Mark's Pages

October 31, 2003:

Gray sand beach. Young people around a fire ring. Beer, shouts, laughter. The voice of the surf.

Young woman, bikini top, frayed cutoffs, heavy green mascara. Smiles to the skinny boy with the far-away look.

"If you say no this time," she tells him, "you'll never see this luscious body again." Poses, arms out, as if to say, "It's all yours, if only..."

He says no. She keeps her promise. They write each other now and then.