Seneca Island

By Ronald H. Steiginga

Old friends try to relive their past by having a reunion at what was once their vacation spot, Seneca Island, where they spent countless summer vacations together with their families. As they gather to renew old friendships, a distant storm begins to brew and with its arrival, the old memories are blown away, forcing them to face unexpected changes that will affect all of their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781716044090

Book preview

Prologue

The Invitation

The Gathering

The Storm

The Second Circle

Seneca Island

Ronald H. Steiginga

Other Books by the Author

The Flying Dutchman

Growing up Under a Mushroom Cloud

The Mansions of Eastwick

Wandering in the Promised Land

The Other Side of Jordan

Stops Along The Way

This is a novel, a work of fiction.  All of the characters, situations, and conversations are the product of the author’s imagination and do not represent any person, living or dead.

This book is dedicated to the friends who have gone before and await my arrival.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the friends who have gone before me and await my arrival.

Appreciation

I wish to thank my son, Jeff, and my wife, Karen, both of which supplied invaluable help in editing and formatting this novel.

Prologue

H

e was sweating profusely and panting like a tired steam engine when he reached the top of the dune.  His legs were rubbery and ached from the exertion of climbing up the soft sand that swallowed up his feet to the ankles.  Out of shape, he told himself.  Ruefully, he knew he had to start using that new gym that had just opened up in his hometown.  He was close to forty and getting soft.  If he didn’t start exercising more real soon it would become too late and he would turn into a gelatinous mass of fat and never regain his old physique.

He balanced a large beach umbrella precariously on his right shoulder while he held a folded orange porta-crib, which could also serve as a playpen, close to his left side.  Once he got these items to the beach he would return to the house and make a second trip which would include a diaper bag, two folding beach chairs and maybe the bag that held all of the stuff Drea packed for the beach to keep the baby happy: filled bottles, a pacifier, wipes, extra diapers and God knew what else.  All of this for a baby that was barely ten pounds, if that.  Two month old Megan required more material than a fully equipped company of Army Rangers.  It was ridiculous.  Then there would be the third trip with the beach blanket, toys like pails and shovels, all the things necessary to keep Roy and Chip, his sons, occupied for a day at the beach.  Somehow he would have to get the small ice chest, holding soda and water at the same time.  He refused to make more than three trips to the beach.  If something was still left behind, so be it.  They would do without.  All of this was Megan’s fault, of course.  Their only daughter should not have made her grand entrance into the world just as their summer vacation was approaching.

He paused to catch his breath and looked to see if any of the others were already on the beach.  He squinted in the early morning sun, so strong that even with his sunglasses in place he could barely see who might be where on the beach.  The ocean was very calm, almost appearing like a large, blue lake sparkling with millions of tiny crystals, perhaps diamonds.  It was low tide and there was not a wave to be seen, nor was there any breeze.  That was bad news.  The voracious flies that usually plagued the marshes would come to the beach and be everywhere, biting and drawing blood from the unsuspected victims.  They would have to wait for the afternoon, when the breeze would come in off the ocean and force the flies back inland.  Still, it made for a long and hellish morning, where you would sit perfectly still and try to swat the flies before they were able to bite.

He spied Colleen to his left, waving at him and trying to get his attention.  She was always the first one at the beach in the morning and usually one of the last to leave in the afternoon.  She could never get enough sun.

He waved back at her in recognition.  He took a deep breath and began his descent from the dune to the beach.  He felt the sun pounding its rays on his shoulders.  It was only ten in the morning and the sun was already extremely hot.  It was going to be a brutal day at the beach.  Drea was going to have a difficult time keeping Megan cool once she arrived.

When he got to Colleen he dropped his load with a loud grunt.  Colleen looked up at him from her beach chair that hugged the sand.  Her backside was a mere inches from being in the sand.  She shaded her eyes with her hand and chuckled.

I don’t know, Rich.  You look worn out already and you still have to make some more trips to get everything you need here.

Richard Truscott nodded grimly.  I know.  This is not the best way to start the day.

He opened the umbrella and forced the sharp end of the pole into the sand, moving it back and forth, digging deeper into the sand.  When he was satisfied that any ocean breeze that came their way would not upend it, he turned his attention to the porta-crib.  Just as he had done since their first day at the beach, he studied it carefully, finally remembering which way it opened.  In a moment he had an orange cage in place that would be baby Megan’s home for the day.

Colleen Corbett watched him with detached amusement.  He caught her mischievous grin out of the corner of his eye.  And what do you find so funny?

Nothing, really, she answered.  It just seems so strange to see you struggling with a porta-crib. You are out of your league.

I’ll admit to that.  I’m too old to start this fatherhood thing all over again.

Well, whose fault is that?

Yeah, yeah, I know.  But what am I going to do?  I can’t let Drea do everything on her own.  That wouldn’t be fair.  He took a step back to study the crib, making sure it stood correctly.  The last thing they would need is to have the thing collapse in on Megan once she was inside.  Well, it looks okay to me.  I guess that’s it for the first trip.  Time to head back for load number two.

I’ll still be here when you get back.  She picked up the magazine she had been perusing when he had first arrived.

Where’s Frank? Richard asked, almost as an afterthought.

He’s going fishing in the bay, I think.  At least that was what he said when I left for the beach.  He was still in bed then, trying to get the courage to get up.  For all I know, he could have fallen asleep again.

Well, it is vacation.  The man should be able to do as he wants.  Is Teddy going with him?

Colleen shrugged.  I really don’t know.  He wasn’t around when I got up to leave the house.  Seems he’s made some new friends and wanted to go somewhere into town with them.  Teddy doesn’t like the beach very much, so he might go with Frank, I suppose.

She looked up at the sun to check its position.  Apparently it had moved some.  She stood up and repositioned her chair to gain maximum sunlight.  She was wearing a two piece swim suit, something Drea said she would no longer do.  Three kids wreck havoc on the body.  My stomach will never see the light of day again. Colleen should give it up as well.  She’s getting a bit thick around the middle and her legs are carrying more weight.  I’m pretty sure Colleen is jealous of Melissa and feels the need to compete with her.

Richard had never considered that until now.  It did seem that Colleen had put on some weight, but it was not for him to judge her fashion sense.  He watched her move her chair, stand still for a moment, just in case someone wanted to admire her, then surrendered to her chair once again.

Okay, I’ll be back, he said and headed for the dunes.

When he reached the top he looked down and saw Frank Corbett standing alongside his vintage World War II surplus Army jeep, loaded to the gills with the stuff Richard was supposed to be retrieving.  Frank leaned against the front fender with his arms crossed and wore a smug smile on his face.

Richard almost fell flat on his face as he tumbled quickly down the dunes to reach him.  When he got to the Jeep he stopped short to catch his breath.

I thought you could use a little help with all your stuff, he said.  I think I got everything you need here.

Richard took a quick inventory.  Sure looks like it to me.  Frank, you are a life saver.

He laughed.  No big deal.  I didn’t want you to drop dead from all of the lugging you’ve been doing on this vacation.  I’d hate to see an old friend just keel over from overexertion.  You have to admit that the Jeep does come in handy.

I know, I know.  I laughed at you when you came home with this thing.  I said it was just another one of your toys.  I take it all back.

Frank nodded as if this was what he wanted to hear.  "Come on, let’s get this stuff on to the beach.

With arms full they lumbered over the dunes with their loads and set up camp next to Colleen, who watched them intently from her chair.  You would have to think she might be glued to the thing.  There was no way she was getting up and helping.  When everything was assembled and in place, she stirred just a bit.

I thought you were going fishing, she said to Frank.

I went down to the bait shop and asked what was biting.  The answer was nothing much.  So I ditched the idea.  I think I’ll just get my surf pole and sit here on the beach and see if any blues make a run past here.  It’s late August, after all.  They’ll be leaving the bay and heading for the ocean.  There’s always a chance a school might make a pass around here.

Colleen scowled.  I don’t think you should do that.  You hate the beach, you always have.  The rest of us don’t need to hear you grumbling about the sun and the flies hovering around your head.

Frank was a large man with receding hair and a gut that pronounced his love for food.  He also had a short fuse that could ignite easily.  It was usually Colleen who lighted the match to make the explosion.  She had a habit of talking down to her husband.  For some reason he took it, but there was always that grimace that said he was fighting to keep his temper under control.  He took a deep breath before speaking.

I brought my own chair and the little umbrella that clips on to the back of the chair.  My own shade, so to speak.  I’ll sit down by the jetty by myself.  I won’t interrupt all of you sun worshippers.

It was obvious to Richard that his plan was unacceptable to Colleen.  He had heard the two of them argue many times before and this scene in particular.  They had been coming with the Corbetts on vacation for many years and it was apparent that Colleen preferred to be on the beach without her husband around.  He knew it was time to leave them alone.

I’ll be heading back to the house to the get the boys.  I should be back in ten minutes.  He hoped that was enough time for the two of them to reconcile their differences.

Frank said, Take the Jeep.  Just in case you need to bring something else back with you.  Besides, your boys like to get rides in it.

He tossed Richard the keys, which he caught in mid-air.  Thanks, Frank.  The boys would love a ride in the Jeep.  They can’t get enough of driving around without a roof and sides.  He turned and headed once again to the dunes.  Before going down the other side he turned back and saw Frank gesturing angrily with his hands and arms.  The two of them were at it again.  Colleen will win the argument, he thought.  She always did.

When Richard returned with his family—Drea decided to take advantage of the free ride—there was no sign of Frank.  He handed the Jeep keys to Colleen.  Where did Frank go?

"He’s walking along the beach somewhere.  He’s trying to cool down.  He’s angry.  He’ll get over it.

Drea required attention.  Rich, please help me a minute.  I need to get the baby settled in the porta-crib.

He held things in his hands while Drea situated Megan into her surroundings.  He handed Drea a little bonnet, a towel that would serve as a blanket, a pacifier and several other items, including a small rattle.  What could a newborn do with that?  He remained as silent as a golf caddy as he handed every piece over to her, one at a time.  And all the time he was doing this the boys complained that they wanted to get into the water now!

Hold on, boys, hold on.  We’ll swim in a few minutes.  I have to help Mom with Megan first.

But Roy and Chip did not want any excuses.  This new sister of theirs was an intrusion into their lives and was not welcome.  They continued their demands, their voices becoming more strident.

Colleen climbed out of her chair.  I’ll take the boys down to the water.  Come on, fellas.  Aunt Colleen will go with you.

The two boys did not even glance at their father to see if it was okay.  They raced to the water’s edge."

Thanks, Colleen, Richard said, his voice already weary, even though he had been at the beach for a half hour, at most.

Yes, Colleen, Drea added.  We owe you one.

Colleen brushed the thanks aside and followed the boys.  Drea, finally satisfied that Megan was comfortable, stood up straight with a grimace.  She had been bending over too long.  She removed her short terry cloth jacket and revealed a two piece, the top blousy and full of room to hide the fact that she had recently given birth.  Richard knew she would get her stomach back into shape eventually, but for the time being, effective camouflage was required.  She had searched numerous stores for this outfit prior to leaving on vacation.  Without it, she said, she could not possibly spend any time on the beach.  Ever the practical one, he could not see what all the fuss was about.  The porta-crib was a dead giveaway that they had a new baby.  She was not going to fool anyone.

As far as he was concerned his wife was still a beautiful woman.  Her skin was flawless and she had nary a wrinkle around her eyes and mouth.  Her ash blonde hair sparkled in the sun and her brown skin stood in stunning contrast to her hair.  The fact that she was about to turn forty did not diminish her in his eyes in the least.

He squinted up at the sun, its bright sunshine filling the beach with a blazing light.  He was getting a headache from its intensity.  He searched the beach bag for his aviator sunglasses with their dark green lenses.  He called them his beach shades.  He put them on and the sun became more tolerable.  He watched Drea apply suntan lotion to her arms and legs and then take her chair into the shade of the umbrella.  I wonder where Tyler and Melissa are, she said.

Maybe they know that Colleen and Frank just had one of their battles and are staying away.

Sometimes I have to wonder how the two of them ever got married.  They are total opposites.

Opposites attract, they say, he said lamely.

Drea rolled her eyes and adjusted her sunglasses on her nose.  She dug her feet into the sand in front of her and made herself comfortable.  She checked Megan briefly.  Satisfied that the baby was content, she pulled a book from her tote bag, the latest novel from Danielle Steel.

Hello, Truscotts!  a voice yelled from behind them.

Richard turned to see Tyler and Melissa approaching, both laden with towels and chairs.  Tyler somehow managed to carry his surf pole, as well.  One could see that Melissa, despite her coverup, was wearing her typical scant bikini, one that accentuated her firm breasts and narrow waist.  Its color was bright yellow, a dazzling contrast to her dark, sundrenched Italian skin and her long black mane.  Tyler wore his typical baseball hat with the Yankee logo, pulled down low over his eyes.  His skin was a burnished red, one that was reluctant to tan.

And how are we all today? Melissa asked as the two of them set up their chairs and spread out a blanket proclaiming the importance of Cinzano to anyone who passed by.  She paused to peer into the porta-crib.  Is our new addition happy?

At least for the moment, Drea replied.

Melissa nodded and fell into her chair, another low recliner that almost made her buttocks kiss the sand.  Satisfied with Drea’s answer, she would not take notice of the baby again.  More than once over the years of their friendship she had stated she had no motherly instincts and that babies would never be part of her life.  Richard had always wondered what Tyler thought about her position on children, but never said a word about it.  If Tyler rued the fact he might never be father, he was never going to admit it.

Richard was about to sit down when Drea said, Maybe you should go check on the boys.  Colleen might be tired of watching them by now.

So much for relaxing, he thought.  Yes, I suppose I should.

He headed toward the water, the sun beating unmercifully on his shoulders.  He was going to need a lot of shade today or he would fry like a plate of home fries.  The beach was getting crowded.  Now most of the bathers struggled to find beach space close to the water.  Today would require a lot of dips to keep cool.  The sand was growing hotter, forcing Richard to dance gingerly until he could reach the damp sand at the water’s edge.  He almost sighed aloud when his burning feet finally touched the water.

Once that crisis was solved he searched the shoreline for Colleen and the boys.  He spied her down the beach, perhaps twenty yards past the life guard stand.  She was staring out at the boys, who frolicked in the surf about fifty yards out.  It was low tide and they had to go out quite a ways to get the water up to their waists.  He came up alongside her.

I’m here to relieve you of your duties.  Thanks for watching the boys.

No problem.  Actually, it was kind of fun to watch the two of them.  They remind me of Teddy, who was that same way a few years back.  They seem so innocent.

Kids grow fast, don’t they?  Why was it he could not come up with something to say that carried some weight?  Banality seemed his lot today.

Everything okay back at the blanket? she asked.

Megan is sleeping.  Tyler and Melissa showed up.  All quiet on the western front.

All right, then.  I guess I should go back to them.  I’ll leave you in charge of your sons.

See you later.

He watched Colleen head back for a moment, then focused on the boys.  Just a few minutes later Drea was at his side.  He turned to her in surprise.  What are you doing here?

Colleen is giving me a chance to have a swim with you.  She’s watching the baby for me.  Megan’s sound asleep, so this is my time to get wet.  She took his hand.

Well, then, let’s join the boys.

Hand in hand they entered the low waves, barely high enough to splash against their calves.  The tide was coming in, however, and by the afternoon the waves would be high enough for body surfing.  The water was cold and caused them to gasp at first.  But they soon acclimated to the temperature of their new environment and moved steadily toward the boys.

Come on fellas, Mom and I are going out a bit further.  Do you want to come with us?

Fear crossed their faces and made them grimace.  They like things just the way they were.  They were not interested in any more adventure than they were already having.  Drea and Richard laughed.  Fraidy cats! they yelled as they passed their sons.

Looks like we are going to have a few moments to ourselves.

He pulled her by the hand.  I think we had better enjoy it while we can.

They headed for deeper water.

*

By mid-afternoon all was peaceful at the beach.  The incoming tide pounded out a rhythm that lulled everyone into drowsiness.  The fact that they had all shared Bloody Marys on Richard’s deck during the lunch break didn’t help, either.  They sat in their chairs, trying to keep their eyes open while their bodies slouched and drew ever closer to the sand.  Finally, Melissa surrendered and moved from her chair to the blanket.  She was asleep in two minutes.  Richard relocated to the shade under the umbrella, which he had all to himself.  Drea had decided to stay back at the house while Megan slept part of the afternoon away.  She waved goodbye to Richard from the bed with a magazine in front of her and the baby asleep alongside her.  Every few seconds she turned to the baby to be sure she was still sleeping.  I’ll see you later, she whispered as he turned to leave.

Colleen, as always, sat directly in the sun, her dark glasses hiding the fact that she had closed her eyes for a few minutes.  Tyler touched his shoulders and winced.

Mind if I share some of that shade with you?’ he asked Richard.  My shoulders have had about all they can take."

Come on over, Richard answered.  There’s lots of room right now.  No baby.

Tyler picked up his chair and resituated himself in the shade of the umbrella.  Only his feet and ankles were exposed to the sun.  He scooped sand over them to protect them.  I need to invest in an umbrella.  Melissa likes to bake, but I can’t take the same amount of sun she does.

You should put on a shirt.

If I did that my wife would disown me.  Her husband wouldn’t look cool and you know we can’t have that.

Then I would hate to know what she thinks of me.

Tyler laughed.  You don’t have to worry.  She thinks well of you.  It’s me she is always concerned about.  I don’t match your caliber.

Richard grinned but did not offer a retort.  That was enough talking for a while.  Talking was a lot of exertion.  They paused to recharge their batteries, the both of them staring out at the blue water coming ever closer.

Well, when all is said and done, it’s been a great vacation.  I expected it to be a hassle with the baby and all, but everything worked out.  It never rained at all.  Just sunshine all the time.  You can’t ask for more.  It’s going to be hard to top this vacation.  Too bad it has to end.

Tyler nodded.  It’s been great, but I have to get back to work.  I’m running out of money.  That’s a sure sign we have to go home.  My draftsman table awaits.

At least you have Michelle earning a paycheck, as well.  Being an executive secretary has to be a good job.  I sort of envy you.  Right now I’m a one man show with Drea out of commission and taking care of the baby.

Sell more insurance policies, fella.

I’m working on it.  No rest for the weary these days.  But I can’t complain.  I’m having a good year.

Yeah, just think about it.  You’re doing better than Gorbachev over there in Russia.  Did you read the paper today?  It looks like Russia is falling apart.  His empire is collapsing.  I believe the Iron Curtain finally has a few cracks in it.

Yes, I saw that in the paper, too.  Wouldn’t it be nice if the Cold War ended?  We’ve been living with it our entire lives.  I’d like to feel what it’s like not to worry about a nuke coming down on us.

It sure would be strange, Tyler agreed.  But if it happens, something else will surely take its place.  The world can’t seem to exist without a crisis or two.  That’s why you go on vacation.  Get some time away from all of that nonsense.

I think AIDS will be the next big problem.  The movie stars are falling like flies from it.  But I just read that there might be a vaccine.  They’re going to start testing it soon.  I would have to think AIDS is giving the insurance companies fits.  The actuaries weren’t figuring on this when they set their odds on how long someone might live.  Their tables have to be all screwed up.

Spoken like a true insurance salesman.  But our president says it’s not a problem.  There was no missing Tyler’s sarcasm.

I think we have to face the fact that old Ronnie boy doesn’t have his act together anymore.  As they say, his elevator doesn’t go to the top floor.  These days his wife, Nancy, seems to be calling the shots.  At least that’s the way it looks to me.

I wouldn’t be surprised.

Again a pause.  What more could the two of them say?  They had been together for almost two weeks now and the topics of conversation were growing slim. Should they talk about the stock markets and the fact that it had just passed 2700, or that Madonna was putting on a concert in Rotterdam?  There was a miner’s strike in South Africa and some crazed nurse in Ohio had killed twenty four of his patients over time with overdoes of narcotics.  This was not the stuff of vacation; those topics could wait until they returned home.  Now was the time for the sun, the surf and the drowsiness that said nothing more could be important in life at this time.  It was time for atrophy of the brain.  Just Seneca Island, jutting out into the North Atlantic, was worthy of praise.

Richard began to feel energized again.  The midday drinks were wearing off.  He fumbled for the beach bag and found his book after digging below a stack of baby bibs.

Another novel? Tyler asked with a smirk.

Of course.  Updike.  I always read what he publishes.

Tyler was not a reader, unless it was a sportsman magazine like Field and Stream.  Yet he respected Richard’s penchant for reading.  Like on every other vacation, Richard had brought a stack of books along and was now down to his next to last volume.  That last one might have to go home unread and picked up during the course of the fall.  Tyler had said more than once that they should hold a lottery to see how many books Richard brought along with him on vacation.

He stood up from his chair and stretched.  I’ll leave you to your reading.  I’m going to take my pole down to the water and make a few casts to see if I can get lucky.

He found a tee shirt and donned it, a replica of the Green Bay Packers football jersey. Then he placed a baseball cap on his head and pulled it down snugly so that it wouldn’t blow off into the ocean.  He lifted his pole from the sand spike that held it and headed for the water.  Richard watched him as he stepped gingerly on the sand.  The sand had to be very hot, despite the fact the afternoon breeze was coming off the ocean.  The flies had retreated inland and the temperature was now palatable.  Once Tyler reached the water he headed north to the jetty, where he would carefully make his way as far out as he could to begin casting.

Richard went back to his reading, but it would be short-lived.  Suddenly Drea was standing over him with Megan in her arms.  She woke up from her nap, so here we are again.

Richard quickly ceded his space in the umbrella’s shade for his wife and daughter.  All of this activity was enough to rouse Melissa and Colleen from their slumber.  Colleen struggled to a more erect posture in her chair and Melissa rose to sitting position on the blanket.

"How’s the baby?’ Melissa asked groggily.

Just fine.  She had a good nap and should behave herself here for a while.

That was enough information to satisfy Melissa.  She shook her long black mane as if to shake clear the cobwebs from her head.  Then she looked around again.  Hey, where did my husband go?

He’s out on the jetty trying his luck.

Oh.  Again, that was enough information.

Where’s Frank? Drea asked.  I haven’t seen him all day.

Colleen said, He’s fishing, as well, but he’s out on the bay in his boat.

Well, Rich, why aren’t you out there fishing, as well? Melissa asked with a sly smirk.

Aw, I’d just rather be here with all you girls, trading gossip.  Besides, I don’t go looking for fish.  When they come in, I will get up and get a few.

We don’t gossip, Drea said.  We just observe things.

Yeah, right.

In a moment it was as if he wasn’t even there.  The three women moved on to subjects like dinner, fashion and hair styles.  (Apparently Margie’s new bob—whoever that was—made her look like a boy.  Richard seized the opportunity to go back to his book.  It was Roger’s Version, another Updike foray into the world of adultery and sex.  Sometimes Richard had to think Updike was in a rut, but still felt compelled to follow the story.  Updike had the skill to lure the reader in.  Suddenly the reader was living vicariously, daring the mores of the world.  Well, it was probably better to read about it than cheat on your wife.

The sun was slowly sinking in the west, now turning slowly into a golden, burning orb.  By dinnertime it would be a bright orange ball, kissing the bay with farewell rays before it slipped beneath the horizon.  The sunlight was not as harsh now; this was Richard’s favorite time of day.  Soon the women would start packing up and escape the beach for showers and primping at the house.  But he would remain right where he was, staring at the breakers, hearing their pounding roar, something akin to a Beethoven symphony.  Slowly he would become hypnotized by its incessant movement and he would lose all track of time.  He could hardly wait to be alone and enjoy his private narcotic.

Roy and Chip reappeared.  He wondered where the two of them had been all afternoon.  Maybe it was better if he didn’t know.  The two of them liked to crab and would always bring their catch back to the house.  But he was in no mood to clean a bucket of crustaceans today.  The beach had made him lazy and he wanted to remain that way.  But any chance for peace evaporated when they made the announcement, insisting they wanted to go back into the water.

Drea looked at Richard.  You’ll go with them, right?  I don’t want them down by the water without you there.

He searched his mind frantically to find a reason to say no, but there was nothing there.  Drea’s stare became more intense.  Let them go down there to shut them up.  I’ll join them in a couple of minutes.

She opened her mouth to protest, then reconsidered.  After a moment she said, Well, okay, but don’t wait too long.

The two boys, already sensing victory, raced to the water without their mother’s sanction.

I have two pages to go to finish my chapter.  Then I’ll go down to the water.

Not particularly thrilled with his reply, she rolled her eyes and returned to her conversation with Colleen and Melissa.  Richard closed his ears to their talking and returned to his new friend, Roger, supplied by Updike.

He came to the end of the chapter but was reluctant to stop there.  He read the first paragraph of the next chapter.  Maybe a few more pages, he thought.

But it was as if Drea was reading his mind.  Rich, the boys.

He snapped the book shut.  Yes, the boys.

A commotion was brewing as he stood up.  He saw lifeguards running down the beach, waving the swimmers out of the water.  Several guards were already in the water, fighting their through the surf.  It couldn’t be a shark, as he first thought.  It had to be a swimmer in trouble.

Rich!  The boys!  Check on the boys!  Drea was frantic, her voice rising into a sharp shrill.

But he was already on his way.  He quickly found Roy and Chip among the onlookers that crowded the edge of the water.  Voices murmured.  He heard single words, all used to describe the action that was unfolding: girl, trouble, drowning.

The life guards were out too far now to see them well and the rising surf with its tall waves heading for the beach hid them briefly from view, then to be seen for another second, then gone again.  Two more guards plunged into the waves with a long, red surf board with a white cross painted on it.  A floating ambulance of sorts.  They made good time getting to their counterparts, who had reached the stricken swimmer.

It seemed an eternity to Richard.  The guards seemed to float up and down in the waves, but nothing else seemed to be happening.  The crowd remained hushed as they watched the drama unfold.  Finally it appeared as if they had placed a body on the floating raft, ready to be hauled in to shore.  Some of the crowd offered hesitant cheers and then some applause.  Most stood still, not ready yet to celebrate until the swimmer was ashore.

Two of the guards emerged from the water alone.  Four other guards guarding the surf board were still fifty yards out.  One of the guards, panting heavily, picked up a walkie-talkie that had been thrown on the sand and began shouting orders into it.  Just a few moments later Richard could hear the warning sound of a siren.  Help was on the way.

The lowering sun was like a spotlight on the raft and its cargo.  Whoever it was looked like a freshly landed fish, still vibrant with the sheen of the environment it was leaving.  But the strength of the sun made it impossible to see more than that.

The second lifeguard started pushing the crowd back from the water.  Please move back, folks, please move back.  We need room here.  Everyone please step back.

For some reason Richard turned around to the crowd and spread out his arms in an effort to help.  Please move back, folks.  The lifeguards need room.

A quick glance over his shoulder showed him a few others were doing the same thing as he was.  One of them was Tyler, who must have spotted the emergency from the jetty and gave up fishing to come and see what was happening.

The crowd obeyed reluctantly, moving back ten, twenty, then thirty feet with the constant prodding of the two lifeguards.  The four guards in the water had come in far enough to plant their feet in the sand beneath the waves.  They were able to move quicker to get the stricken swimmer out of the water.

Spent and puffing, they finally reached shore, each holding a corner of the red board.  On it was a teenage girl, her eyes closed and head lolling from side to side.  She did not appear to be breathing.  The first guard that had reached the beach dropped to his knees and began CPR.  The other guard compressed her chest in a slow, steady rhythm.  The four guards that had brought the board ashore stood at attention, looking down at the victim and prepared to spell the first team

The sirens grew louder, then stopped.  The ambulance must have arrived on the other side of the dunes.  Richard turned to the dunes and in a moment saw four EMT technicians bounding over the sand, each carrying a box or a bag with equipment inside.  They pushed their way through the crowd and dropped to their knees around the girl.  Small monitors and stethoscopes appeared from the bags and were used to check her vitals.  One technician put an Ambu bag and mask over her face, while another took over the chest compressions.  He stopped every minute or so to check for a heartbeat, then resumed the compressions with an increased sense of urgency.

The lifeguards stood helplessly by, watching all of the efforts being made to save the girl.  Their arms hung limply at their sides from all of the strenuous effort it had taken to get her ashore.  At one point the EMT with the stethoscope looked up at the guards and gave a quick shake of his head.  As if that was a cue, they turned to disperse the crowd.  Please find your way to your blankets and chairs.  There is nothing to see here.  Please disperse quickly so that the EMTs can do their work.  Please do as we say…

Richard stared at the body on the board.  The girl was probably around fifteen.  Her long blonde hair hung around her face like seaweed.  Her skin shimmered in the fading sun, as she were a fish that had just been landed.  She still looked alive, but Richard knew she was dead.  A young, promising life wasted. He placed a hand on each of his sons, squeezing their shoulders gently.  It was just something he had to do.

The crowd evaporated reluctantly.  Why do people find death so interesting to watch?  Richard supposed that perhaps it could be fascinating to some, just as long as the victim was not a loved one.  But this was not something he had any intention of watching further.

Come on, boys.  We need to get back to Mom.

But I want to watch, Roy said.

There’s nothing here to watch.  Just let these people do what they have to.  Come on, we’re going back to the blanket.

The two boys groused but in the end followed their father back to the umbrella.  Tyler, clutching his surf pole, was right behind them.

What happened down there? Melissa asked.

A girl drowned, Tyler answered, as if he was announcing it was starting to rain.

Oh, my God!

Richard looked around.  Where’s Drea?

She went back to the house, Melissa said.  Colleen went with her. She helped Drea carry a few things."

He looked around some more.  That may have been the case, but there was still a lot of stuff that had to be lugged over the dunes.  Richard ordered the boys to pick up what they could and head back to the house.  Even with their help, he would have at least two trips to get everything back to the house.  He saw that Tyler and Melissa were also packing up.

But we wanna stay here, Chip wailed.  Roy nodded his head in agreement.

No!  Today is over.  Now get yourselves home!  No more arguments.

The boys knew that tone of voice and backed down.  The day was over.  Chip looked like he wanted to give it one more try, but Roy touched his arm.  We’ll go crabbing in the bay.

The boys headed for the dunes and the three adults followed after they loaded themselves up with whatever they could carry.  They crossed the dunes and went down to the street and the parked cars that baked in the late afternoon sun.  Melissa continued on her way while Richard and Tyler went back to the beach to retrieve the last items still there.

This is no way to have a vacation end.  A beach is supposed to be a happy place.  But still a young girl dies.  It just doesn’t seem right.

Shit even happens on vacation, Richard said.

It sure does.  That poor girl had her entire life in front of her and now she’s gone.  Her parents have to be devastated.  It makes me glad I don’t have any kids.

Richard had no comment for that.

They packed up the rest of the stuff silently and climbed the dunes for the last time.  Back on the street, they somehow managed to get everything into their arms at one time and began the walk back to their houses.

Cocktails at six? Tyler asked.  I think it’s my turn.

I’m ready to start right now.

That does sound like a good idea.

Richard turned to take one last look behind him.  He spotted the EMTs struggling to get a stretcher across the dunes with its cargo.  Behind them a man and woman followed, the man staring vacantly into space and the woman wailing.  The ambulance waited with back doors open, ready to accept its consignment.

I really need a drink in the worst way, Richard said.

The sun sank lower into the sky.  In a couple of hours it would be completely gone, disappearing behind some evening cloud and then falling below the horizon.  A girl had just died on the beach.  The day was preparing to follow suit.

The Invitation

1

C

olleen Corbett woke up with a headache.  She tried to focus her eyes but everything remained blurry.  The blanket over her looked like a pile of pudding and several attempts to see what the clock said from across the room on her dresser were dismal failures.  Probably a hangover, she thought.  She should never drink gin at night, but last night she had lost control and went overboard.  Fights with Ted could do that to her.  Then she remembered her glasses on the night table.  She picked them up clumsily and placed them on her face.  There, that was better.  She could see that the clock was telling her it was time to get her ass out of bed.  Then she remembered that Mary Ann and Susy were sleeping in the bedroom that once was Ted’s.  She needed to get moving.  Who knew when the two girls had last had a decent meal?  She wanted to be sure they got something substantial for breakfast.

She groaned softly as she climbed out of bed, her head feeling like a split coconut.  She wrapped her bathrobe around her and headed to the small lavatory off her bedroom.  As usual, she gagged at the pink and gray tile that adorned the walls and floor.  It was like stepping back into the 1950’s.  Every morning she vowed she would replace the horrific colors and every next morning it was still there.  It didn’t happen often, but this is when she wished Frank, her husband, was still around.  He wasn’t much good as a husband but he was an excellent handyman.  If he were still here, she would have nagged him into replacing the tile by now.

She found the aspirin bottle in the small cabinet over the toilet and downed three of the white pills with a slug of tepid tap water.  If experience held, they would do no good.  She would finally surrender to the head pain and take a small sip of gin, which would eventually stop the pounding in her head.  The hair of the dog was always the best remedy.  She ran her fingers through her hair to give it some semblance of order and then headed to the kitchen, being very careful to negotiate the small flight of stairs from the bedroom level to the main floor.  She mumbled she should be living in a ranch, not a split level.  Another constant complaint.

In the kitchen she made a pot of coffee, ten cups.  She would need every drop of it today.  She took out a carton of eggs and broke four of them into a bowl, added some milk and a pad of butter and whisked them into a pale, yellow froth.  The girls would always eat scrambled eggs when they slept over.  They said Grandma’s eggs were the best, but Colleen found that hard to believe.  How could anyone screw up scrambled eggs?  More likely they were trying to stay on Grandma’s good side, since they were here so often.  Instead of being home and being a family unit, their mother and father passed them off to Colleen.  The problem was the family was falling apart.  Grandma’s house was the girls’ fail-safe position.

Her thoughts went back to yesterday.  She had come home from work to find Ted, Mary Ann and Susy in her kitchen.  She knew immediately something was wrong.  She stared at Ted, who shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other.  The girls sat at the kitchen table with coloring books and a box of crayons between them.  They knew where Grandma kept the coloring books in the hall closet.

Colleen was never one to mince words.  Well, this can’t be good.

Ted offered a sappy smile and a shrug as his reply.

Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or just stand there like an idiot?

Sasha and I had a fight.  She made me so angry that I wanted to hit her.  The girls could see how angry I was.  I decided it was better to get them out of the house and come over here by you.  I hope you don’t mind.  Too much.

Colleen sighed wearily.  This had to be the third or fourth time in the past two months that this had happened.  She had known for a long time that things were not good between Ted and Sasha.  Ted had always been spoiled, getting his way.  Colleen was not proud of that, but the truth was the truth.  Sasha was a Costa Rican with a Latino temper.  The chances for sparks to fly were right there, just below the surface.  Now it appeared the marriage was approaching critical mass.

She noticed the girls were no longer focusing on their coloring books.  Rather, they were listening in the conversation.  That was not good.  Even with her rising anger, Colleen had the sense to think of the girls first.

Girls, why don’t the two of you go outside and check on the pool.  I haven’t looked at it for a couple of days, so chances are it needs some water.  Would you do that for your old Grandma?

The two of them jumped to attention.  Mary Ann headed quickly to the back door and the pool beyond.  I’ll check to see if there are any dead critters floating in the skimmer, she said bravely.

Susy, not wanting to be left behind, called out, Wait for me!  I wanna see too!

In a flash they were gone.  Colleen shut the door behind them.  Every day I curse your father for putting in that pool, but it still comes in handy once in a while.  She turned her attention back to her son.  So what happened this time?

Ted seemed ready to let his guard down.  There was no way he was going to fool his mother—he had tried that too many times before, all with disastrous results.  It was better to just come out with it and get the entire mess on the table.

Sasha is on my case again about being out of work.  The bills are piling up and her pay, plus my unemployment, is just not cutting it.  She’s ragging on me all the time, calling me a lazy bum.  What can I do?  I lost my job, but so did a few million other guys.  This is the Great Recession.  It’s not my fault I can’t find anything else.  And I can’t help it that we are in debt.

You should have thought of all that before you got caught in a DWI.  Then you still might have your job.  An estimator without a driver’s license isn’t worth very much.

If they had given me a driver liked I asked, I would still be working.

Just like if you stayed out of bars after work and went straight home at night.  But you could never do that.

A guy needs to unwind after a long day.

Colleen waved off his lame remark.  What a guy really has to do is learn to be responsible for his actions and know that there will be a price to pay when he screws up, like you did.

She had preached this sermon more than once in the past and he was tired of hearing her litany.  I tried to make good.  I hired my own driver to take me around.  But it was eating up my paycheck.  In the end, it just wasn’t worth it.  The company would have fired me anyway.

That’s because they couldn’t trust you anymore.  You became a bad risk.

Ted shook his head wearily.  He was tired of hearing this again and again.  I wish Dad was still around.  He would understand.

She stared at her son with anger boiling up inside her, like a teapot ready to explode.  She tasted bile in her throat.  She was tempted to take a frying pan and hit him over the head with it.  Maybe it would knock some sense into him.  She could see how Ted was beginning to look more like his father every passing day.  He had always had Frank’s round face and nose, but now the receding hairline and the growing paunch made him almost an exact duplicate of his father.  And he was just as dumb as his father had been.  Once Frank had lost a job and he moaned for days that life was unfair, just like Ted was doing now.  Apples don’t fall far from the tree.

Your father was a dumb ass, just like you are now.  He would not have been able to help one whit.

He stared at her.  I knew you always hated Dad.  Until now I didn’t know how much.

Leave me and your father out of this.  We’re talking about you and Sasha.  The two of you have to get your act together, if for no other reason than the girls.  They deserve better than what the two of you are giving them.

I don’t think that’s possible anymore.  I think we’ve reached a dead end.

You can’t talk like that.  You have two small girls.  You have to think of them.  Mary Ann and Susy deserve better than a broken marriage.

Ted paced back and forth, running his fingers through his hair with a harried motion, trying to think.  It was obvious this meeting with Colleen was pure torment for him.  Finally, he said, I have to say I’ve tried all I can do to make this marriage work.  The only thing I can do, as far as I can see, is to move out.  I need to get away, maybe to Florida.  I need a fresh start.  Nothing around here is going to work for me anymore.  Yes, that is what I think I should do.

Rather than retort immediately, Colleen peered out the back window to check on the girls.  They were both using their legs to splash in the pool while sitting on the coping.  In just a few days it would be Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer would have them in her pool often.  Already she could see the girls could hardly wait.  Everything okay, she turned her attention back to her son.

This is what you are going to do.  You are going to go home and make amends with Sasha.  Don’t give me that look.  You will do it.  Period.  I will keep the girls overnight and you come back for them tomorrow morning and then take them to school.  Once you have them in school for the day, you will go out once again and look for a job.  You will take a cab.  Don’t even think of getting into your car, as you apparently did to get to my house now.  She reached for her purse on the kitchen table and took a hundred dollars from her wallet.  Here is your cab fare.  Use it again tomorrow to come back for the girls.  I don’t care if you have to spend it all.  Just come home with a job.

She tossed the money across the table.  Now get out of here and make something of yourself.  I’m going outside to be with the girls.  Don’t be standing here when I come back inside.  Pick them up tomorrow morning.

*

It had been a long day of memories and misgivings.  She stared up at the office clock on the wall and saw it was 3 P.M.  More than six hours at work and not a thing to show for it.  There was still an hour and half to go.  Maybe she could still get something done, but who was she kidding?  It was a lost day, pure and simple.

It had started disastrously.  Ted never showed up in the morning to take Mary Ann and Susy to school, like she had ordered.  She had them dressed and ready to go.  (For some time now she kept some of their school clothes at the house for situations such as this.  Fortunately, her granddaughters were not yet old enough to worry about making a fashion statement at school.)  She had packed them lunches of PBJ sandwiches, a few Oreos and some apple slices.  All was ready, but Ted did not appear.  The clock kept insisting she had to be on her way to work or she would be late.  Already the girls