[Summer Contest Entry 2012] My day at the beach

At the behest of my family, friends, and other people from the online world who think they know me, I leave my comfortable and cozy apartment and depart for a place I once knew in my childhood. In years of long ago I once knew of a place called, “outside” and “the beach.” Since the years that I've become an adult I've long forgotten such concepts and spent my vacations in the ways that I would want. I've moved away from my parents, am employed, and pay my taxes like a good little member of society, so should I not be able to spend my free time in any way I wish? Had I a stronger (or lazier, depending on your point of view) power of will I'd simply relax in my chair next to my computer the entire summer, but other nagging voices got the better of me. Thus I return to a place I once visited many times while a child; the beach.

After I step out of my car the chilled breeze kisses against my cheek, the nostalgic scent of salt infiltrating my nose, a ruthless summer sun above assaulting me with it's rays both merciless and comforting, and I immediately question my resolve. I want to go home, repeats itself in my head in a voice that's very much my own. I have games I've yet to beat, newly released manga I've yet to read, and a back-list of torrents that aren't going to watch themselves. While it might be pitiful in comparison, they tell me to go outside to the beach but with whom am I supposed to go? A single man flirting ever closer to 30 going to the beach by himself must make an even worse sight than the one previously mentioned.

Well, flirting with members of the opposite sex might not be so bad, had I a wing man, a decent body, or an ass that wasn't as white as the sand. It's a great and beautiful day, gorgeous women in skimpy swimsuits, tanned musclebound men doing a better job at picking up chicks than I could ever dream, and then there's me. A hopeless battle before it even began. I should have stayed at home.

Then again, like hell I'm going to waste the time and gas money it took me to get down here. So I roll out a blanket, plot down, and open my ice-chest full of beer. If I must suffer through this indignity, I might as well be buzzed/drunk/completely sloshed out of my mind. Should I wake up sometime tomorrow in a jail cell I'll consider this pilgrimage a success.

For a moment I consider my surroundings. So vividly I remember this place from when I was a child. This particular stretch of beach was so fond to me because of it's privacy. It's in a cove with no paved or otherwise normal access-way. Also did this mean there was no lifeguards, police, or established rules like at other beaches. In the past, that also meant there was no people. I guess the secret is out as it's now crowded by many. If I looked hard enough I'm sure I could find drug use, illicit sexual acts, and other activities that aren't morally or legally accepted. I try not to let these things get to me, but they still somehow do. Well, at least I have beer.

Catching my eye, and probably only the eyes of someone as observant as I, something rather large appears in the distance. Adjusting my glasses to no avail, I simply can't distinguish it until it gets closer, and closer it is coming. To me it seems to large to be a boat or something similar, but I remember hearing on the news that a huge pier washed ashore up north in the state of Oregon not that long ago. From the devastating tsunami that rocked Japan, this lone pier had been adrift for over a year and made it's journey across the ocean. Though a product of my over-active imagination, I almost hope this thing in the distance is something similar.

Caught up in my own delusions, I fail to realize the speed at which this “thing” is traveling. While I lay back and pop the tab on my alcoholic drink fermented in yeast, that “thing” approaches at a rocketing speed. Once I hear the scream I realize that I'm no longer the only one to have discovered this “thing.” Now I rise my head to find what greets me.

While I thought it was big, I'd never imagine it'd be this huge. I wouldn't even believe it'd cast a shadow that would nearly engulf the entire cove. At first I couldn't believe what I saw, but then again who could. After looking at it in full, I check my ice-chest to once again to see just how many beers I've had. It's only been one so I can't be that drunk. Amidst the screams of fear and panic I take a look again.

Towering far higher than my second story apartment was a creature seemingly ripped from my very nightmares. To give a name to such a creature would akin it to such mythical monsters as the Leviathan, Kraken, or some other beast from the stories of Jules Verne. Countless appendages sprout from some massive cone-shaped head, each with these kinds of suction pads that almost make them look like tentacles. Actually, that's exactly what they are.

This monster is well within range of the beach. Those slimy appendages race to the shore spearing into some bodybuilder whom was unlucky enough to be in it's path. Had the tentacle been sharp he would have been impaled, but suffering no kinder a fate he's instead hurled into the air by the force of the blow. In less than a flash he's lost into the distance, and I know no matter where he lands he isn't going to survive that fall. Sucks for him.

If the beach wasn't panicked enough, now it's complete pandemonium. People are running and screaming, but this seem only to agitate the monster more. More of those tentacle descend onto the beach, and the one already here lashes out again. The other beach-goers are being crushed, knocked around, and otherwise dispatched by this cruel monstrosity. Actually, it seems rather discriminant in it's rampage. Only the men are being slaughtered. What a curious creature.

As for me, I know I don't stand a chance. Against some giant monster who's reach extends further than I would ever care to sprint, there's no way I could escape. If I ran now I'd only die tired, so I elect to simply watch until my inevitable final moment. I pop open another beer.

However, curiously enough, doom doesn't descend upon me. After all those self-absorbed meat-head juice freaks are destroyed, the monster's focus turns on the women whom to this point have been previously unharmed. I think to myself, this should be good.

They attack, but with nowhere near the same cruelty as it did with the men, in a matter of speaking. Women are constrained by their legs, torsos, and any other way they can while still being handled with enough care to ensure their lives. As they flail about in the air, their loose and flimsy bathing suits release themselves from the women's bodies and flutter to the ground like the purest flakes for snow on a chilly winter morning. Needless to say their bodies are revealed as they were on the days they were born. Those tentacle coil and wrap themselves around the women's bodies and reach into their deepest neither regions. Some of their screams have turned into moans.

This is almost like-

“This is almost like-” someone voices the exact same thoughts I was having at that moment.

Just then we first notice each other. There's fear in his profile, same as there is mine, but there is also a deeper understanding that we somehow both also share. Both of us might have escaped demise for the same exact reason, which could have been our lack of panic. I recognize him. Even though we've never before met, haven't had contact once in our lives, I recognize the kind of person he is. I also recognize the shirt he's wearing.

“That's one professional piece of poultry,” I comment on the chicken wearing a tie that's printed on his shirt, “I like his style.”

A sharp eye comes across me, almost like a coded message was delivered. Deciphering it's meaning, we come to a mutual understanding. He nods to me. I nod to him. As the last two survivors whom still possess their freedom, there is something I feel must be done.

“Want a beer? Pull up a chair.” I invite to him.

“Don't mind if I do.”

This trip might not be so bad after all.

How is it that no one has decided to comment on your work? My goodness, it's like finding a gem in all the chaos!

First, I will say that it took a while for me to adjust to your writing. Paragraphs of thoughts and character detail took me for a loop. It's written in first person, but even more so that it's written as kind of a monologue, am I right? It's very unique in that you're writing is very good in keeping the tone of the monologue. As a result, it does take a while for me to get into the story, but the more I read, the more the story draws me in. Like a snowball effect!

The grammatical errors are at a minimal, so I have no complaints there.

You never step out of the realm of the character's mind, and I think that's just amazing. You keep within the vocabulary of an everyday person, you have a natural flow, the thoughts are natural; your writing simply eases into the reader and is a great selling point.

And, the best part (for me) was that you tell the story oh so very naturally. You're very slick about it. Come on now? A tentacle monster?! I was just like 'what the hell?!' I didn't see it coming, and that makes your story just that much better. You never make it obvious. And, when the reader realizes it's a tentacle monster, your writing is fliud enough for me to think that it's absolutely natural. Not to mention your sly addition of Fakku, it felt so natural too! Sometimes people force the 'Fakku' into their story, but you... it's like it belonged there.

Honestly, other than the grammar errors here and there, or the slow intro/beginning, I thought this was a really solid piece of writing. The fact that it reads like a monologue (Or... at least I read it that way) amkes up for any problems that might have risen had it been just a normal story.

Great work; it was a great read.

This one line was absolutely fantastically written, " As they flail about in the air, their loose and flimsy bathing suits release themselves from the women's bodies and flutter to the ground like the purest flakes for snow on a chilly winter morning."

Brillent work. You're writing style is very unique and detailed.