Beach Tracks

Cash- A Guy Always Ready To Go On A Boat

They call me Cash . . . .because that's my name. The best sounds in the world are the seagulls and the sounds of the waves crashing against my boat when I'm on it, alone. When it's just the sea and me-wait, should that be the sea and I? It doesn't matter, whenever I'm out on my boat wearing my polo, boating shorts and those weird shoes that a lot of people think are moccasins, that's when I'm really who I am. I can be me on the open seas, sailing high tides and having the adventures of a lifetime. All that's missing from my life is a beautiful girl to share it with. All of my life I've sailed alone . . .I mean, when I was older I sailed alone . . .sometimes, when my father wasn't looking. It doesn't matter, nobody needs to know that I don't actually really take the boat out by myself. All that matters is I'm good looking and I have my shades. And now, I have the one thing I have always been missing- a girl. See, my best friend fell in love with the new girl in town, kind of like he always does, but this summer, she actually got him using his words again instead of grunts. Gauge is a great guy, but as his best friend, I am even better. This new girl, Breeze has a best friend who I've known for a quite while; she's a ginger, which means she has no soul, but this time, I decided to go for it and go for the soulless redhead. Ariella is her name. She likes to dress as a mermaid and she really hates my shades. I mean that's what she says and usually slaps them off my face, but deep down, I know she digs them. The next step in our relationship is to get her on my boat.

    "I am not setting foot on this thing with you," Ariella says impatiently, waiting for Cash to step off of the boat.

    "I'm coming," Cash says, climbing down from the stern from the docked boat, "I just thought all girls wanted that moment on the open seas where we do the Titanic pose and I scream I'm on top of the world."
    "No, Cash, for the hundredth time, you want that moment," Ariella reminds him, "now come on, we have work to do. We have to get Breeze and Gauge back together." Ariella walks ahead of him.

    "Wait, I'm confused," he calls out, "did they actually break up?"

The Next Day . . .

    Gauge knocks on the wooden door of Aunt Vanessa's beach home and is surprised when Wendy answers the door.

    "Oh, Gauge," she smiles, feigning shock, "what a surprise to see you here, today."

    "Uh, yeah, I, uh, got a text from Breeze saying she wanted to talk to me," Gauge tells her, "hi, Wendy."

    "Come in, silly," she invites him in. Gauge walks in the home and looks around.

    "I, uh, haven't been in here too much," Guage admits, looking around, "it's uh . . ."

    "You know, as I always say, this house is bitchin'" Wendy says with a giggle. "Here, I was just getting ready to have some tea," she says scooping a mug from the coffee table. She drops a Tide Pod in it and hands it to him. "Stay right here," she instructs him, "I'll run right upstairs and be right back." Wendy skips happily to the stairs and runs up them. Gauge takes a seat on the sofa, staring down at the tea she gave him with the Tide Pod in it. This reminded him of the Tide Pod she had given him at the hospital. He sits the mug down and pulls it out of his pocket. He begins to bring to his mouth, opening up to receive it. Right as he is about to place it on his tongue, Wendy calls from the top of the stairs.

    "Guage, I'm back," she calls out. Gauge jumps, quickly pocketing the Tide Pod and turning to see Wendy standing at the top of the stairs, wearing only her bathing suit. Guage's eyes nearly pop out of his head when he sees her two piece.

    "Wendy," he says standing, "you look . . .wow."

    "Oh Gauge," a smile beams across her face, "this old thing? I just threw it on." She begins to walk down stairs and halfway down, she slips and slides down the rest of stairs on her butt. Gauge runs to her.