Those Shells and my Angels

Lauren O'Keeffe

I looked up, and the shadow of the high sharp rocks stopped me. Then I turned around and faced the rest of the beach. Panic flooded in. had I gone insane?

Just that morning, I had woken up all excited. I was looking forward to having a day at the seaside with my family. When we got there we played fun games like bowls and volleyball. I was good at neither but I didn't care, it was fun. The beach was blissful and warm, very sunny and people all around were enjoying themselves. Usually I hardly ever got to go to the beach, especially in Portugal: The rippling waves and sparkling sand looked beautiful; it was a lovely place to be.

After a while we got bored of our games and splashing in the sea, so I tried to find other things to do. The suggestion of collecting shells seemed like a good idea. I would find as many of the prettiest ones that I could.

I started searching just by the sea near our tent, leaving my parents and sister to do whatever it was that they were doing, probably building yet another giant sandcastle. I was as happy as anything because there were so many beautiful shells. They were extraordinary, so different, and cool to touch. I found it incredible how nature could develop such amazing things. I wanted them all.

I got so focused on picking up a vast amount and hurried along the seafront to find better ones. It was very busy but I wasn't worried about that. Also as I moved along there didn't seem to be as many kids rushing by and jumping in the water.

When my hands were full and I stood up properly from my crouching position, I had to think for a moment to remember where I was, but I had no clue. I had no idea of the time either, or how long it had been since I was back at the tent. I walked back from where I had come from, but didn't know what else to do. The beach just seemed unrecognisable. What had happened to it?

I was quite frantic by this time. I tried to calm down but was still afraid. The whole area didn't look like a paradise to me anymore. It seemed bare, and the creepy slithering seaweed looked like snakes trying to catch me.

I was noticing more of these unpleasant aspects of the beach; the jagged rock face, glaring at me in a hostile manner, the thought of huge sharks in that deep ocean scared me, the slightly cold wind made me shiver more than I already was because of the fear. More thoughts went through my head, like 'Will I ever find them again?' I was only four. 'How will I cope on my own?' Thinking about the future made me anxious. I felt as if the whole world was against me.

Some people around could abviously see that I was upset; a few women tried to talk to me but I just couldn't understand them. They were all Portuguese. I just wanted to get away and find my family, so avoided them.

I was sick with worry and distressed that I was unable to tell anyone. I felt quite exposed. All I had was my swimmers and those pretty little shells grasped firmly in my hand, almost for comfort of something to cling onto, like I was holding onto hope. It was all I had.

Another lady was strolling towards me, and I was frightened that all I'd get from her would be some Portuguese gobbledy-gook, but she looked British, and really friendly as well. I remember how everything about her was so smooth. Her calm face, her character and personality. She was like a glimmer of hope.

She asked me my name, tried to cheer me up and told me that we would find my family. This worked; I did calm down and very much believed what she had said to me. I held onto her warm, soft hand, and we walked on the powdery sand together which moulded so easily underneath our feet. It felt like only about two minutes before we found a lifeguard. This lady could do anything; she was magic, a brilliant angel. We didn't even need to talk to this lifeguard because almost straight away it was her that spotted Mum. I was surprised- she didn't know what my Mum looked like! Unless she was perhaps this angel.

My Mum then also saw me and came rushing over. She hugged me tight, in an embrace of comfort. All of those terrifying thoughts drained out of my mind and relief took over. I was dismayed to what had happened. I was happy, but still in a state of shock. Everything brightened up from then on and it was strange to hear how it had been from my family's point of view. Dad's worst thought was that I'd drowned. Mum was worried that I'd walk too far and get really lost.

My six year old sister Grace just wanted to find me so that I could play with her again. You always learn things in life. Some lessons you forget, some you don't. A decade later and I can still remember that fear, the lady from heaven and the shock. Everything is still so vivid and I think this is mainly because I learnt so much that day at a very young age. All you need is determination, positive thoughts and sensibility. And don't be too greedy and pick too many shells.

I left those shells lying on the sand though. Those spectacular pieces from nature belonged there and would look much better by the beautiful seaside than they probably would back somewhere in my room at home. It was as if I was leaving a part of my old self behind; the selfishness and unaware behaviour I had. That past had to stay there with those shells.