A Misunderstanding

The morning was especially bright and windless. Having no noisy crowd made it divine. That was why she loved to sunbathe in the morning. The sky turned fiercely blue in the afternoon, almost white, and the sand as hot as a frying pan.

Would be nice to have a dip, somewhere in the shallow. Yes, that would make a good start for her … well, eleventh day here. You count days remaining before the date when you have to leave, before your return ticket. The day is looming, dull and implacable. It spoils every pleasure. You stand here, run, cry or laugh, but still there it comes. And the sea. If you close your eyes and press your cheek against the beach you can hear rhythmical soft thuds. You can well fit them into any motive playing in your head, any mood whatsoever. The sea has a full set of moods, and then he is never scared at the inevitability of the last day. What a romance, what poetry! But how disgusting it is to swarm with other swimmers in the water. Some of them were already concentrating trying to occupy space far apart first. However, they have to stop being choosy pretty soon. She shook her wet hair back from her eyes and straightened the cloth to make herself comfortable. The sun was getting hotter. And it went on and on to ascend, following its scheduled way steadily, triumphantly. It sent more or less equal share of warmth to everybody. She pulled up her knees and rested her face against them. Sho,…sho,…sho… the sea went. Perhaps, it is too late, perhaps in her age… She had not noticed the years passing. Where was the error? Strange thing it is to be thirty. You are not at home with youngsters anymore, but at the same time you don’t wish to admit you are no longer young. Indeed, you are not at home with yourself. This is something you don’t choose. She took a handful of sand and let it trickle through her fingers, experimentally.

She ran a comb through her damp hair. Making yourself tidy always has a comforting effect. Even if there is no one to appreciate your tidiness. She ought to have her hair settled tonight, she has got to make it look like that lady’s in the dressmakers' window. The prices are mercilessly high. Hell, she is definitely tired of those beaches full of ugly bodies and screaming children and men who seemed to care for nothing but a can of beer.

There now! This one approaching is young and athlete-shaped, his face has got an intelligent and slightly exasperated expression. As if he were tired of everything. His step is somewhat undecided. His uncombed hair down his forehead, probably been swimming. Looks like planning to make her acquaintance. A shiver of excitement runs through her.

The man came up and sat down heavily on the cloth beside her without saying a word, his arm almost touching hers. She waited for him to start. However, he didn’t seem to be in a hurry. The silence was growing uneasy, so she thought it would make sense to break it. She was going to say something to start a small talk when he stretched himself close to her in a most careless manner. Her color rose beneath the tan of her cheeks.
- I have always liked men to be self-confident and all. But isn’t that too much of a good thing?
He popped himself up on an elbow.
- Go ahead, fire it away, he remarked without looking at her.
He tapped an impatient thumb against his teeth.
- I thought it was up to you to start.
He leaned forward resting his forehead on his hand. His muscles jerked nervously.
- What the hell are you driving at? You are being unbearable today, you know.
- What I am driving at? How funny! You should know better than ask such stupid questions.
This was really beyond any limits.
- I wish you would give up this habit of nagging me all the time. You are making a fool of me whenever you have a chance to. Now, get up. We’ve got to go to the chemists’. I’ve lost my glasses in the sea.