John and Alan up and we'll have some breakfast?"
"Sure!" Gordon left the room as fast as fins would carry him.
"Why are you getting up just to go to the beach?" Jeff pulled her closer and snuggled into her hair. "They're just going to tire themselves out by mid-afternoon and then they'll sleep the rest of the day. . ." he stopped as the prospects of that situation hit him.
"That'll make them easier for Scott and Virgil to watch when you and I go out tonight." She rolled over and gave him a gentle kiss. "Besides, I like watching the sun come up over the water."
: - )
After a few more songs, Gram excused herself. "I'm going to take a rest, dear." She told Lucille. "Have to keep my energy up for when the fishing party returns."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she smiled sweetly as she left the room. "Just a bit tired."
In her lap, Gordon strummed softly on the strings still. "Is Gram all right?"
"Yeah, honey." Lucille paused and bit her lip before brightening. "Hey, want to go for a walk? Let Gram have some quiet?"
"Sure."
"We'll head down to the beach."
Gordon was less than enthusiastic about his mother's choice in destination. What was it with her and the ocean anyway?
It wasn't long before Gordon found himself holding his mother's hand as they crossed the hot asphalt and headed down a short wooden walkway that traversed the sand. Gordon's flip-flops scuffed along as he played with the grains left from the treads of other beach-goers. "The sand's kinda fun."
Lucille grinned as she looked down at him. "Not all bad, huh?"
"John says you can build castles in sand."
"He's right. That might be a project for you guys this week."
Gordon started to lay out plans as his mother guided him down the walk. It would be big with lots of towers, maybe a moat. . .
"There it is."
He looked up. Before him lay the dark blue expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, stretching on towards the horizon. It was endless. The gentle waves crashed into the golden sand and retreated, only to come back again. Further out, people frolicked in the surf, floating on rafts and jumping the waves as they began to build.
"Wow," Was the only response Gordon could muster.
"What do you think?"
"That's a lot bigger than the lake."
"Just a bit. Want to get closer?"
Gordon nodded mutely and followed his mother's example by sliding off his shoes. He took it all in as they went to the water, the sound of the waves and the taste of the air. The sand underfoot and between his toes.
Suddenly, it became overwhelming. He stopped causing Lucille to turn and look at him strangely. "What's wrong, Gord?"
He stared for a few more minutes before finally muttering, "It's too big."
She knelt in front of him. "There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Yes there is."
"Honey," she stroked his arm. "The ocean is big, and I'll tell you, it can be dangerous."
"I knew it!"
"But it's also beautiful. And exciting. There's a whole other world below the surface that very few people ever get to see. Just respect the ocean and always remember that it is bigger than you."
Gordon still had his doubts. "I'm still scared."
"Scared is just your good Tracy sense kicking in." Lucille said as she stood back up. "It's good to be scared, but don't let it stop you from trying something new."
Swallowing, Gordon followed her down to the water's edge. Lucille stopped on the wet sand. "Just wait here a sec."
Gordon did as he was told and then looked back at the water. His eyes widened at what he saw. A large, forceful wave was heading straight for him. "Mom!" he shrieked, managing to climb up into her arms, nearly knocking them both over.
"Gordon!" she laughed loudly. "The wave died down, see?" He watched as the thin veil of water moved up the beach and caressed her toes. "Why don't you just trust me and hop down? The water's warm."
He looked down, looked back at his mother and emphatically shook his head no.
"Honey, I'm right here with you. Nothing is going to happen."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart."
Reluctantly, he slid from his mother's grasp. The next wave was already on its way in. It was bigger than the last, or so it seemed. Gordon closed his eyes tight and clenched his mother's hand.
The next thing he felt was something tickling his feet. His eyes popped open and he stared down. The water had come up just as before. As promised, it was warm and he giggled as it flowed back out, carrying the sand with it.
He then spotted something tumbling along with the tiny grains and quickly reached down to pick it up before it could be carried away. He held the prize high, admiring the colors in the bright sun. "Neat!"
"A shell! How pretty." Lucille took the gift her son offered. "Thank you, love."
Proud of himself Gordon stooped to grab another. Unfortunately, he forgot to look before he swooped. Another wave rolled in, the majority of the spray catching him in the side and face. He sputtered loudly, frowning at the salty taste.
"Are you ok?" Lucille used the tail of her shirt to wipe his eyes.
"Yeah, but my shell got away."
"I'm sure we can find some more." She stopped and looked past Gordon, out to sea. "Hey, look out there."
Gordon turned to see a group of dark triangles breaking the surface of the water. They rose and disappeared as the creatures paralleled the shore. "Are those sharks?"
"They're dolphins." Lucille pulled out the silver charm that hung from her neck. "Like this."
"Do they bite?" Gordon could still see the resemblance to the creatures he had seen on TV.
"No. They eat fish. They're probably just passing by."
The animals drew closer, coming near enough for Gordon to make out their long snouts as they swam. "They're pretty."
"I'd have to say the dolphin is my favorite animal." Lucille said as she wrapped her arms around him. "So peaceful and graceful."
Gordon watched them for another few seconds before declaring. "I like them, too."
"And that's only one of the beautiful creatures that live out there."
As Gordon watched the dolphins swim off, he wondered what else could be out there. He was beginning to see what his mother was talking about and with that he found his fear ebbing away. An incredible curiosity took its place, filling him with a sense of wonder. There were a lot of things out there to see.
And he wanted to know about them all.
***
"Sco-otttt" He groaned and rolled over, praying that the little voice plaguing him would simply disappear if he ignored it long enough. "Scott!"
"Scotty!" No such luck.
After a few seconds, he thought the source of the annoyance had finally taken the hint. That comforting thought was completely dispersed when he felt the wind knocked out of him and a weight on his stomach. His eyes popped open and he found himself staring into impossibly huge amber eyes.
His first impulse was to scream, which he did. Virgil, yanked from a dead sleep, did the same. "What?!"
It only took a half-second to realize who the eyes belonged to. He fell back on his mattress with a sigh as his little brother sat on him and giggled. "It's only Gordon."
"Then why did you scream?" Virgil groused from the sofa bed.
"Because he's wearing those stupid goggles that Gram bought for him last night and I thought I was being abducted by aliens."
"I don't think they want you anymore, Scott." Virgil smirked as he settled beneath the covers again. "The last time they tried to suck your brains, they came up empty handed."
"Cute, Virg." A particularly lucid moment for his brother at such an unholy hour. Scott looked out the windows from his bed on the floor. The red sliver of the sun was just beginning to crest the horizon. "Gord, what are you doing?"
"Let's go to the beach."
"Later," Scott turned his face to the pillow, hoping Gordon would get the point and go back to bed.
"No, now. See? I got my swim trunks on." Scott couldn't help but look and snort with amusement. Gordon tugged at the black fabric that sported colorful little frogs. He was also wearing a life preserver and a snorkel.
"It's not time to go to the beach." Scott said back into his pillow. "Nobody's awake yet."
"The dolphins are awake."
"I'm not a dolphin."
"Fine."
Gordon gave up his harassment and ran from the room, making a flapping noise as he went. Scott looked up just in time catch a glimpse of yellow swim fins. "What has gotten into that kid?"
"Mom! Hey Mom!" Lucille opened her eyes groggily just in time to see an auburn headed blur throw himself at her. The bed bounced as Gordon landed on it. "Mom, let's go to the beach."
She nudged the man sleeping next to her. "Your kid is awake."
"Oh no you don't. He's only mine when he's asleep." He looked over his wife's shoulder. "Gordon, it's 5 a.m."
"I know, Dad. We're wasting beach time!"
"Gordon, the beach will still be there in an hour or two."
"But there will be a whole bunch of people there!"
"Okay, okay." Lucille stretched. "Give me a couple of minutes? Why don't you go get John and Alan up and we'll have some breakfast?"
"Sure!" Gordon left the room as fast as fins would carry him.
"Why are you getting up just to go to the beach?" Jeff pulled her closer and snuggled into her hair. "They're just going to tire themselves out by mid-afternoon and then they'll sleep the rest of the day. . ." he stopped as the prospects of that situation hit him.
"That'll make them easier for Scott and Virgil to watch when you and I go out tonight." She rolled over and gave him a gentle kiss. "Besides, I like watching the sun come up over the water."
