Day At The Beach

• Alicia Wilson-Irving, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2016

Lying sleepily, I spot a crow from my window trying to use its feathers to hide his scars of the past. He then flaps away feeling ashamed of himself so I give him a slow unsure wave goodbye as I slowly lift myself out of bed as if I’m a Zombie. I greet my parents ready for breakfast. Sitting deeply in my chair, shoving cornflakes into my mouth I suddenly remember we are going to the gloriously sunny beach. After a quick mouthful of cornflakes I rush upstairs, packing what I need for a day at the beach. ‘I can’t wait to go to the sunny sandy beach.’ I murmur to myself.
Throwing my surprisingly heavy bag into the car I fling myself into the back seat. “Pump up the radio dad, step on it mum!” I say as politely as I can. The car then flies at the speed of light.
“Not that fast mum or you’ll get pulled over.”
Pulling into the overcrowded beach carpark we see a beach ball fly onto our Toyota Camry like a torpedo.
“Hey!” screams dad, you childish kids better run away now!”
I try not to laugh but it bursts out, I then get the death stare off my foolishly fun father. Suddenly our whole car is filled with laughter.
“I wish it could always be like this.” I say but I get no answer. Sitting awkwardly in my sweaty seat I jump out the car and race mum to the best spot on the warm beach.
Furiously chasing a silly seagull that has a weird brown beak, I catch up to him at last but he flaps away as far as his wings can take him. Wading strongly through the true blue sea I splash the chilly water at dad. He then makes a wave and tumbles me over.
“Race you up to mum!” I challenge enthusiastically.
“You’re on!” he adds.
Sprinting like my life depends on it I zip past dad like I’m Usain Bolt and overtake by a millimetre. I just beat him.
“This is what I love about the beach it brings everyone together,” I mention nicely.
Sitting relaxed, I shove hot chips into my mouth so the seagulls don’t take them from me, and I ask dad if I can go for a surf. Slowly walking, dragging my purple surfboard along the rough sand I see a monster wave. Dad and mum are sitting on the beach watching me dive into the water with my board underneath me.
Paddling cautiously around some sharp rocks I make my way to the safest area.
‘Here’s my ride.’ I murmur. Standing proudly on my board I hear screams from the shore. ‘Oh no!’ I whisper. It’s the big bellied beast from the sea AKA a shark! Paddling for dear life I hear a chomp and a toothache along with it. I scream and swim to shore. Suddenly I’m surrounded by people and considering what just happened, I collapse in shock.
Later, lying in bed looking at my parents, they say we can leave the hospital, so we hug and walk to the car.