A Vintage Goddess

     Panic sets in! There's no way he was going to make it to work on time if he attempted this wave. Even with this fact sinking in, he knew that the temptation would win him over. It always did. He began to paddle frantically.

     Left. Right. Left. Right. His expert hands cut through the water with ease. Johnny had been coming to this spot almost every morning for the last three years. It was always deserted. He enjoyed the solitude, as well as the chance to have his choice of waves. One more wave, and then I'll take off. He was looking over his shoulder to see what his best choice would be. As he faced forward, he noticed something out of sorts back on the beach. 

     At the exact point where the water crashed on the shore, a thick layer of clouds were forming. This was confusing to Johnny because as he looked up to the sky, he confirmed that it was blue sunny and cloudless. Therefore, it was highly unusual to have fog hovering over the sand.

     The fog appeared to be spilling out from one point on the ground, moving much like an erupting volcano. Johnny sat up on his board, alert and forfeiting a promising set coming toward him. What is that?! He squinted his eyes, trying to see if there was a source for this mysterious covering. 

     Almost in response to his question, a sudden flash of the brightest light he had ever witnessed forced him to shield his eyes completely from the beach. He threw his arm over his eyes in surrender. He heard something that sounded like a crack of a whip and he was blown off his board into the choppy waves. It took him a moment to get his bearings and find the surface. He aimed toward the light, not too concerned because he had excellent swimmer's lungs. His mother always called him her little fish. 

     His board popped up beside him, as he was tethered to it by his ankle. He grabbed it, giving it a quick inspection as best as he could with the waves tossing them about. Thank goodness it's safe! He shot a glance toward the shore where there was a sudden break in the billowing fog. 

     He could just make out the silhouette of a woman appearing inside the thickest point of the fog. He squinted his eyes trying to get a better look. She was slowly approaching the water, seemingly unaware of his presence. Johnny considered calling out to her. Something in his gut urged him to wait before announcing himself to this mysterious visitor. 

     Her feet finally met the water's edge. She didn't hesitate a moment before gliding into the beckoning sea. Waves seemed to settle around her as she waded out further. Her eyes were cast downward the entire time, as if trying to see what was living under the surface. She was clothed in a tattered garment, resembling a Grecian toga. Her hair was incredibly long, cascading down over her shoulders and back. She had a shapely figure, her curves accentuated with the swaying of her hips back and forth.

     "He...hello there," Johnny finally uttered awkwardly in the direction of this vintage goddess. She stopped abruptly and looked up at him. A smile started to form on her lips. "Is everything okay, ma'am?" He was concerned, but mostly baffled by what he just witnessed over the last two minutes.