The Main Character

What a great day, I think to myself as I sit under an umbrella on the beach. The sun is warm, the breeze is gentle, the sea air calming. There’s a bit of sand clinging to my skin, but it doesn’t bother me.

The children are chasing each other up and down, chubby little things in bucket hats and swimsuits, screaming and throwing handfuls of sand at each other. They build little mounds at the shore’s edge and squeal with delight when the water rushes in to knock them over again. I sit under the umbrella, droplets of water trickling down my body.

The children’s mother calls them back for a snack. They come hurrying up the beach with an awkward gait due to the sand. Mum hands them paper plates loaded with fruit and half a cheese sandwich.

Sticky fingers reach out to grab me. The sun fades as I disappear into the child’s mouth, my existence winking out between a burst of sweet flavour and a toddler’s crunch.