Day after day he sat the same way on the same bench wearing the same clothes.  The sun’s rays warmed him at the moment, but he had often experienced cold, cloudy days that made him feel clammy to the touch.  The cool breezes of spring and fall were probably his favorite.  More people stopped to say hello on those days and birds landed on him chirping their delight in the weather.

During this beautiful spring day many people were around.  Something big was happening in the concert hall near his bench.  Girls of all ages, dressed in sequined dance costumes, were beginning to arrive.  Every hair on their heads was glued down with the stickiest hairspray they could find.  Their delicate facial features were strangely distorted by the heavy make-up necessary for the bright lights of the big stage.

The girls entered the concert hall to prepare for the start of the dance recital.  Parents, siblings, and other family members and friends, mingled outside awaiting word to enter and take their seats.  As the adults talked, the children played close by.  Some children were curious about the man on the bench and went over to get a closer look.  They touched his hand and put their noses up against his, looking into his eyes.  They sat on his lap and climbed on his shoulders but he never said a word or moved, allowing them to have their fun.

The announcement came for all to take their seats inside to watch the dances that the girls had practiced for months.  As parents called to their little ones, they reluctantly stopped playing.  “We’ll come back later when the recital is over,” they assured each other as they ran toward the recital hall.

One young man, in his late teens, remained near the quiet, still man sitting on the bench.  He had watched as the children played with the man and wondered what had attracted them to do so, after all, he had not responded to them.  “Who are you?” the teenager asked aloud knowing that the man wouldn’t answer.   He neared the man and touched his arm.  It was warm.  The mid-day sun had been beating down on it for a while as the shade from the tree behind him had retreated.  The man on the bench was leaning forward and looking to his left.  What could have captured his attention there that he could so easily ignore the children and now the young man? 

The teenage boy sat next to him.  He studied him carefully for a few moments and gave him a name, Frank.  “Hi, Frank. How are you?” he asked.  No answer came. 0 Comments on The Man on the Bench as of 1/1/1900

The man who is standing on a paddleboard in the water can see it coming toward him.  From where I sit, I can tell that he has already made up his mind to rescue the pink seahorse floatie that the wind has picked up from the sand and tossed into the ocean near him.  I keep one eye on him and the other on the little girl who waits on the shore with her hand outstretched in the direction of her beloved pink seahorse.  Little waves break over her tiny little toes.

Her dad has been sitting on a big blanket enjoying the beautiful day and the warmth of the sun on his skin.  He jumps up and walks over to his little girl.  He picks her up in his arms and consoles her.  The floatie is too far out into the water for him to retrieve it, but he promises to buy her a new one.  “Okay, Daddy,” she says in a squeaky little voice, but the frown that takes over her soft pink lips, her droopy big brown eyes, and the slouch in her little shoulders speak differently.

Paddleboard Man, as I’ve decided to call him, waves a hand at the little girl and her dad to get their attention.  He points to the pink seahorse floatie and gives them a thumbs-up.  I think I’m about to witness something beautiful.

Others on the beach notice the exchange between Paddleboard Man and the man and his daughter.  A small crowd starts to gather, assuring the little girl that she will shortly be reunited with her seahorse.

Paddleboard Man plunges the paddle into the water with great force so that he can move quickly and catch up to the speedy pink seahorse as the waves pull it further from shore and away from him.  The muscles in his arms and legs twitch with every stroke.  It’s hard to stay in balance on the small board and he falls into the ocean.  His paddle flies in one direction and his board in another.  Good thing his ankle strap keeps the board close.  He looks over his shoulder, keeping an eye on the seahorse, as he reaches out to grab the paddle. 

As he climbs back up on the paddleboard a little “V” forms between his eyebrows.  He focuses his eyes, like laser beams, on the pink floatie.  His frown is not one of disappointment, like the little girl’s, but of determination.  If this were a football game, I would say that he had just put on his game face.  But this is no football game; this is a rescue at sea!

Again, the paddle plunges into the water and the paddleboard moves quickly toward the seahorse. 7 Comments on A Hero at the Beach, last added: 11/19/2011

My little brother was born today.  He woke Mom up at three o’clock in the morning because he wanted to come out of her tummy.  I was asleep so I didn’t know he was going to be born today.  When I woke up, Grandma said, “Good morning,” and told me I was a big brother today.  She made my favorite breakfast, yummy waffles with syrup and chocolate milk.  How did she know that was my favorite?

I’m excited to meet Danny.  That’s his name.  His name is really Daniel but we’re going to call him Danny because Daniel is a big name for a baby.  That’s what Mom says. 

After breakfast, I run upstairs with Grandma so I can get dressed.  It’s really cold outside and there’s a lot of snow on the ground.  When I put my face on the window, my nose gets really cold and I have to rub it to make it warm again.  I can get dressed by myself because I’m almost three and a half years old.  I like my soft pants.  They are warm.  I have to put on a t-shirt, then my sweatshirt so my belly button won’t get cold.  I can tie my own shoes but Grandma says she wants to help.  She makes perfect bows and always makes double knots.  I love my grandma.

We’re ready to go visit Mom and Danny in the hospital but we have to wait for Dad to pick us up.  It’s so hard to wait.  I play with my cars for a little while and then I hear Dad’s car outside.  I get on my tippy toes so I can look out the window.  “Grandma, dad’s here!” I yell.

I say, “Hi, Dad!”  He says, “Hi big brother.”  That’s funny.  I ask Dad if we can go see Mom and Danny now.  He says, “Yes.”  It’s still cold outside so I have to put on my coat and my hat and my gloves.  Now I can’t really move that much and it’s getting hot in here.   We get in the car and drive to the hospital.  It takes a long time to get there.  I like watching the snow plows making snow mountains.  I see a snowman and some kids playing in a snow fort. 

We get to the hospital and Dad tries to find a parking space.  Grandma is looking one way and Dad is looking the other way. 4 Comments on He's My Baby Brother!, last added: 11/16/2011