“You’re mad, it’s snowing. Plus, we might get snowed in,” she said.
He loved spontaneity.
She didn’t.
Come on! We’ll walk the beach, shiver, then run to the warm flames of the fire left behind in the fireplace. We’ll sip champagne, eat chocolate strawberries as we warm. Besides, you aren’t able to resist my yearn for you.
~~~~~~~~~
She watched icy waves hit the shore from the balcony.
Just moments before, they’d laid close in each others’ arms, relishing the passion of their lovemaking.
The fading red roses near the flames emulated his death.
“Okay, Mommy,” she said, in her sweet high pitch voice.
Ivy sprinted to the laundry room. My last chore, then I can put my feet up.
Instead shock covered Ivy’s face as she gazed upon her 18 month olds mess.
“Nikki, what have you done?”
“I cover the poop with paper and powder just like you.”
“Honey, I clean-up the poop, then, add the powder. You put the poop and the powder together. But, you’re a good girl because you pooped in the potty.” Great job!
The medical staff was ready when the ambulance arrived at the Emergency entrance of the hospital. Medics flooded the doctors with the patients’ information. Then, they were off to the next medical call.
Once stabilized and tested, the doctors diagnosed a concussion and a broken femur.
“Do you have any family?” they asked the disoriented patient.
“No family,” he mumbled.
One doctor asked a nurse, “Has his family been contacted?”
“No family,” he repeated.
“There’s good news about your condition.” “Who should we call?”
As soon as Larry moved in with Betty, he joined the turtle patrol. She lived on the beach as a child. It’s no surprise she bought a beach house.
Larry was a conservationist all his life. He walked the beach to stay healthy while ensuring the safety of the turtles. Watching the hatchling emerge and make their way to shore was environmentally impactful.
Recently, the red tide was getting worse. The smell of dead fish washing ashore could be seen from their porch. An overabundance of algae, some said. No one knew for sure, all speculation.
*****Red tide is a common name for algal blooms, which are large concentrations of aquatic microorganisms, such as protozoans and unicellular algae (e.g. dinoflagellates and diatoms). The upwelling of nutrients from the seafloor, often following massive storms, provides for the algae and triggers bloom events. Harmful algal blooms can occur worldwide, and natural cycles can vary regionally.