First Day on a Deserted Island

First Day on a Deserted Island

The first thing that hit me was the smell. Even before I opened my

eyes, I knew where I was. The tantalizing scent of washed-up waves and

bananas all rolled into one. I felt the millions of grains of sand,

hot against my fingers and the cool breeze against my face, - a relief

from the sweltering sun. I heard the sea crawling onto the sand and,

further away, the same monster dashing against the rocks. As I opened

my mouth to take in a gulp of air, I tasted salt in my throat. Not the

same taste as on Brighton Pier, when you look over into the sea, but a

fresh, clean one, as if taking in pure oxygen. Only then, when my four

other senses had taken in their share of my surroundings, did I allow

myself to open my eyes.

I was amazed at how easily fantasy and reality intertwined at that

moment. It was like continuing a dream after waking up. As I lifted my

eyelids, as the barrier between my imagination and actuality was

removed, the accuracy of my prediction astounded me.

As I sat up and looked around, I realized that I must have been asleep

for a long time, as my sopping wet clothes were completely dry. I

could just see the island on which I had been staying, a strip of land

on the contrasting horizon. The rubber dinghy, my means of travel, was

almost flat now, having carried my body weight so far across the sea.

This place, where I had ended up, was the best case scenario. I didn’t

really have any idea where I wanted to go, but anywhere was better

than that resort. You know when you see holiday disaster programs on

television about families who had to stay on a building site or put up

with drunken ne...

... middle of paper ...

... I secured the mattress with more big

leaves pegged down with little twigs. I used my bootlaces to hang it

with so it was with great strain that it managed to take my weight. My

construction was a darn sight more comfortable than the ground and I

was quite proud of it. I settled down on my hammock to reflect on the

day.

I wasn’t worried about being stranded forever. One, there were regular

ships which passed by, so if I really wanted to, I could make a smoke

signal to be rescued. And two, I was having the time of my life and

probably would stay for weeks, months, maybe even years to come. I was

glad that I was the only one on this tiny island. It was no one else’s

but mine and I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Maybe

someday I would return home, but at that moment, I was perfectly happy

where I was.