Of all the places in the world I never thought I would be here feeling the cold splash of salty seawater on my feet, and seeing the way it drifts in and out almost hypnotizingly. It reminds me of my childhood. All those days in the summer holidays by the beach in a tiny old cottage. But now that was finished and all I had was my dog Sam, a little Jack Russell, who always seemed to be smiling no matter what the weather. Over the years I had learnt a few things from his optimism. I was still standing in the cold water watching the kids running away screaming (even though inside they were laughing) from the tide. It was time to go home. Sam was getting tired and so were my feet. Luckily, my house was only 5 minutes from the beach. My house was a small bungalow with three rooms - a kitchen, sitting room and bedroom. It was all I needed. You are probably wondering why I live alone. I will explain. Three years ago my beloved wife Gemma, who was my Gem, got cancer. You know I had watched so many movies where there was always someone who recovered after having cancer. I wasn't as worried as I should have been. When she died I was hit so incredibly hard. Anyway, three hours after I came home I was sitting at the fire with Sam on my lap when the doorbell made its usual ear piercing sound. Why couldn't people just knock like in the old days? I walked to the door when I spotted a thin-boned boy who looked about six years old. Behind were three boys who looked about four years older than him. One of them asked if I would like to donate some money to the Boy Scouts. I had been in the Scouts as a young boy. So I handed him a fiver, and told him not to take advantage of old men. They ran off. Suddenly I saw them push the little one and then say, "Ha, ha you thought you could save yourself little Ben". And suddenly I understood. The big boys had been chasing the little boy and he rang my door to save himself, but the big boys caught up to him in time and then tricked me about the Boy Scouts. They were going to pay. I ran out and shouted at them as the blood from Ben's nose started trickling down his shirt. The big ones ran away and I picked the little one up and took him inside. Let's get you cleaned up. As soon as he was clean he said thank you and was about to run out the door, but I stopped him. I asked where his parents were and he said, "Heaven". OF COURSE, he was an orphan. A thought came flashing through my mind. I'll adopt him! And I did. Now he is 25 and I'm a Grandad.
