Genre Shorties Prompt -- Week 115 : By The Sea...

You MUSTuse the words:

stars
stripes
flag
country
independence

...but DONOTin any way write about the holiday.

Can y'dig it? Shore ya can

Your story may be serious or lighthearted or as silly as you like so long as it is 100 or fewer words.

By The Sea Shore

I have a sandcastle near the water’s edge. It has a moat. It is its own little country, independent of all the other kingdoms on the beach. I make turrets with my yellow bucket and trace stars along the sides. My flag, made of seaweed, is wrapped around my orange-stained Popsicle stick and floats on waves of air that whistle by as Mommy sits in her beach chair with blue and white stripes holding her romance novel pretending to read.

Took a hint from "shore" and "dig it"... Pavlov's dog you say?

And no, that last sentence isn't too long! That's the way five year olds talk, don't you know!

Comments: 19

Tracy Fabre Jul 3, 2012, 11:01pm UTC

And what a sweet little bit of nostalgia this was! Pretty good for a five-year-old. :-)

Sam Henderson Jul 3, 2012, 11:11pm UTC

Mommy is a linguist at MIT and the romance novel she's holding is by Jane Austen... don't you know. Have a Star Spangled 4th! ~ Sam

reply to this comment

Alice G. Jul 3, 2012, 11:59pm UTC

Loved this. I can almost hear the child telling this in run-on sentences. I was wondering about the "romance novel" but since mom is the highly intellectual one she is, her five year old would probably know about that and "turrets". Very imaginative response to the prompt.

Sam Henderson Jul 4, 2012, 8:42am UTC

Her mother would say, "I love the stars on your turrets. That is so creative! Okay, Mommy is going to read her romance novel while you finish putting the seaweed touches to your Popsicle stick."

Have a great 4th Alice - we're going tubing!

reply to this comment

JOHN BECK Jul 4, 2012, 6:27am UTC

Excellent response to the prompt, and fun to read in its own right.

Sam Henderson Jul 4, 2012, 8:43am UTC

Thanks much John. That's kinda where I wanted to be today, on the beach buidling castles or in my lounge chair reading Austen.

You have fun watching the fire works!!

reply to this comment

jeanne clarke Jul 4, 2012, 7:58am UTC

I miss being a kid on the beach....

Sam Henderson Jul 4, 2012, 8:44am UTC

THOSE were incredible memories weren't they?

Enjoy today's cookouts Jeanne!

jeanne clarke Jul 4, 2012, 8:53am UTC

I will, Sam....I will go around to every cookout in the neighborhood and take something and enjoy the cookouts ...kidding - we're gonna grill burgers, hot dogs, chicken...steaks! Oh yeah!

Sam Henderson Jul 5, 2012, 1:22pm UTC

Ha. That's exactly how I wrote it, isn't it. Too funny. I didn't see you around for ours though! Maybe next year?

jeanne clarke Jul 5, 2012, 1:43pm UTC

are you in Baltimore? If not, then send directions! I'll follow the sparklers...

Sam Henderson Jul 5, 2012, 6:07pm UTC

Sailboat is in Baltimore Marine Center at Lighthouse Point. Actually, take that back, on blocks at Pier 7. But, alas, I'm not there.

jeanne clarke Jul 5, 2012, 8:56pm UTC

that's okay - I'll take the sailboat Pier 7 here I come!~

reply to this comment

Pam Brittain Jul 4, 2012, 1:39pm UTC

Wonderfully creative, Sam.

Sam Henderson Jul 5, 2012, 1:23pm UTC

Hey Thanks, Bluebird!

Barbary Chaapel Jul 31, 2012, 10:02pm UTC

I agree with Pam, Sam. :)

Sam Henderson Jul 31, 2012, 10:40pm UTC

Thanks Barbary... it means a lot that you dropped by.

reply to this comment

Ms Lee P. Jul 6, 2012, 9:22pm UTC

Cute, cute story. I could almost smell the ocean breeze.

Sam Henderson Jul 6, 2012, 9:27pm UTC

Thank you from one Genre Shorties Gal to another!

reply to this comment

Genre Shorties Prompt -- Week 115 : By The Sea Shore

8 people recommend this post

Comments: 19

Join the Conversation