Open the Gates

Anything Unusual?

Slam!

"I'm back! But I need to go back out." I tried to close the door with my foot and almost slipped. Zen and Kevin's heads snapped up, but then they returned to their fish puzzle on the ground.

"Why do you have so much food?"

"Granny Shea. But we have to scout the beach; the Shea's have a lot of damage in their shop and home."

"Ok, let us finish the edge and we can go. Put all that in the fridge."

"That'll take way too long. I'll just put the food away and we can go."

"You know, we could finish a lot quicker if you helped." Zen muttered.

"Not really."

"Why would you say that?" I watched as he tried to connect an edge piece with a corner piece and scowled. Poor Kevin looked lost.

"There's 500 pieces! Now get ready and let's go."

"What about the food?"

"I'll put the food away while you get ready!"

"I'm ready." Kevin piped up. Zen snorted.

"See, the only one not ready is you."

"I will come over there and destroy that puzzle." There was no response and I put the food in the fridge in peace. Eventually I was able to pull the two away from their puzzle and out the door. "Keep a look out for anything unusual."

"...How do I know it's unusual?" Kevin asked, spinning around while we were walking up the wood pathway to the sandy beach.

"If you think there's anything that doesn't belong on the beach, let us know. If you think there's any damage done to the beach, let us know. If you see someone suspicious-"

"Let you know." He interrupted me as we reached the end of the sand dunes and the beginning of the beach area.

"Well, all I see is sand...sand...life guard chairs that need repainting...sand...oh look!"

"What?" I tried to see what Zen was pointing to.

"It's the ocean. Can I go back now?"

"...no."

Many minutes later

"Whyyyy?" I could practically feel steam bursting from my ears as Zen began complaining again. Kevin simply continued to collect seashells from the damp sand we were walking along and I kicked some cold ocean water onto my brother.

"Because Granny Shea suggested we do this, and you know what happens if you don't follow her suggestions." I scowled. "Now start acting like the 24-year-old man you're supposed to be."

"But I don't wannaaaa!" He groaned and kicked water back at me. "And besides, we have Kevin here collecting seashells like a child."

"Adults can collect seashells." I argued. "Granny Shea collects them."

"Yeah, but she makes them into jewelry."

"Is this unusual?" Kevin interrupted our argument and held up a piece of green metal. Instead of the usual dull metal we might find from people's trash, it shimmered and almost seemed to be vibrating in his hand. In other words...

"Yes, that is pretty unusual."

"Is there more around?" Zen asked with a frown. "It kind of gives off a dangerous vibe..."

"Really?" Kevin turned the metal over in his hands. "It seems...familiar to me?" He furrowed his eyebrows and held the metal up to the sun.

"That's concerning. Maybe we can ask the Smythe's or the Shea's if they've seen this before." I mused.

"Who's that?" Kevin asked without taking his eyes off the green thing.

"They're the oldest family businesses in town. They have been in business for five generations now, which is like, ten years?" I tried to explain.

"Let's not do math right now. My brain is fried from the sun. Can we go now?"

"No." I almost growled at Zen. Instead I grabbed Kevin's arm and dragged him back towards our home.