All In Buckets

Each grain of sand glistens with a momentary sparkle falling into the spade, the handle held by a small hand. The grip formed on the spade’s handle suggests a lack of control showing no elegance other than an abrupt dive of the spade into the fine granules reflecting beams of hope to scoop more sand,an action necessary to procure the raw material required to form a foundation within his castle.

A castle filled with the rooms too many to count where all family members are welcomed, smiles among many and stories from holidays, news of developments being built in their surrounding area and what scandal dominates national headlines or among the local parish.

A castle only right for a happy home, so much sand all within reach of the spade, bucket after bucket can be filled, no limits on where it can be poured, left to set and solidify among the other settlements. No questions asked from such young eyes grasping for more granules patching any cracks born from the placement of the bucket to the reveal of the castle structure, cracks appear small and manageable, no family members can see his oversights sitting away in the distance.

With plastered over mishaps hidden from prying eyes, a small kingdom forms in front of the young boy, he smiles to no end as the sun beams high above, a feeling that is nothing short of ecstasy breathing in a moment so perfect reality would only be so cruel as to intervene.The harmonious out of tune of seagulls echo in the background from the start of the boy’s construction, his focus intertwined with seagull’s hunt and calls for food swooping over and back between the small sand banks and sea.

After placing the final bucket, the quintessential home is forged ready for future generations to run, cry, laugh, argue and reminisce among all corners of these castle walls. Proud and ready to admire what has taken so long to build, the boy's focus is drawn away hearing a call for his attention, looking up only to witness his father beckoning him to come away. Outcries from the seagull’s dissipate in the background, replaced by the violent sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore.