Post by Emma Louise on Jan 16, 2023 20:24:26 GMT -6
Annie and Maisie shuffled down the ramp toward the beach. Both carried a handbag along with a large bag over one shoulder and dragged a deckchair behind them.
“It’s nice to feel the sand against my toes Anne.” Maisie says to her friend as they arrive at the beach.
“Aye. I can’t remember the last we came up to this end of the beach.”
“Think it was 1972. You were with your Jim. I was with Archie.”
“Oh yeah. We were at that caravan park that had just opened. Och! What was the name of it again? The Prestwick something?”
“The Pearl of Prestwick. If I remember right we went back there with the kids for about the next ten year or so. It was great fun.”
“What stopped you?”
“They found bugs or something and the health board shut them down. Ended up going to the GMA that’s not that far from here.”
"That’s where we went for years.”
Maisie points to the other end of the beach.
“You see that woman down there? The one in the pink two piece?”
“Looking like she needs pushed back in the water? Aye.”
“That’s where we used to sit. Archie and I would sit with a sandwich while the kids would splash away at the water’s edge.”
“Speaking of, we should dish this out. Tea for you?”
“No. Coffee. Two sugars.”
“You don’t normally drink coffee.”
“No, but my Michelle drinks it. I’ve gotten into drinking it since she’s been staying with me. Plus I’ve been carting it since we got off the bus so I’m bloody drinkin’ it!”
“My Beth drinks it. I stayed with her during Covid and I’m still going to drink my tea.”
Maisie pours coffee from a flask into a cup as Annie pours tea into another.
“How was it with her over Covid?”
“She was with me while her husband and kids stayed at theirs. I liked it. It was nice having someone else in the house but I think she missed her family.”
A slightly younger gentlemen arrives on the beach.
He raises his hat to the women.
“I literally doff my cap to you ladies.”
He lays a towel on the sand and rests his hat onto it.
“You normally see ladies of your age down here. I like to see it though.”
“We don’t normally. We saw it was busy over at that end of the beach so we decided to come down here for a change.”
The gentleman starts unbuttoning his shirt.
“We were just talking and the last time we were down here was back in 1972. Can you imagine?”
“I think I can.”
“Would you like a cup of tea.... erm I don’t know your name.”
“It’s Davie. I’ll respectfully decline your tea. My wife’s got us both on some new year’s health kick. Means no caffene, no chocolate, no fatty foods. “
“You can still have a sandwich right Davie? Salmon. Tinned but it’s still good.”
“I’ll wait until I’m settled and I may take you up on that.”
He drops his trousers and sits them in the pile with his hat and shirt.
“I used to sit over there with the wife and the kids myself. I came over here.... must have been the turn of the century when the kids moved out. Never looked back.”
“It is much quieter over here. I’m not usually one for the quiet but it’s nice to be away from the screaming babies.”
“Aye.”
Davie drops his underwear and adds them to the pile of clothing. He sits on the towel. Masie realizes his... attire and points it out to Annie.
“Mammy daddy!”
She turns to Davie
“The hell are you doin’?” You’re all naked!”
“Aye I am. It’s a nude beach.”
“Mother of Christ!”
“I think it changed in the mid 90’s. There’s a sign at the top of the ramp.”
Masie and Annie start gathering their things together.
“I’ll have a look at that as we leave.”
Masie actually hands a sandwich to Davie as they head up the ramp.
“You’re welcome to stay!” Davie shouts after them. “First time for everything! You might love it!”
We don't hear what Annie shouts back due to a gust of wind.
“It’s nice to feel the sand against my toes Anne.” Maisie says to her friend as they arrive at the beach.
“Aye. I can’t remember the last we came up to this end of the beach.”
“Think it was 1972. You were with your Jim. I was with Archie.”
“Oh yeah. We were at that caravan park that had just opened. Och! What was the name of it again? The Prestwick something?”
“The Pearl of Prestwick. If I remember right we went back there with the kids for about the next ten year or so. It was great fun.”
“What stopped you?”
“They found bugs or something and the health board shut them down. Ended up going to the GMA that’s not that far from here.”
"That’s where we went for years.”
Maisie points to the other end of the beach.
“You see that woman down there? The one in the pink two piece?”
“Looking like she needs pushed back in the water? Aye.”
“That’s where we used to sit. Archie and I would sit with a sandwich while the kids would splash away at the water’s edge.”
“Speaking of, we should dish this out. Tea for you?”
“No. Coffee. Two sugars.”
“You don’t normally drink coffee.”
“No, but my Michelle drinks it. I’ve gotten into drinking it since she’s been staying with me. Plus I’ve been carting it since we got off the bus so I’m bloody drinkin’ it!”
“My Beth drinks it. I stayed with her during Covid and I’m still going to drink my tea.”
Maisie pours coffee from a flask into a cup as Annie pours tea into another.
“How was it with her over Covid?”
“She was with me while her husband and kids stayed at theirs. I liked it. It was nice having someone else in the house but I think she missed her family.”
A slightly younger gentlemen arrives on the beach.
He raises his hat to the women.
“I literally doff my cap to you ladies.”
He lays a towel on the sand and rests his hat onto it.
“You normally see ladies of your age down here. I like to see it though.”
“We don’t normally. We saw it was busy over at that end of the beach so we decided to come down here for a change.”
The gentleman starts unbuttoning his shirt.
“We were just talking and the last time we were down here was back in 1972. Can you imagine?”
“I think I can.”
“Would you like a cup of tea.... erm I don’t know your name.”
“It’s Davie. I’ll respectfully decline your tea. My wife’s got us both on some new year’s health kick. Means no caffene, no chocolate, no fatty foods. “
“You can still have a sandwich right Davie? Salmon. Tinned but it’s still good.”
“I’ll wait until I’m settled and I may take you up on that.”
He drops his trousers and sits them in the pile with his hat and shirt.
“I used to sit over there with the wife and the kids myself. I came over here.... must have been the turn of the century when the kids moved out. Never looked back.”
“It is much quieter over here. I’m not usually one for the quiet but it’s nice to be away from the screaming babies.”
“Aye.”
Davie drops his underwear and adds them to the pile of clothing. He sits on the towel. Masie realizes his... attire and points it out to Annie.
“Mammy daddy!”
She turns to Davie
“The hell are you doin’?” You’re all naked!”
“Aye I am. It’s a nude beach.”
“Mother of Christ!”
“I think it changed in the mid 90’s. There’s a sign at the top of the ramp.”
Masie and Annie start gathering their things together.
“I’ll have a look at that as we leave.”
Masie actually hands a sandwich to Davie as they head up the ramp.
“You’re welcome to stay!” Davie shouts after them. “First time for everything! You might love it!”
We don't hear what Annie shouts back due to a gust of wind.
