LIFE’S A BEACH

‘Just a little further.’

He insisted on getting away from the crowds. Somehow, she was carrying the picnic, the towels and the buckets and spades.

‘Here’s the perfect spot,’ he declared. He stood admiring the ocean while she organised the towels and applied sun cream to all.

‘You kids go off and build a sandcastle. I’m going to relax. You’ll be okay to keep an eye on them, won’t you?’ he asked, as though she had a choice.

Just as his eyes closed, a dirt bike appeared. Two dune buggies followed. Out at sea, a jet ski blasted into view.

‘Oh, for God’s sake!’

‘Never mind dear. Perhaps you can have fun with the kids instead.’

Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read more stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

All We Cannot Leave Behind is available to order in paperback and ebook from all good booksellers. The State Trilogy and The Barra Boy are also still available.

49 responses to “LIFE’S A BEACH”

  1. neilmacdon Avatar

    A lovely moment of hubris and nemesis

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  2. msjadeli Avatar

    LOL. Thanks for the laugh! I know a couple like that but the roles are reversed. 

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      You’re welcome 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. GHLearner Avatar

    You capture his entitlement perfectly. Sadly I know a few as well.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      🙂 Thanks so much

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Tannille Avatar

    Never a restful moment with kids!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Tell me about it!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. rochellewisoff Avatar

    Dear Iain,

    So much for his relaxing day at the beach. 😉 Hopefully he can have fun with his kids. I can think of worse ways to spend the day. Good one.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, he’ll get over it I’m sure – or perhaps it’s been a two week holiday and he just wants one day to enjoy lying in the sun! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  6. James Pyles Avatar

    Revenge! 😀

    Like

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Served cold. Thanks James.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Smitha V Avatar

    Ha ha…’As if she had a choice’. He thought it too soon. Fun story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Nobbinmaug Avatar

    There is no relaxing in a public place. Where there are people, there is chaos.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, they always get in the way.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Inside the Mind of Isadora Avatar

    The beach with kids is never relaxing.

    Dad’s need to throw the kids in the waves.

    It’s the Dad’s job. Isn’t it??? LOL

    I just went to the beach. The screams from kids being

    tossed among the waves was hilarious. Spring Break = Florida.

    Good one, Iain

    Like

  10. Alicia Jamtaas Avatar

    I was hoping the dirt bike ran over him. I’m mean like that. Avery well-told tale.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Maybe it gets him on the way back 🙂

      Like

  11. plaridel Avatar

    maybe they should go on a cruise next time. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Ha, kids on a cruise, I can’t imagine anything worse for a parent! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. plaridel Avatar

        of course, you have to pick a kids-friendly cruise where there are activities to keep them busy. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Margaret Avatar

    That’s it. She should leave him to ‘have fun with’ the kids and take herself off for a little dip, or a nice stroll. Shame about all the traffic on the beach, though. Nice portrayal of conflict in this story. I fear a reckoning is coming.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yeah, she should definitely leave him to it and get some peace of her own!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Laurie Bell Avatar

    Oofff she certainly deals with a lot. Perhaps he should open his eyes a bit wider to see what he’s missing.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      There’s definitely a bit of that, time for him to engage!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Angela Avatar

    Nice conflict between them. I can clearly envision her body language even though it isn’t written. I enjoyed the karma of the final twist!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks so much Angela

      Like

  15. R.M. Carlson Avatar

    Great story and so true for so many couples. Perhaps he will now be pushed into enjoying and interacting with his kids for the day! Love it, Iain!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  16. granonine Avatar

    Another bully gets what he deserves! Great story 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Linda

      Like

  17. Liz Young Avatar

    A typical day on holiday for many families, nicely observed!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar
  18. Sandra Avatar

    I don’t know where anyone gets the idea that beaches and kids are a relaxing combination. And he sounds a charmer. Not.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      🙂 Thanks Sandra

      Like

  19. Michael B. Fishman Avatar

    Next weekend maybe he should just fill the bathtub and close the door. This was a clever story.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Good idea! Thanks Michael

      Like

  20. Michael Humphris Avatar
    Michael Humphris

    I had to smile,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Michael

      Like

  21. The Sicilian Storyteller Avatar

    Good! I’ve got no use for that slouch!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

    Even when it was my husbands turn to watch the kids at the beach, I couldn’t take my eyes off them. My son wasn’t so bad, he was content to build sand castles but my daughter the dare devil…shew!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Yes, I know the feeling!

      Like

      1. Dawn M. Miller Avatar

        I figured you did.

        Liked by 1 person

  23. ib arora Avatar

    anticlimax–it happens often

    Like

  24. Heather Musk Avatar

    Ha ha! I loved this! What a shame he couldn’t just relax …

    Like

  25. creatingahome Avatar

    How do we spell selfish again?

    Great story.

    Liked by 1 person

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