A Day at the Beach
A day at the beach always begins with packing up the food.
Dad brings the big blue cooler in to the kitchen and loads it up with ice.
I add burgers, ham sandwiches, peanut butter cookies and soda.
Mom adds cold juicy slices of watermelon and tangy potato salad.
We drive through town with the car windows down.
The cool morning air fills the car and blows our hair back.
I breath in the sweet smell of fresh cut grass and the coconut sunscreen we have all sprayed on our skin.
Soon I see the Gulf of Mexico on the right.
The sand is so white it looks like snow.
Tall sand dunes slope down to the water.
On the left the dark blue bay is dotted with sail boats.
Their red, blue and green spinnakers are leading the way. Little ski boats speed by cutting a V through the water.
The fine powdery sand squeaks as we all shuffle down to the water’s edge with our heavy load of umbrellas, chairs, cooler and sand buckets.
I can’t wait another minute and I dash into the waves.
It’s freezing!
The waves roll in and out tugging at my swim suit.
Slimy green seaweed slithers around my legs and tiny minnows kiss my toes.
The sand is warm but I dig down deep until my little moat is filled with cool sea water.
My brother and I stretch our beach towels out and lie on our backs.
Seagulls circle overhead always looking for a hand out.
Keow, keow, keow they call to each other but I imagine they are laughing at us. Ha, ha, ha.
The sun is high in the sky and the turquoise water glitters with a million sunbeams.
Umbrellas pop and billow as the wind fills them like sails and blows a mist of sea spray on my face.
I close my eyes and listen to the distant laughter of other families.
The waves push, push against the shore and soon I drift off dreaming of mermaids and talking dolphins.
Burgers sizzling on the grill wake me and my stomach rumbles.
We eat on our towels, the juicy burgers dripping down our faces, as we watch the sun nearing the horizon.
The sand, sky and sea are golden as the sun seems to slip under the waves.
Tiny sandpipers skitter along the wet sand calling weet, weet, weet.
We pack up our stuff.
The cooler is much lighter now, but the walk to the car with the setting sun at my back feels endless.
We drive home with the windows down.
The wind blows through my hair and I smell the salty water dried on my skin. I feel the cool sand between my toes.
The day is over but I take a little bit of the beach home with me.
Tonight I will dream of pirate ships and submarines.
Sweet Street
“Can we please see a lunch menu?” asked Kate.
She folded Patrick’s menu and her own and held them out for the waitress.
“Well silly, this is our full menu,” said the waitress as she turned to go.
Patrick opened the menu again and read out loud, “Cake, brownies, muffins, scones, candy, milkshakes. Please ask about the daily special.”
“The sign clearly says this is a diner,” said Kate.
A large pink truck pulled up to the curb outside the diner and two men began to unload one hundred-pound bags of sugar, fifty-pound bags of chocolate and an enormous barrel of butter.
They rolled it all in the front door.
“Come on let’s go. I saw a sub shop across the street,” said Kate.
“Aww, this place looks great,” said Patrick as he followed Kate out the door.
The sub shop took orders at the counter.
The line was long but moved quickly.
Patrick and Kate reached the counter and saw the menu board.
“Can we see the sandwich menu?” asked Kate.
“Oh, silly we don’t have sandwiches here,” said the girl taking orders. “But we do have the best fudge in town!”
Kate grabbed Patrick by the elbow and lead him to the sidewalk.
The delivery truck was still unloading the sugar, chocolate and butter but this time they were headed for the sub shop.
Kate looked up and down the road.
“Look a pizza place,” said Kate.
Patrick saw the red and yellow sign Kate was pointing at.
Patrick’s stomach grumbled as they hurried down the street.
Kate picked a table by the window. A waitress hurried over with the menus.
“We would like a medium peperoni pizza and two cokes,” said Kate before the waitress could hand her the menus.
“That is so funny,” the waitress exclaimed. “Hey, Sam listen to this, these silly kids want a peperoni pizza.” She laughed and dropped the menus on the table.
“Not in my establishment,” said Sam.
Heads down Kate and Patrick both searched the menu.
“Strawberry jam pizza, chocolate marshmallow pizza, pumpkin pie calzones, and the only drink I see is hot chocolate,” whispered Patrick.
“Let’s just order something,” mumbled Kate.
They ate every bite of a large chocolate marshmallow pizza and finished off two cups of hot chocolate before speaking again.
“We need to get home. We promised Mom we would help her unpack the moving boxes after lunch,” said Kate.
“Sure, but first there is one more place I want to check out,” said Patrick. Kate followed Patrick to a bakery close to their new house.
Steaming roast beef, baked turkey, mashed potatoes with onions and garlic, salads of all kinds and fresh baked bread filled the display case.
The shop was empty, and no one appeared to take their order. Patrick rang a sliver bell on the counter.
“I am so sorry I didn’t hear you come in,” apologized the young girl as she struggled to tie her apron. “We don’t usually get customers until after dinner. Now what can I get you for dessert?”
Alla Peanut Butter Sandwiches!
“Presto chango! Abracadabra! Shazam!” said Cooper. He pointed his magic wand at his baby sister Emma.
Nothing happened. Emma smiled.
“Ba-ba-ba boo,” said Emma. She grabbed Cooper’s wand and tried to put it in her mouth.
“Bad baby,” said Cooper. “Yuck baby drool.” He wiped the wand on his shirt.
Cooper remembered an important part of the trick. He spotted Emma’s favorite blanket.
“Kit,” said Emma. She pointed at the blanket. “Kit, Kit, Kit,” she screamed.
“Let me cover you up,” said Cooper. He covered Emma with her blanket.
Emma laughed. Cooper smiled. Julie had a funny laugh, but he needed to stay focused.
“Are you ready?” said Cooper.
“Ooo-pa,” said Emma.
“Bibbi-di-bobbidi-boo! Hocus pocus! Alla peanut butter sandwiches!” said Cooper.
Scooter ran in to the room. “Ruff-Ruff,” barked Scooter.
He grabbed Cooper’s wand and ran off.
“Bad dog,” said Cooper. He chased Scooter down the hall.
“Yuck dog drool,” said Cooper.
Emma’s blanket lay in a puddle on the floor. Emma had disappeared.
“Wow,” said Cooper. “What have I done?”
“Emma,” he called. “Come out, come out wherever you are.”
Cooper aimed the wand at the discarded blanket.
“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” said Cooper. Nothing happened.
Cooper looked behind the sofa. He looked under the sofa.
Cooper looked in the closets. He looked under the beds.
Emma was gone. Suddenly Cooper missed Emma.
She was messy. She put food in her hair and up her nose.
She was smelly. She chewed all his toys, but she always smiled when he talked to her.
She snuggled with him when Dad read a good night story.
Cooper found Mom in the kitchen peeling potatoes.
“I vanished Emma,” said Cooper.
“Hmmm,” said Mom. “Are you sure?”
“I’m very sorry and IF we find her I will never do it again,” said Cooper.
“Well then Coop, why don’t you go out in the back yard and play?” said Mom.
She is taking this really well, thought Cooper.
Cooper saw Dad standing at the bottom of the slide.
Emma sat at the top.
“Oo-pa,” said Emma. She pointed at Cooper.
“Hey Coop,” said Dad. “Do you want to play with us or are you busy practicing your magic tricks?”
“Oo-ee-oo-ah-ah,” sang Emma.
“Ting-tang-walla-walla-bing-bang,” said Cooper.
“Wow,” said Cooper. “Emma knows magic too.”
I’ll never be too busy for Emma ever again, thought Cooper.
Julie
On Julie’s 10th birthday she cartwheeled in to the Kitchen.
“Careful,” said Mom. “Your birthday cake is rising in the oven.”
Julie cartwheeled, flipped and rolled where ever she went.
“She’s a natural,” everyone exclaimed.
“I guess Julie will be a gymnast when she grows up,” said Dad.
Or maybe a Cirque du Soleil performer, thought Mom.
On Julie’s 11th birthday she skipped down the stairs into the kitchen wearing headphones.
“Bonjour,” said Julie.
“What, no cartwheel?” said Mom.
“Not today,” said Julie. “I’m learning French now.”
“Weird,’ said Dad.
“Totally,” said Mom.
“I guess Julie will be a linguist when she grows up,” said Mom.
Or maybe run away to Paris, thought Dad.
She’s a natural,” her French teacher exclaimed.
Julie’s friends noticed the change too.
“Hey Julie, are you trying out for the gymnastics team,” asked Anna.
“Tryouts are after school,” said Sara.
“Not today, Au revoir,” said Julie.
“Weird,” said Anna.
“Totally,” said Sara.
On Julie’s 12th birthday she carried a large box and easel into the kitchen.
“Good morning,” said Julie.
“What, no French?” said Mom. She looked down at the Eiffel Tower she had decorated on Julie’s birthday cake.
“Not today,” said Julie. “I’ll be outside painting.”
“Totally weird,” said Dad.
Mom nodded.
I guess Julie will be an artist when she grows up, said Dad.
Or starving, thought Mom.
Julie painted large colorful canvases. Her favorite artist was Cezanne.
“She’s a natural,” exclaimed her art teacher.
On Julie’s 13th birthday she played Happy Birthday on the piano.
“What, no painting today?” said Dad.
“Not today,” said Julie. “I feel the beat.”
“Weird,” said Mom and Dad at the same time.
“I guess Julie will be a rock star when she grows up,” said Mom.
Over my dead body, thought Dad.
“She’s a natural,” her music teacher exclaimed.
Julie played lead guitar in a garage band. Their CD was due out in the spring.
On Julie’s 14th birthday she quietly walked in to the kitchen.
“Happy Birthday,” said Mom.
“What will you do this year?” said Dad.
“Yes, what will you do this year,” said Mom. “We are both eager to know.”
“I’ve been thinking,” said Julie. “Now that I’m 14 I’ve decided to follow my one true passion.”
Mom and Dad held their breath.
“Grand Prix Racing,” said Julie. She cartwheeled out of the kitchen.
READ ALOUD 15 MINUTES AND SEIZE THE SUMMER
LISACBLACK.COM Launches Parent and Community Awareness Program with Read Aloud 15 MINUTES – What would U.S. education look like if every child were read aloud to for 15 minutes every day?
For Immediate Release: June 29, 2017
Contact: LISACBLACK.COM
This unprecedented effort will unite diverse groups that touch the lives of children from birth to age 8 under its single, powerful message – Read Aloud 15 MINUTES. Every child. Every parent. Every day.
Read Aloud 15 MINUTES’ goal is to have every child being read aloud to by a parent or loved one for 15 minutes every day starting at birth. The decade-long 15 MINUTES Movement will be a massive public awareness effort, spearheaded by partners in cities throughout the nation that will rally grassroots support through local awareness efforts and community outreach.
“We want to change social norms,” says ReadAloud.org co-founder Dr. Candace Kendle. “We want to see reading aloud every day for 15 minutes become one of the essential routines of child care, as normal as daily tooth brushing.”
“The response we’ve had at the local level has been amazing,” says ReadAloud.org Executive Director and co-founder Bob Robbins. “Businesses, teachers, librarians, health care workers … they all recognize the importance of what we’re trying to do, and they’re all drawn to our simple, but powerful message. We are excited to help parents with young children throughout Florida join our growing league of academic scholars, business leaders, government officials, day care workers, teachers, community workers, parents, and friends who are working to make reading aloud for 15 minutes every day, starting at birth, a parenting standard. Together, we will help more children begin kindergarten ready to learn, get the most out of their education, and become productive citizens.”
Read Aloud partners are united behind the idea that 15 minutes of daily reading aloud from birth to age 8 can change the face of education, nationally.
According to Read Aloud:
• Reading aloud is the single most important thing a parent or caregiver can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning.
• Nationally, 37% of children arrive in kindergarten without the skills necessary to begin their learning journey.
• If a child is not reading at grade level by the end of the first grade, then there is an 88% probability the child will not be reading at grade level by the end of the fourth grade.
• Even in higher-income households, nearly 40% of families do not read aloud every day.
• More than half the children in this country – 13 million children – will not hear a bedtime story tonight.
About Read Aloud
Read Aloud 15 MINUTES is a non-profit organization that is working to make reading aloud every day for at least 15 minutes the new standard in child care. When every child is read aloud to for 15 minutes every day from birth, more children will be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten, more children will have the literacy skills needed to succeed in school, and more children will be prepared for a productive and meaningful life after school.
For more information, visit: http://www.readaloud.org/.