by Betty
MAIN MALE CHARACTER
Name: Gavin Melville
Age: 26
Occupation: Electrician
Likes: football
Dislikes: tennis
Something else about him: is five feet eleven inches tall, and a teetotallerMAIN FEMALE CHARACTER
Name: Gloria
Age: 29
Occupation: Dental assistant
Likes: food
Dislikes: work
Something else about her: tall and slimA PLACE
Be fairly specific:
Scarborough Beach, Sunday morningGENRE OF STORY
i.e. is it a romance, a mystery, a western, a science fiction, a fantasy, a thriller, a comedy or something else?
A comedyWHO IS THE AUDIENCE?
Are you writing for children, young adults or adults?
AdultsAND JUST FOR FUN ….
Pick
a colour: red
something to eat: pizza
an item of clothing: skirt
an animal: tiger
This is a report on the happenings concerning Gavin and Gloria Melville on the beach at Scarborough last Sunday morning. Well it isn't really a report. I don't have to report it to anyone. It's just my understanding of what happened.
I was on the beach myself that morning and I know the Melvilles slightly. Gavin is an electrician and has done some work for me. He wears a T-shirt with "High Voltage" printed on it, except during winter when football colours predominate. I don't know who he barracks for, but he appears to know all about the players in the league and manages to get to the grand final in Melbourne every year. What I find strange is that he's teetotal. That seems really odd for a football fan.
Gloria is a dental assistant at the clinic I attend. Most of what I know about them has been gleaned from the conversations between Gloria and Anna, my dentist, when I've had my mouth wide open with various instruments and fingers inserted. For instance, I know that Gloria will be thirty in a month or so and thinks she might be pregnant, but is not looking forward to the years of work a baby produces. Gavin, however, loves kids and is really only a big kid himself, being only twenty six. Gloria used to play tennis, but gave it up because Gavin hates the game.
Whatever happened to Women's Lib?
Anyway, not much of the above has anything to do with what happened last Sunday. They're a good looking couple, tall and slim, and live a couple of blocks from me. I see them occasionally and they say "Hi," in passing.
It was warm and sunny enough for me to decide to walk to the beach and read a book. I found a nice spot and got myself comfortable before seeing that Gavin and Gloria were lazing in the sun not far from me. She was eating chips. I have noticed her before, walking along eating chips and other junk food. That is not a good example to set for her patients, but she has beautiful teeth and does not appear to have put on weight. I took a good look at her. If she was pregnant, it did not show.
I became absorbed in my book and oblivious to my surroundings.
"I want my tiger."
Gavin looked up from smothering Gloria with sunscreen lotion to see a very young boy looking at him. "I don't have your tiger."
"I want my tiger."
"Is it a big one?" The boy nodded. "Which way did it go?" The boy pointed north.
"Where's your mum?"
"I want my tiger."
"Your mum will know where your tiger is."
"I want my tiger." This more shrilly.
Gloria butted in. "Oh for heaven's sake! Gavin, take the kid to the lifesavers and ask them to make a lost child call."
"I want my tiger."
"Okay. Let's go find that tiger." Gavin swung the kid on to his shoulder and added, "Which way did it go?" The boy pointed in the same direction as before, so Gavin headed that way, away from the lifesavers.
In the meantime, Claud and Marion Smith were fast asleep on their beach towels. She was obviously pregnant. They had had a sleepless night attending to young Tony. He could be a brat without even trying. As usual on a Sunday morning, weather permitting, they came to the beach. As usual, they told Tony he could not bring his plush tiger with him. As usual, they brought his red bucket and spade, which kept him amused for all of two minutes, but even Tony was exhausted and they had all fallen asleep.
A cool breeze made itself felt.
Gloria stood up, shaking sand from her sarong and looked around to see where Gavin was.
Claud and Marion awoke with a start and panicked when they could not see Tony. Marion screamed "Tony!" which roused everyone within hearing range, including me. Everyone stared at her. She looked around desperately. "Has anyone seen him? He's only just three. Where has he got to?"
'Oh God,' thought Gloria. 'Is that the kid looking for his tiger. Where's Gavin?' She could not see him.
One of the lifesavers was trying to comfort the Smiths, promising to search for Tony and make an announcement on the P.A.
Gloria came over to me. "Have you seen Gavin? A kid came to us and I thought Gavin was taking him to the lifesavers, but I can't see either of them."
I stood, shaking my head, skirt and book and looked around. There were plenty of people. A little boy would be hard to find.
A siren sounded to clear the water and an announcement made that a three year old boy was missing.
Gavin and Tony were at the northern end of the beach. By this time the tiger had been forgotten and Tony was enjoying himself throwing sand at Gavin. "Uh, oh," said Gavin. "I think someone's looking for you."
"No," said Tony and started to run away, but Gavin picked him up and carried him towards the lifesaving station.
Tony was not at all appreciative and started screaming. He had been enjoying himself so much with this tall stranger. Gavin had been enjoying himself too and had completely forgotten that he should be looking for the boy's parents. He found it extremely embarrassing awkwardly carrying a stiff, screaming child along the beach.
Claud and Marion rushed towards him. "Put him down," yelled Claud. "What do you think you're doing? Leave my child alone." Gavin was very glad to put Tony down. Tony stopped making a racket and started to run away, but was apprehended by his mother.
Claud would not be placated. "You stay away from my son."
"With pleasure. You should look after him better." That was too much for Claud. He charged at Gavin, who sidestepped and tripped Claud who sprawled on the sand. Tony laughed and clapped his hands.
"Daddy fell." Claud sprang up and would have charged again, but one of the lifesavers grabbed him.
Marion intervened. "That's enough. We've got Tony and he's fine."
"How do we know?"
Gloria spoke up. "Of course the kid's okay. Gavin wouldn't hurt a child - or anyone else for that matter."
After a while Claud seemed to calm down, the lifesavers left and the onlookers drifted away.
"You know, darling," said Gavin, "I don't think I'm ready for fatherhood yet. Let's grab a pizza and go home."
"I want my tiger."
* * * * * * *