SUMMER CHILLER CONTESTANT
Melanie opened the twin glass doors that led to the balcony. It overlooked a beachfront where foamy waves crashed constantly, one after the other, upon the rocks and sand below.
She had gone to the small island of Jeju against the wishes of her family. “What happens if the North Koreans decide to test another bomb?” Her mother protested vehemently. She was always the worrier.
Melanie had done her best to quell her family’s protests, but she had gained little ground. She had to go against their wishes. Besides, she had a job to do. She was a travel show host, after all. The island was an amazing tourist attraction. Its natural beauty, consisting of various waterfalls and caves, was only rivaled by its amazing statues that were carved over two hundred years ago.
Melanie shook those thoughts away. She knew better to think of work while she had a day off. The film crew would not arrive for several hours. It was time to relax. There was no need to sell herself on the island’s merits, or to convince herself that it was safe. She had already done that for hours on the plane trip.
She stepped over to her stereo and placed her favorite Frank Sinatra CD in the disc player. She liked to be surprised, so she pressed the ‘random’ button and walked back to her balcony. She inhaled a deep breath of salty sea air. Then Ol’ Blue Eyes sang to her.
The summer wind, came blowin’ in – from across the sea…
She leaned on the railing and watched couples, hand-in-hand as they strode the beach looking for shells. A flock of gulls swarmed a garbage can after a man threw a hotdog wrapper into it. A windsurfer was bobbing in and out of view just beyond the rocks. Stray kites glided through they sky like colorful dancing birds.
Like painted kites, those days and nights – went flyin’ by.
Jeju is indeed a paradise, she admitted. Everyone seems so happy here.
Her eyes traced the horizon. A thin line divided the upper edge of the ocean and the bottom edge of the solid-blue sky. The day was nearly perfect.
Then it happened.
A bright flash, just on the edge of the horizon nearly blinded Melanie. Her eyes felt like sandpaper against her eye lids. She shielded her eyes to see what looked to be a gray wall barreling toward her.
And I lost you, to the summer wind.
The gray wall, accompanied by an all-encompassing roar reached Melanie and Frank. She tried to scream, but her lungs filled with superheated air. She, along with half of Jeju, settled in tiny, dusty particles of sediment on the sea floor.
Weeks later, the clean-up crew showed up in their radiation suits. When they reported back, they swore that they heard a faint voice in the scorched remains of the island. Though nobody gave the claims any merit, they swore – and still swear to this day – that somehow they heard Frank Sinatra in the passing breeze.
My fickle friend, the summer wind.
©2009 Brian Barnett
