Not shy.
A bold approach on the waters edge.
He smiles up at me.
Why not?
I seem like a nice guy.

He says,
“Hi!
I’m Timothy.
I’m five.
My mommy’s up there on the beach
under that rainbow-ka-banana-sun-block-thing.
But it’s ok.
She lets me play
on the wet sand
when the tide’s out
but I can’t go into the waves unless
she’s near.
I don’t like that
’cause I love the waves,
the way they
push me up onto the sand!
But I have to wait here,
for Mommy’s hand
cause I can’t swim so good yet
or for
my-sister-Brenda-she’s-older
but her boyfriend is here, now, today,
but all they do is fool around….
you know…
so they won’t come down here
and Daddy’s gone…
so I gotta just….

Look!
Seagulls!
Come-on!
Let’s chase ’em!”

“Why?”
I call after him,
“Why?”

“Because you can, Mister!
They’re small!
It’s so easy even I can!
Charge!!!”

And he was gone.

I stood in the wet sand
watching Timothy’s will be done.
Finally, something.
Seagulls,
panicked flight,
screaming under the hot summer sun.