Finding Harry

5. Finding Scissors

We come to a stop at the other side of the beach than the one I had found myself at last night, it took exactly three hundred and ninety-five seconds to get here. I know because I counted in my head to keep myself distracted during the agonisingly awkward car ride, also to stop myself from starting a shouting match between me and my Grandad.

"it's the one called Goldie's Goodies, Have a nice day Harry" My grandad says keeping his hands fixed on the wheel but gesturing with his head towards the massive pier standing in front of us. Different shops, restaurants and kiosks on both left and right sides and I can just about see an array of roller coasters standing tall at the very end of the pier.

I get out without saying a word, grateful to be out of that car I take my dreads out of the bun on my head letting them hang free, the fact I had kept my head outside the window the entire drive has actually helped dry them immensely but they're still damp, not enough to annoy me though.

"Wait" My grandad calls after me and I turn round reluctantly walking back to the car.

He hands me a brown bag out the drivers side window "Lunch, leftovers from last night". I take the brown bag from him unsure of where he got it from, was it already in the car this morning? gross.

Inspecting the bag closely as I walk away, I sniff it and it smells great, not like gross stingy, kept in car food so I shrug it off. I reach my free hand into my pocket and check the time, 6 am, god it feels illegal to of been woken up this early.

This is the time you should be stumbling home after doing a handful of stuff that you would never ever admit and passing out in your bed, if you make it there in time. I then realise like an idiot I forgot to charge my phone last night Twenty three percent, I have twenty three percent to get me through today.

Looking around I notice that the only other life on the pier are a few other people unlocking stores and setting up store fronts, none of which are the Goldie's Goodies. I spot it a few steps away from me, located half way through the pier.

The sign at the top of the shop is adorned by a cartoon fish hanging out of a fishbowl waving. I can already tell that no one's in there, the lights are off and theres no obnoxious sign sitting out front trying to egg people inside that all other open shops have standing front and centre.

My theory is confirmed when I reach the glass door and fail while trying to pull, then push and then pull again, the door open. I look through the glass and see stands full of beach equipment, racks of blue, pink, green and yellow bikinis and bathing suits on the left side of the shop.

The right wall is completely covered by a self serve pick 'n' mix stand with all different types of sweets and chocolates, The checkout station is at the back and is decorated by hundreds of seashells stuck to the front of it, and a goldfish swims around a fish bowl that sits next to the cash register.

I roll my eyes, turn around and sit down on the floor leaning against the glass shop window. I can't believe not only was I forced to wake up at five in the morning, get told I was getting a job the same day, to only get here and for this guy I'm supposed to be working here with to be late. Whatever, another second he's not here is another second I don't have to do anything.

Fiddling with the hem of my t-shirt I raise my face to sky with my eyes closed, letting the surprisingly hot morning sun warm my face. My mind goes blank with only the slight itch and the back of my brain and I enjoy the peace, I can hear the waves lapping softly against the support beams underneath me and seagulls squeaking while flying around.

The crisp salty smell of the sea brings back memories of a day I had forgotten, The last one of a handful of good days I had spent with Mom. I was thirteen, she had taken the day off work and pulled me out of school. We had spent the morning together at the aquarium and she had been nice, really and truly nice, not once did she pick at my appearance or condescend me.