Susana stands stiffly, watching people run to the water’s edge, and return.
Each picks up a stone or bottle fragments polished by wave-driven sand.
Some discover Japanese glass floats in blue or green.
Others find pearls tucked inside broken half-shells. And squeal.
They have no idea they are stealing when they slip her treasures inside their backpacks.
Still, their ignorance makes her angry.
She conjures wind that whips sand, and rocks and driftwood into an angry funnel
that dances down the beach and swallows them whole.
Susana smiles in the silence and slowly bends to collect what is left behind.

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Comments
  1. neilmacdon says:

    I liked the description of the sea’s treasures (and the fact that the goddess of the seas was called Susana)

    Liked by 4 people

  2. James Pyles says:

    The collector collects the collectors.

    Liked by 3 people

  3. Susana Is quite a stern taskmistress.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. I like your idea of a Goddess with a short and hot temper. We need more badass women in power. Ok, maybe not but, I was amused.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I’ll think twice the next time I pick up a shell on the beach. =) A very creative story in so few words!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Wow.. hell hath no fury like a woman who has something stolen! Eh? Well done! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Alice Audrey says:

    So unfair of her to steal a life for the petty, unwitting theft.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Iain Kelly says:

    No messing about from Susana, not even a warning! Lovely use of the prompt.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Guess I’ll have to give up beach combing. It was kind of fruitless here in Arkansas anyway.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Joy Pixley says:

    You’ve conjured up quite a powerful water goddess there – one that doesn’t put up with strangers stealing her stuff, good for her! I was struggling to see the connection to the photo, though. Were you thinking that the beach is like her museum?

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Dale says:

    She is a tad possessive, is she not? And guess a warning just isn’t strong enough 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  12. draliman says:

    Well, she takes no prisoners! Nice one 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Delightfully different and a refreshingly different take on the image.

    Click to read my FriFic tale

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Sandra says:

    I can’t help feeling that Susana’s temperament is decidedly ungod-like, but hey, who knows how you’d feel after breaking onto one beach after another for eternity. Pretty vivid imagery here, Alicia – I liked it a lot.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Dear Lish,

    I like how you went from the art museum to the beach and a testy goddess. Imaginative and well written.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

  16. pennygadd51 says:

    Well done for a really original take on the prompt! I think Susana is a very believable goddess. She has a responsibility to look after her patch of coastline, after all – and the power to do so, too. I like your descriptions of the finds made by visitors.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. plaridel says:

    oh my! you can’t mess with a goddess like susana. she has no mercy.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. lisarey1990 says:

    Very original.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. A vengeful creature here. I’ll send back the broken milk bottle by post. Let the courier take their chances.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. granonine says:

    Lovely picture of exactly what happens on any beach. Except I never before thought of it as stealing 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  21. gahlearner says:

    Eek, she would have punished me, too. I love to collect stuff on the beach. Great story, Alicia, what a great character Susana is.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Sarah Ann says:

    Susana’s not having a good day. Loved the excitement of the seekers, and really felt Susana’s upset and anger – great images.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Oh the rage of a goddess is not something to take lightly… Sad when you don’t know you are breaking the rules.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. StuHN says:

    Really nice take on the prompt. It’s always interesting how we all can interpret the same thing in such different ways.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Eeeeeekkkkk. Wouldn’t like to encounter her!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Lynn Love says:

    Love your vengeful goddess – and so many are, or so we’re led to believe. No one sees they’re stealing until it’s too late – but perhaps they’ll learn now she’s shown her power. Beautifully told as always Lish

    Liked by 1 person

  27. kirizar says:

    The sibilant beginning reminded me of the old tongue twister: “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

    Liked by 1 person

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