A Day Out
Once there were two brothers, each like little cherubs; golden curly hair crowned their heads and each had rosy cheeks. Their eyes twinkled with mischief as they giggled and played up for their mother who was quite exhausted with her twin’s vitality. What a pair they were! Admired everywhere they went, adored by little girls and crooned over by old ladies alike. Both were dressed the same in blue shorts and matching sunhats they even had identical teddy bears yet they alone knew which belonged to whom, they said it was the smell and a knobbly bit on one Ted’s ear.
On this particular day they had driven their poor mother to distraction, she had played games with them, sung songs and read books but still the holy terrors wanted more. If she stopped they would tug at her dress and stamp their little feet until they were red in the face with rage. Then they would fight and throw toys at each other until they got what they wanted. Their frowns would burst into smiles and their crocodile tears would be wiped from their eyes. Such naughty little boys, yet they were the delight of their mother who spoiled them daily with little treats and comforts. They had her exactly where they wanted and were showered with love and affection.
Sam and Tom tried similar tricks with their father who had none of it; he would finish work late coming home with a furrowed brow and not in the mood for the antics of little boys. He would pat each on the head with fatherly affection and then furnished with a coffee would disappear behind the newspaper. Sam and Tom could do nothing to win their father’s attention; neither smiles nor tears would move him, not even an offer of a well loved teddy. No his evenings were his own away from the hustle of earning money. He did his bit and kept his family with a roof over their heads and food on the table. The bills were paid and each penny was meticulously counted for he was a man who took pride in his work and ran his home efficiently. On a Saturday the car would be cleaned and the family would go out together either to visit relatives or go for a walk in the park. By all accounts they were considered a handsome happy family.
This particular Saturday the itinerary changed as the family had decided to go to the seaside. It was a beautiful morning and the forecast was promising. So armed with a hamper of food, assorted buckets and spades and sun-cream our little family ventured out. The journey didn’t take very long and within a couple of hours they had arrived in brilliant sunshine to meet the great expanse of blue sea and golden sands. How the two boys giggled, their eyes grew round with wonder and they clapped their chubby little hands together with joy. What a sight to behold a huge puddle and a great big sandpit what more could two little boys want? It was minutes later when the family had chosen their spot, erected parasols, slapped sun-cream over each pink little boy who carried their buckets and spades to begin to dig out a moat or a least a hole in their father’s eyes who quickly disappeared behind a newspaper to find out what was going on in the world of commerce. He didn’t find out what was going on in the world of two little boys who had collected an assortment of pebbles, shells and seaweed with which to decorate their castle. He missed the slippery and treacherous path to the sea where sea beasties had been battled and water retrieved for an ever thirsty moat. He grunted his assent to his wife as she found pennies in her purse to buy ice creams and left her husband to mind the children from the safety of his deck chair. The ice cream shop was only across the road just a few minutes walk away.
A pretty blue and white kite fluttered in the sky swooping up and down then spinning around and around, its strings expertly handled by a teenage boy whose skills mesmerised a small group of children. They stared in wonder at how one string would be pulled in one direction and the kite would reply with whirls and loop the loops. It wasn’t long before the twins also stood with the children watching the enticing dance of the kite. Their father could easily see them as they were indeed only a few feet away entranced by the pretty sight. All of a sudden one of the ribbons fell away from the kite string and wafted through the air as it fell to the sand. The twins were onto it and within a moment were racing over the sands scrambling to clutch the blue ribbon which enticed them with its merry dance. Each time they were nearly upon it the breeze would lift it sending it on its merry way and the twins would squeal and laugh and chase again. Nearly catching it again the wind mischievously caught the ribbon delighting the boys with how it would loop the loop just as the kite had entranced them.
All of a sudden they found themselves in a glorious rock pool sparkling in the sunlight. Inside were many treasures; little crabs scuttled under stones when the boys dipped their fingers into the cool water and limpets clung onto slimy rocks fast as if they knew the boys would prize them from their rocky fortress. One rock pool opened up onto another where Tom caught sight of a star fish trapped until the tide returned and Sam spied little fish swimming about. They paddled and splashed each other for all they were worth and then began collecting more shells which they put in Tom’s bucket as Sam had left his behind.
They didn’t know their ice-creams had melted left by an upturned deck chair, they didn’t hear the calls from their parents but they did notice the water was beginning to splash their toes quite hard as each wave came rushing over the pools with an icy chill which numbed their toes. Tom began to cry as one such wave knocked him off his feet and he cut his knee on a sharp rock. Sam found he wan slipping and stubbing his toes hard as the rocks changed from exciting pools of treasures to slimy treacherous outcrops. The waves grew foamy fingers which grasped the boy’s feet and ankles which would then retreat into the sea as if they might get better purchase next time. The twins held each others hands their eyes wide, their bodies cold and shivering. They didn’t know how to get back to the beach they were stuck by cliffs behind tem and cut off by an advancing tide.
A pair of strong hands suddenly caught each boy by the shoulder holding the twins firmly but gently. They looked up to see a man smiling at them and all fear fell from the tear stained little faces as he swung each boy into his arms. They were safe in his embrace and each child laid a curly head on his shoulders. The little cuts on their feet no longer stung, they stopped shivering and began to feel warm once again. A drowsiness overcame each child for they hadn’t had a nap and it was now late in the afternoon. Soon they were asleep unaware of how their rescuer took them over the rock pools around the cliffs and back to the safety of the beach. They only knew the safe feeling they were surrounded by.
The police and sea rescue had already been alerted, the rock pool around the cliffs were a well known danger spot where a peninsular jutted out and where bathers were often stranded by the tides when they came in. the boys parents were besides themselves their mother drying her tears and their father blaming himself, how could he have been so stupid as to have taken his eyes off them for one minute, he would never forgive himself. One last time he went back to check their deck chairs knowing full well the boys had no sense of direction at their age and would be unable to find their parents. As he neared the spot he rubbed his eyes – he must be imagining it! But no, there they were tucked up in the rugs they had brought to sit on both fast asleep. Nobody was near as the afternoon had turned into evening and most people had returned home or were helping the search. As each child was affectionately hugged and cried over the beach patrol shrugged their shoulders in bewilderment. “Someone was looking after those boys,” one said unable to account for their mysterious return.
