From the fictional series Uprooted
Rebecca and Robert slept well sharing the
three-quarter bed; although, Robert kicked like a mule during the night. As soon as the children woke up they were of
one mind with one thought and it was going to the BEACH! After all, why else would anyone even want to
be here so far away from home?
Fortunately, daddy agreed and they all loaded up to go. The small group traveled down the 17th Street Causeway heading east. Daddy explained that the gigantic area where lots of ships were parked was called Port Everglades. He said that ships and boats “docked” not parked. There were so many of them docked at the port.
Fortunately, daddy agreed and they all loaded up to go. The small group traveled down the 17th Street Causeway heading east. Daddy explained that the gigantic area where lots of ships were parked was called Port Everglades. He said that ships and boats “docked” not parked. There were so many of them docked at the port.
They crossed the Intracoastal Waterway. Uncle John told them that it was like a
highway for ships and boats. He said
that it had been dug so that they could go north and south safer during war
times or when the ocean was too rough.
The group passed long low sprawling mansions unlike
the large two and three story mansions found in North Carolina. Soon they rounded a curve and saw the Jungle
Queen a huge paddle wheel boat on the left as well as a fleet of commercial
fishing boats. In behind them was the
Bahia Mar Marina where lots of beautiful boats--daddy corrected--“yachts” were
docked.
Uncle John pulled into a parking space and there
before them stretched, as far as the eye could see, the Atlantic Ocean. To get to the water the group ran across a
wide beach covered with sand. The
children ran into the water and they were surprised how warm it was. Even though Uncle John called the water
“calm” there were small waves that were tremendously fun to jump and play in.
Aunt Lou and Uncle John sat on a bench partially shaded
by palm trees. They both confessed to
the children that they didn’t like sand.
Robert remarked to Rebecca that it was hard to understand how anyone
could not like sand. Aunt Lou had bought
both of the children buckets and spades and they built what were called “sand
castles” before running back into the water.
Mama went into the water to about her waist. She didn’t want to get her hair wet. Daddy ran and jumped and played in the water
with the children just like the children.
Rebecca was so glad to see him being so happy and so relaxed. He was a veteran and he had a bad nervous
condition, but you couldn’t tell it on this hot sunny morning.
Much too soon for Rebecca and Robert, they were told
that it was time to go home. Rebecca had
decided she loved the Atlantic Ocean and she loved Fort Lauderdale Beach. Where else could one look just south of where
they were and see a hotel shaped like a ship?
Where else could one stand in the water looking north seeing beach seeming
to go on forever? Aunt Lou said that
Fort Lauderdale had seven miles of public beach!
But more important, where could one stand on a shore
of a beach looking east and see nothing but ocean? Daddy said that it was like that all the way
to Africa. Imagine that. The very waters that were lapping at Rebecca’s
feet may have one day been lapping at the feet of a little girl in Africa
looking westward towards America. The
very same water.
©Patty F.
Cooper, Elizabethton, Tennessee, June 28th, 2014
All Rights Reserved
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