Beach

They head onward on the sandy beach. The city is shorter but people are everywhere. The beach takes longer but safer from view. They stay close to the wall bordering it from the streets. Mia looks at a pair of torn blue shorts and scowls. A remnant from her ‘first adventure’. They close in on the destination. The wall curves left along with the shore and streets. The sand grows colder as the sun lowers.

The house is in sight. It sits almost alone, next to the wall. Mary Kate climbs to the top and lifts Audrey. Mia’s suddenly bare foot elevates her thin body further. Audrey duck to cover behind a trash can. Roots and sticks poke out from the stone. She steps higher. The duo dash behind a house. Mia pulls up with both arms and peeks her head above the wall, just barely. She stretches her left leg on top and then the right. She rolls sideways and runs to the other two.

The breeze runs through her legs as the start towards her house. She looks down. No pants, no shoes. Her head springs back up. Mia runs back to the wall section. Her pants dangle from one of the branches. She lays on her belly and extends her arm. It’s too low. Mary Kate holds onto her ankles as she tries to grasp the shorts. Almost got ‘em. Just a little closer. A gust of wind blows them into the sea. No!

Mary Kate lifts her back up. Audrey looks over at them. No sign of despair shows on her face. They race back to Audrey and sit. “What was that?” Audrey asks.

“What?” Mia asks back.

“You had no facial expression of loss. I thought you’d at least be worried or embarrassed.”

“Oh, I am. But remorseful, no.”

“What not?”

“I have had a few, very few, but still a share of these situations. For maybe 9 or 10 months. It’s definitely embarrassing and I have to worry a lot. Not to mention you have it everyday. And now the entire day.”

“Good point.”

“Can we go somewhere a little less revealing.” They walk in through the door. Mia scans the room. Stairs, main entry, office...