It was our game. It was what we always did when we went to the beach. You wouldn’t believe the things we’ve found over the years – a life-sized plastic giraffe’s head, a wooden carving of Michael Jackson, and gloves, so many gloves you’d need hundreds of hands. Caps I can understand, but gloves?
What can I tell you? It was a beautiful morning, she was awake early, barking, scratching at the door. Didn’t even stop for breakfast. Thank God.
As soon as we were off the walkway she went straight to it. The smell, I suppose. Man’s boot, foot still in residence.
***
This piece of writing was inspired by the picture prompt provided by Renee Heath for the Friday Fictioneers writing group. Each week writers from around the world attempt to write 100 words (or so) and this week I’m a little over.
I’ve been looking at tumblr and came across this amazing photographer taking pictures of things found on the beach. Click here to take a look at the pictures.
I’d love to receive comments and constructive criticism. Click here to read other people’s stories inspired by this picture or to join in.
I really enjoyed this. I wish I could say so much, so clearly with so little. Great job!
Thanks very much. Glad you liked it. It’s always hard keeping to around 100 words.
Gloves on a beach? Amazing! Enjoyed this and the switch from the everyday banter to the grim ending was masterfully crafted. As I would have expected. I always look forward to your offerings.
Thanks Sandra. And I always appreciate your feedback.
I like this. Such a good last line …
Thanks Sal. Glad you enjoyed it. Always nice to have a Twitter friend visit.
Loved this, each aspect of the story revealed a bit at a time: the dog who collects odd finds on the beach with his master, and the twist ending–the oddest find of all. Very clever, very well told.
Thanks Jan. It just kind of came out like that, but I’m pleased it worked.
it would have been funny if you wrote “foot included.” but i know it wasn’t really about the comedy. well done.
Thanks Rich. One day I will have a go at comedy. One day…
Echoing those comments already given. I think finding one shoe is even more disconcerting. Gloves I can believe, having been on the Jersey shore at Thanksgiving!
janet
Thanks for your comments Janet. Glad I got it right with the gloves. Where do they all come from?
Maybe people stick them in their jacket pockets but only get one in while the other falls unnoticed. That’s my best guess.
Not lots of people sailing single-handed then? 😉
The foot still in the boot is what sticks with me. I wonder if it was foul play?
Or a football / soccer foul??
Since you wrote this in like a 100 words , how can the praise exceed that word limit! Exqusite and heavenly 🙂
Thanks for your kind comments. Really pleased you enjoyed it.
Love it! You do find the oddest things on the beach (did you ever see that weird news story about the giant Lego man washing up in Florida? Very strange…) but glad I’ve never come across a foot! (or any other body part, for that matter, haha).
I didn’t know that lego man story – I just looked it up. Seems like it was probably an artist’s stunt. Not sure who put the foot in the boot on the beach – accident or foul play?
I have certainly found seashore shoes but never with a foot inside luckily. I love this story.
I wonder if anyone has ever actually found a life-sized plastic giraffe’s head? That’s probably more unusual than the foot…
“a life-sized plastic giraffe’s head” I can’t even imagine what that would go to, other than a toys r us costume. The boot thing caught me totally off guard. How deliciously morbid. I love it.
The giraffe’s head is a tricky one…perhaps from an outdoor performance of The Lion King… on board a cruise liner?? I love the words ‘deliciously morbid’ and I may steal them for a future story. Thanks for commenting.
Captivating story. And feels so real with finding those things at sea shore and then some,, until of course the last line.
Give me a hundred gloves every time rather than a foot in a boot. I’m pleased you enjoyed it.
Fabulous writing with a gross twist at the end. Excellent.
And I was eating lunch whilst I wrote it! Thanks for your comments.
Ewwwww!
However foot in residence is an awesome phrase.
But..Ewwwww!
Hope you weren’t eating your lunch whilst you read it. Thanks for commenting
Lol..no lunch is saved.
I wonder, was a body included with the foot? Nice twist in the end. I enjoyed it! 🙂
It’s got to be somewhere I suppose. But that’s another story. Glad you enjoyed it.
you’d need hundreds of hands… I love that line! I’m going to remember that one. And a mystery at the end… nice 100 words.
You can have it – it’s yours – use it somewhere, and I’ll use one of yours. Line swapsies. Glad you enjoyed it.
I did!
Dear Claire,
your story reads like a teaser intro to my favorite TV show NCIS. Nice job. And I enjoyed the link to the photos as well.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle. I don’t know that TV show – I’ll look it up.
Another great piece from you, Claire. When I read it the 2nd time, I felt the extra gratitude of having avoided breakfast. Not sure my stomach could cope with a lone foot-in-boot…. 😉
Thanks Joanna. Empty stomachs are always best when finding lone feet…
Hi Claire,
Maybe she could sniff out some Spanish doubloons. It is a good thing she skipped breakfast. Ron
Now that would be useful… Thanks for commenting.
The foot still inside oh my. Nicely written.
Thanks. Glad you liked it.
“a wooden carving of Michael Jackson” I love that. Great story
I was just trying to think of the most random things! Glad you enjoyed it.
“and gloves, so many gloves you’d need hundreds of hands”– a favorite line.
Thanks, glad you liked it.
Terrific imagery!
Thanks. I think that’s what it’s all about – creating images in the reader’s mind.
You did it well!
Ominous.
Yes, it didn’t go well for the foot owner…