"Hold on!" I shouted after Joseph and Elizabeth as they ran towards the water. They stopped, their little bodies trembling with restrained energy.
I watched Chad roll our daughter's jeans past her chubby toddler knees, removing her shoes as Joseph kicked off his.
Hand in hand, Chad and Elizabeth walked towards the water. The late afternoon sun glinted off her red curls. Joseph danced around them, pointing at the boats docked off the pier. The wind caught bits of his laughter and tossed it in the air.
I rolled up my jeans and followed them slowly, taking in the picture they made, memorizing it. Joseph turned and raced back to me.
"I love you, Mama!" he yelled as he hurled into my body. He looked up at me with eyes too wise for comfort. "Are you happy?"
I grinned down at him, pushing the hair off his forehead.
"I'm very happy, baby," I lied, keeping my smile in place.
"Good!" And like quicksilver he was out of my arms and at the water's edge.
I took Elizabeth's free hand and stood with her as the water bubbled and tickled our toes. For a moment, Chad and I stood, Elizabeth between us. Then, he released her hand to join Joseph as he raced the waves and tossed sticks into the water.
Elizabeth moved in front of me, her little back pressed against my legs. I looked down at our feet. Mine bracketing hers. Our skin was the same shade of pale white against the dark grains of sand. The waves inched above our ankles and then rushed out, burying our toes.
Elizabeth lost her balance, fell against me and then plopped down into the water. Looking up into my face, she giggled in surprise. Helping her find her footing, I laughed back into her blue eyes.
I lifted my face to the sun and closed my eyes. Wave after wave licked and tickled and buried. Wave after wave retreated and surged. I heard Chad's voice telling Joseph to come closer and Joseph's answering laugh. I felt Elizabeth's soft hands in mine. A seagull cried. A dog barked. The world froze.
Peace.
"Are you about ready?" Chad asked as a cool wind blew off the water, sending a chill over my body.
"Yeah," I sighed, opening my eyes and letting reality wash over me. "Let's go."
He picked up Elizabeth, her sandy legs dangling by his hips. Joseph trailed behind pretending to be Yoda, dragging a stick longer than him.
I followed in their footprints.
One set was large, deep from Elizabeth's added weight.
The other set was small, erratic.
I looked behind and saw all of our footprints mixed in the sand. Four sizes jumbled and overlapped.
And then a wave washed over them, erasing every trace.
This post was inspired by The Red Dress Club prompt, "sand". As always, concrit is welcome.I'm also over at Makes Fun today talking about being a member of Team Jacob. Jankowski, that is.
27 comments:
That moment of peace is simply stunning. Powerful. I felt it. I really did.
My heart is aching for that sadness you felt/feel. I too, have put on the happy face for my kids, and it is heartbreaking.
I hope that you hold on to the imprint of your family, even if the waves wash away the physical footprints.
XOXO
As usual, @mandyland hits it out of the park. Beautiful, heartbreaking.
This made me chilly. Like, I could feel the breeze on my cool skin.
The imagery is beautiful. I feel as if I am right there in the water with you. I feel your sadness, see the smile, hear the laughter. I see the trail of footprints, described so well, and watch the waves carry them away.
Beautiful.
Your mojo is back.
It did exactly what you wished.
Beautiful, my dear.
Just lovely. You described the scene beautifully.
This is all beautiful but I just love the way you ended it. Very lovely writing... you took me there...
There is so much here in this piece. I love the feeling of a storm lurking on the horizon and what isn't being said, only hinted at. The exchange with Joseph in the beginning rang with unspoken emotion, then followed by this line, "I'm very happy, baby," I lied, keeping my smile in place," raised the emotional tension even higher.
I felt like I was holding my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop but then found it sad, that even though there was peace, that the traces of that too were, "And then a wave washed over them, erasing every trace."
This was a gorgeous picture painted with words. I almost smell the ocean!
It feels like I was right there with you.
Reminded me of a lovely day on the shore of Lake Michigan with my parents and step-children. Nice.
Oh Mandy...that last line just stuck in my throat.
This was a beautiful description of family and wanting a moment for yourself to take it all in.
I am sorry that your sadness leaks out of your words and hope that this is a memory and now u are smiling.
Your words touched me as they often do.
Oh, Mandy, this made me teary. I am happy you found some joy in the sadness. xo
Beautiful imagery, poignant details...so glad you were able to find joy in this brief adventure.
You took me there. It's such a simple scene, yet so touching.
So beautiful Mandy! It's amazing how our mind tends to wander and is snapped back into reality!
I love how descriptive your memory was, I almost felt that same chill!
You GOT it. Thank you so much for understanding what I was trying to convey.
Thank you, friend.
I think it's supposed to give you a chill. Not in the cold way but in the not good way.
Thank you.
And thank YOU so very much.
Thanks.
I'm not sure I could write at the moment without a little sadness leaking through. Thank you for seeing it.
Thanks, hon.
Mandy, your writing is amazing. You take us there. And here, I felt the sadness behind the words, occasionally seeping into your words, and what has been left unsaid is just as impactful as what was written.
Oh honey. You are an AMAZING mother and writer. Let's get our trip planned!
So beautiful and sad. Reading backwards from your most recent post, this definitely stung my eyes with tears.
Peace.
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