The Beach Monologue

1036 Words3 Pages

Going to the shore on the first morning of the holiday, the young English

boy stopped at a turning of the path and looked down at a wild and rocky

bay, and then over to the crowded beach he knew so well from other years.

His mother walked on in front of him, carrying a bright-striped bag in one

hand. Her other arm, swinging loose, was very white in the sun. The boy

watched that white, naked arm, and turned his eyes, which had a frown

behind them, toward the bay and back again to his mother. When she felt

he was not with her, she swung around. "Oh, there you are, Jerry!" she

said. She looked impatient, then smiled. "Why, darling, would you rather

not come with me? Would you rather-" She frowned, conscientiously

worrying over …show more content…

He was very familiar with that

anxious, apologetic smile. Contrition sent him running after her. And yet, as

he ran, he looked back over his shoulder at the wild bay; and all morning,

as he played on the safe beach, he was thinking of it.

Next morning, when it was time for the routine of swimming and

sunbathing, his mother said, "Are you tired of the usual beach, Jerry? Would

you like to go somewhere else?"

"Oh, no!" he said quickly, smiling at her out of that unfailing impulse of

contrition - a sort of chivalry. Yet, walking down the path with her, he

blurted out, "I'd like to go and have a look at those rocks down there."

She gave the idea her attention. It was a wild-looking place, and there was

no one there, but she said, "Of course, Jerry. When you've had enough

come to the big beach. Or just go straight back to the villa, if you like." She

walked away, that bare arm, now slightly reddened from yesterday's sun,

swinging. And he almost ran after her again, feeling it unbearable that she

should go by herself, but he did not.

She was thinking, Of course he's old enough to be safe without me. Have …show more content…

On the edge of a small cape that marked the side of the bay away from the

promontory was a loose scatter of rocks. Above them, some boys were

stripping off their clothes. They came running, naked, down to the rocks.

The English boy swam towards them, and kept his distance at a stone's

throw. They were of that coast, all of them burned smooth dark brown, and

speaking a language he did not understand. To be with them, of them, was a

craving that filled his whole body. He swam a little closer; they turned and

watched him with narrowed, alert dark eyes. Then one smiled and waved. It

was enough. In a minute, he had swum in and was on the rocks beside

them, smiling with a desperate, nervous supplication. They shouted

cheerful greetings at him, and then, as he preserved his nervous,

uncomprehending smile, they understood that he was a foreigner strayed

from his own beach, and they proceeded to forget him. But he was happy.

He was with them.

They began diving again and again from a high point into a well of blue sea

between rough, pointed rocks. After they had dived and come up,

More about The Beach Monologue

Open Document