I found a sheltered spot on the beach and laid out my beach mat and towels. After arranging my bags and bits I let the dogs off and walked down to the water. The dogs followed me into the water, today was the hottest it had been for ages. Even the dogs were glad of the water lapping over and around them. As the dogs swam and chased each other in and out of the sea, I watched other visitors and their children playing and enjoying this beautiful day. The sun was so hot, time to remove some more clothes, no work for a whole day, I've looked forward to this day off for so long. Taking my shirt and shorts off, I stood on the sand looking out to sea, applying sun cream and wishing that I could stay here forever. Trixie and Ben were still running up and down the beach chasing the waves as they broke on the sand. Some children were throwing sticks into the sea for them and it seemed to me that nothing could spoil today. I laid on the towels and got myself comfortable, the sky was a beautiful blue not a cloud in sight. The occasional gull flying overhead, the laughter of small children, the barking of dogs playing in the sea. No, nothing could spoil this day.
I awoke suddenly, I don't know what woke me just that when I did, something was missing. I sat up and looked about, surely I hadn't been asleep that long. Where were they? My dogs were no where to be seen. I jumped up and walked up and down the beach looking and calling for them, I asked the children who'd been playing with them earlier if they knew where they were. I asked the grown ups if they had seen where they went. I drew a blank with everyone, no one had seen them leave the beach. Normally I would have panicked, not today, today I knew where my beloved pets, or at least, I had an idea where they had gone. The dog warden called them the Houdini's, a few months ago the escaped from my garden and the warden brought them home. I reinforced the dog run, but they managed to get out again. Over the last couple of weeks they have escaped about 4 times, every time the warden bought them back or some one phoned to say they'd found them. So today was not an unusual event. I took my mobile from my bag and rang the obvious numbers to report the dogs missing. I sat on the rocks next to where I was laying, scrunching the sand between my toes.
A tall shadow passed over me and I looked up. The sun was behind him, so I had to shield my eyes to focus on his face. “Hello” came the voice. Even with blurred vision I recognised who it was. “Hello, what brings you to the beach? Aren't you supposed to be working?” I smiled up to him. It was the waterman and with that a light brown dog bounced over to us. “Sorry, get down Buddy” he said in a firm voice, the little dog sat immediately. “You have him trained well” I grinned. “Yes, this is my lunch break and I bring Buddy with me to work, so I thought I'd come down here with him for a quick walk” Buddy sniffed at my hand as he sat beside his master. “Wish mine were” I frowned. “Where are they? I didn't see them as we came onto the beach” he turned and sat next to me. “They've run off the little buggers” I slipped my deck shoes on and stood up to put my shorts back on. “I'm about to start looking for them now”. He looked about and said ”I hope you don't think I followed you down here? I could help you look if you like? That was it, not only was he attractive, big and had lovely eyes. He was kind and helpful too. “ Oh yes please, if your sure you have time? I think I blushed as I packed my stuff back into my bag.
