Beach Day

I was meant to meet Marley at noon. We had the whole day planned. We were having our first beach day of the summer. Despite the harsh temperatures and the fact that it was mid-July, we hadn’t yet had the pleasure of embarking on a journey to the sandy shores where the ocean waves licked at your toes and seagulls begged for a morsel of your lunch. We’d both been hard at work this summer at our respective jobs. I worked at a local restaurant where the onslaught of insane customers and tireless shifts was made up for by the astronomical tips I made on these hot summer days. Marley worked two jobs. One was at an ice cream parlor, where she scooped mint chocolate chip and raspberry sorbet for giggling groups of teens and adults with hordes of children in tow. Her second job was at a boat docking place, essentially a gas station for boats. Marley had no shame in wearing her skimpiest shorts, if they could be classified as such, and bikini top to the delight of the rich, old men stopping for a fill-up. Often times she made more tips than I did on a double shift at the restaurant. 

But today was different. We had this day planned out for weeks now. We’d been saving up our time, making certain we requested this day off long in advance. It was gorgeous out. The local news boasted a blissful 75 degrees. I’d already had three people text me, begging me to take their shift, with half-hearted promises of “I owe you.” However, as I said before, today was different. Today was mine and Marley’s day. 

The phone was ringing but no one was picking up.

“Ugh, where are you?” I asked out loud, though I was the least bit surprised she was running late. She always did this. Just as I was feeling truly dejected, I saw Marley pulling up in her bright red jeep. I smiled to myself, giddy for the first time in a while.

“It’s about time!” I exclaimed as she pulled up. Slowly though, my expression shifted from one of elation to that of pure annoyance.

“Heyyyyy Suzie-Q!!! What’s up?”

“Oh, hey Blake,” I forced a smile that was better classified as a grimace. “Marley, do you think I could talk to you for a second?” A brief glance at Blake sent him to occupy his time where he devoted studious attention to the grass blades growing through the concrete sidewalk.

“Hey Suziekins, sooo I know this was supposed to be just the two of us, but Blake texted me out of the blue and he had the day off and-“

“OF COURSE HE HAD THE DAY OFF, HE DOESN’T HAVE A JOB!!!” I exploded in a huffed rage. “We planned this out for WEEKS, Marley. I was looking forward to spending some quality time with you!”

“Well, you still can! It’ll just be the three of us, you’ll hardly notice Blake is there!” She smiled, giving me a doe-eyed expression.

“I guess it’s better than nothing. I’m not wasting this day off, after all.” 

I always succumbed to her wishes despite my own desires. she’s my best friend after all.

“Alright, Blake!” called out Marley, “Get back in the car.”

I took a step in front of the passenger side door, certain about one thing. “Back seat, Blake.”

“Oooh Suzie-Q, I like it when you’re feisty,” Blake made a clawing motioning in the air as he hopped into the back of the jeep. “LET’S GOOO!!! Beach day!!”

We all cheered in unison as Marley sped off down the highway.

It’s often the things in life that we don’t expect, those little surprises, that make for the most interesting stories. I recall a time from years ago when I was just a child, playing in my backyard. I spied a monstrous-sized rabbit lumbering through the bushes and decided to follow it into the woods, thinking it might lead me to Wonderland. Instead, the furry beast led me to a little hovel where seven newborn bunnies snuggled together. Each was a little bit of wonder, though not the kind I had anticipated. A few seconds later, another little girl came running through the woods opposite me. She has on a sunshine yellow sundress with matching ribbons in her hair. 

“Hi,” said the little girl, “I’m Marley.”

“Hi,” I said tentatively, “I’m Suzie.”

When we finally made it to the beach, it was mobbed. This was to be expected considering the perfect weather, on a Saturday, no less. 

“Man, it’s crowded,” exclaimed Blake.

“Don’t worry,” Marley smirked, “I’ve got this under control.”

As I unloaded our things from the back of the jeep, I watched as Marley stripped down to a seductive red bikini. Her hours at the boat dock had paid off because her sun-kissed complexion only caused my pasty white skin to grow ever brighter in comparison. She left me and Blake behind, as she walked to the nearest lifeguard stand in what could only be described as a sensual walk. Didn’t she realize children were present? 

The lifeguard hopped down from his post, shirtless and glistening. I couldn’t help but think of all the potential drownings or other accidents that may occur whilst his gaze was diverted. However, my attention was quickly overtaken by a rather lanky looking boy, running to catch a frisbee. Instead of successfully catching it, he face-planted into the sand, causing a burst of rapturous laughter from his nearby group of friends.

“Alright guys, I got us a spot!” Marley exclaimed. She ushered us over to the lifeguard who was clearing a family of four from the beach, insisting that too much sun wasn’t good for the children.

“I don’t feel right about this,” I said to Marley.

“Which part? Me using my body for our benefit or helping that mother who obviously wanted to go home hours ago.” Marley quipped back.

I let out of sigh of defeat and laid out my towel on the soft sand, eager to catch up on my summer tan that had yet to begin.

“See you girls in the water!” 

And with a flash, Blake was gone.

Marley turned to me, a slight look of triumph in her expression.

“See?” she said, “I told you he wouldn’t be a problem.”

“I guess so. But why did you have to invite him in the first place?”

“I felt bad for him. He’s got no friends but us.” Marley sighed.

“I wouldn’t say he’s my friend….”

“Okay, Suziekins. Whatever you say.”

I laid out on my towel in that hot summer sun, warming me from head to toe. The sound of laughing children and crashing waves cradled me into a soft slumber and my mind drifted to the goofy boy I saw playing frisbee when we’d first arrived. Just as my mind melded into a place of blissful existence, I felt something tiny and wet hit my back, and again.

Oh no, I thought, was this perfect day ruined because of the rain, or was Blake simply standing over me, soaking wet from his trip in the water. And then I felt more drops that didn’t feel like water. It felt light and almost…cold. Maybe it was sand, being kicked up by running passerby.

“Hey...Suzie.”

I heard Marley but chose to ignore her, as I simply wanted to keep daydreaming about Frisbee boy.

“OH MY GOSH GUYS!!!!!” Blake screamed at a volume that jolted me out of my sleepy state. “IT’S FREAKING SNOWING!!!!”

I slowly turned over and watched in awe as tiny white bits fell lazily down and began to fall all across the sand.

“What in the world…” I trailed off as there were really no words to describe what exactly was going on. How was it snowing in the middle of July?

“Well, it’s kind of beautiful, isn’t it?” Marley smiled softly and stared out into the distance.

All across the beach, the activity stopped. People just looked in wonderment as snowflakes danced through the air, landing on towels and beach balls, ocean soaked hair, and sun-kissed noses. And then, as if some mysterious presence had pressed play, people began to stir. Children danced around barefoot hopping in the sand, attempting to catch the snowflakes on their tongues. This included Blake, who ran around with his mouth agape as if he hadn’t had a bite to eat in days. I rolled my eyes but Marley giggled and hopped up to join him. Despite the intense heat from before, the snow began to accumulate the tiniest bit and I watched as Frisbee boy and his friends crafted golfball-sized snowballs. I lay back down, watching the snow drifting lazily towards me, certain that if I were to lay their long enough, no one could define me from the snow and the snow from me.

Each time a snowflake hit me, my forehead, my arm, my toe, my nose, my whole body tingled as if to say, “Get indoors,” or “Put on a coat.” But it was not cold. The heat from the day still radiated from the ground. I looked to the sky and imagined I was in a snow globe. One moment, it was a perfectly peaceful day and the next my world exploded in a dusting of chilly, white fluff. I opened my mouth, eager to taste the chilly treat. As much as the sun brought comfort and warmth, the snow brought life and alertness. I was aware of the beauty of this moment, with no expectations of work, or family, or life. I could live in this unexplained moment, this unnatural phenomenon where I was neither the cause nor could I stop the occurrence. I simply had the joy of living and existing in this very weird moment in time. My mouth widened into a smile and I became giddy with joy. I jumped up, suddenly eager to join Marley and Blake in their pursuit of the snowflakes. My mind was set and I-

“Oooof,” I raised my hand to my head, suddenly a little dizzy, barely registering a blue frisbee out of my peripheral vision.

“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry!!!! My stupid friends threw it. Well, I’m the real idiot who couldn’t catch it.”

I looked up to find Frisbee boy, smiling apologetically and offering to buy me an ice cream in exchange for not pressing charges for the damage done by his misguided frisbee.

“Oh, it’s really okay!” I exclaimed, still giddy from the snow and frazzled from the sudden blunt impact.

“Yeah, I guess snow and ice cream don’t really mix, huh?” He gave me that big goofy grin I first noticed when we arrived at the beach.

“Stranger things have happened, I suppose.” I was smiling ear to ear and my heart thumped with vigor as if the rabbit from my childhood had made a guest appearance inside my chest.

“I’m Samuel, by the way,” He stuck out his hand.

I grabbed it, giving him a firm shake, “I’m Suzie.”

It’s funny how life brings us just where we need to be. A day I thought I had certain control over; with my friend, the weather, and the perfect beach bliss, turned into something entirely new. It turned into something great. We must have the greatest expectations in life, but when life throws a curveball, or a snowball, in this case, we can only have even greater expectations for the journey and the wonderful moments these unexpected occurrences hold.