JURGEN TAKES A HOLIDAY
The early morning rain had cleared, leaving a grey, cold, drab day. The bus traveled sluggishly along the beach road as if affected by the weather. The drone of its engine carried away by the squalling onshore wind. The road was deserted, as it always was this time of year, with the only an occasional truck passing them, likewise moving in slow motion. The bus carried two occupants, the driver and an elderly man.
Jurgen leaned forward to wipe the condensation from his window with his coat sleeve, and looked out at the sea. White horses pranced and a thick mist obscured the horizon. A few stubborn gulls circled above, diving down now and then after scraps of food. Jurgen sat back and stifled a sudden coughing fit with his hanker-chief.
“ It’s the season for them,” said the bus driver looking at Jurgen in his rear view mirror.
“Uh.. Pardon?” said Jurgen, looking up momentarily collecting his thoughts.
“ Colds. Flu.” The bus driver continued. “ My Missus has been laid up these past two days with some bug.”
“ Yes.” Jurgen smiled and looked back out the window.
“ Got someone waiting for you in town have you?” The driver continued, “ I wouldn’t want to be caught outside on a day like this.”
“ Yes. You could say that”, sighed Jurgen watching a gull dive down into the waves.
The bus past a small sign beside the road painted with a smiling sun wearing sunglasses above a multicolored “Welcome to Bentley Cove.” Jurgen looked ahead and saw the few buildings and the long narrow beach of the coastal village. The bus halted at the bus stop opposite the General store and Jurgen said goodbye to the driver and stepped off into the wind.
He was buffeted by a gust a wind and wrapped his scarf tightly around his neck. The air was icy and smelt of sea salt. As the Bus drove away Jurgen licked his lips and trod wearily across the road to the store. He came back out with a cup of hot coffee in a polystyrene cup and held it in both hands as he walked to warm them. He slowly walked down the road until he reached the stairs leading down to the beach. At the base of the stairs, below the sea wall, a few old benches stood as sentinels over the empty beach.
Jurgen sat down slowly, letting out a grunt with the exertion. He took a sip of his coffee and placed it down beside him on the bench. He coughed again and wiped the spittle from his chin with his hanker-chief. He glanced at his watch as he lowered his hand. 10.30am. The nursing home would have noticed he hadn’t turned up for breakfast this morning and would have checked his room by now. A wry smile crossed his face as he imagined their confusion at his disappearance.
He looked around at the beach. Stray strands of seaweed littered the beach and a few seagulls seemed interested in a large clump near the tide line and squawked and squabbled over some bit of food. Something to his right caught his eye and he stood up and made his way over to it. He gingerly knelt down and dug away at it with his hands and pulled it out of the sand. It was a child’s toy spade left over from the previous summers’ holiday season. Jurgen smiled and brought it back with him to his bench. He held it on his lap and closed his eyes.
Jurgen with eyes closed lifted his face to the sky and felt the sun’s warmth on his face. A light breeze ruffled his hair and he smiled. The noise of the carousel on the promenade played in the background and the sound of water splashing and children’s squeals of delight filled the air. He felt warm hands caress his face and he reached up to hold those hands in his. He opened his eyes and looked at Rosalyn. Rosalyn smiled at him. She pulled her hands away and lifted the thermos.
“Drink?” she asked. Jurgen nodded and offered her his glass. He watched her pour his drink, her red hair blowing in the breeze. A white hair band keeping it from her eyes. Her bare shoulders had a light covering of sand from where she had been sun bathing, and he looked at her body remembering how he had held her body in his arms last night.
“Stop looking at me like that honey. You’re making me blush!” said Rosalyn handing him his drink.
“I can’t help it.” Jurgen smiled and held her arm lovingly.
“Oh you’re acting like a lovesick teenager!” she said in mock anger.
“It must be the sea air.” Jurgen said.
“Daddy! Daddy! Look what I’ve done!” said Hans excitedly.
Jurgen looked over at his son who had built a sandcastle and decorated it with seashells.
He placed his drink down and came over to where his son was playing and knelt down beside him.
“ Very good Hans. Very good!” said Jurgen admiring his son’s handiwork.
Hans’ freckly face beamed. “ Is this where the king will live Daddy?” he asked.
Jurgen nodded. “Yes, but you need a moat to keep out the dragons.”
Hans frowned; annoyed that he had forgotten such an important feature of the castle. Then his face brightened again, “ Will you and mummy help me?” he asked.
“Of course we will. Won’t we Mummy?” said Jurgen and he turned to face Rosalyn and smiled. She poked her tongue out at him, and then came over to them both to help.
Together they dug into the sand to build a moat.
“Can we get some ice-cream soon Daddy?” asked Hans as he dug at the sand with his spade.
“Yes Hans. After we have finished the castle.” Jurgen answered.
“Yaaay!” Hans cheered, “This is the best holiday ever!” he said gleefully.
Jurgen and Rosalyn looked at each other and smiled as the carousel music played in the background.
A curious seagull walked up to Jurgen’s foot and pecked at the toe of his shoe. The wind had abated and the mist had cleared from the horizon revealing a light blue streak of sky, which heralded finer weather. Jurgen’s hand slipped down beside his lap and the little red spade fell to the ground.