Ficlets

Fisherman Jumps

The beach was cold, as it always is in the middle of december in New Jersey. I saw maybe three people i could sketch. A woman with her young daughter looking out at a navy base. A fisherman browsing the waters with a pole but no bait with him. And a middle aged man with his dog straining to keep up the labrador. I knew if i sketched the woman and the daughter it would look plain and not interesting. The middle aged man was moving to fast so that leaves the fisherman. I was at least 20 yards away from the fisherman and he seemed oblivious to me so i felt comfortable staring at him intently for a while. I saw him smile turn around look me straight in the eye and laugh. A happy laugh a one that dwells deep in the chest and comes up bubbling with character. He turned back around dropped his pole and jumped off the pier still clothed. I looked around for help but no one was there. I was alone and he was splashing beckoning me into the water.

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