The Sentinel had stood guard at the beach for as many years as anyone could remember.
In times of war, his rock steady gaze remained fixed on the horizon searching for enemy sea craft. When the hot sand was full of bathers, he scanned the beachscape for thieves, pickpockets, and other disturbers of summer's tranquility. If a beachgoer fell ill, he would quickly spot him or her and instantly summon aid.
But there is
no longer war, crime's eradicated, and illness has been abolished.
Yet the Sentinel still stands guard. What
does he watch for? What is his mission?
"There! 100 feet out, to
the left! An eight
year old peeing in the ocean!"
The Sentinel had stood guard at the beach for as many years as anyone
could remember.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No matter how long I stood sentinel over this post, I could not get it down to the preferred length of 100 words for the Fabulous Friday Fictioneers. So I am presenting arms herein at 131 words, with picture prompt above and story based upon it below.
When you're ready to stand at attention and scan the horizon for the other Fictioneers, fix your rock steady gaze right here.
Well, I'm headed for the beach; gotta go to the ... ooops! That's a bit of TMI, I guess. I'll be on guard for you guys next week.
A loyal sentinel. and you present this wonderful world where there is no war, no illness and no crime. An apt take for the photo
ReplyDeleteThanks! But there is still ocean pollution apparently.
ReplyDeleteYou'd think, if they've ended war, crime and illness they might have worked out how to fix elderly urinary tracts. Unless the perp was doing it on purpose. Shocking! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's an eight year old here, but who doesn't do it on purpose?
DeleteOff with his head, darling!
ReplyDeleteYes, but not that head.
DeleteTo pee or not to pee, that is the question. One must adapt to the changing job market. BTW, would you let us in on the secret to abolishing illness? That would be really useful.
ReplyDeletejanet
It's the pee in the ocean water.
DeleteThis makes me think of all our ridiculousness in the world today, punishing children for crimes of nature, such as it were.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's how deep and full of meaning and social commentary my writing is!
DeleteActually all I was saying is that there's nothing more for the Sentinel to do in the new perfect world so somebody now get him a life, PLEASE! Nothing more.
Is it pollution......or is it organic? Might help the seaweed grow...
ReplyDeleteDid it for years and nothing ever grew. Not sure about the seaweed either.
DeleteEwww.... Could it be that the Sentinel is just jealous because he doesn't get a bathroom break?
ReplyDeleteI often used to wonder if it would be possible to invent a pee-detector for the local pool. Very funny Perry, as ever.
ReplyDeleteI got a guy for you, needs a job. Kind of a grim disposition though. Thanks, Sandra!
Delete"We don't swim in your toilet, please don't pee in our pool...er ocean, as it were."
ReplyDeleteAt least your sentinel is adaptable.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Actually he isn't. The point I didn't make so well is that with no serious problems left in the world, he still can't leave his post and is now relegated to reporting with all urgency kids peeing in the ocean.
DeleteI tried to be a wee bit (Hey! Cute pun!) along with funny. Got some kinks to work out in that.
I thought the water felt unusually warm for some reason.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you'd blame it on an eight year old (yes, I can), when we all know it was a sixty-two year old man. Was it on purpose, or just a bladder control issue. Never mind, I don't want to know.
Guess where I'm peeing now? I didn't know you like pina coladas!
DeleteIf you ever tried to find a public restroom in Stockholm I would call that a permissible crime... (come to think about it there is one of the few right in front of the guard)
ReplyDeleteWell, then there is purpose to his life after all~!
Deletethe pee pee watcher ! funny
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Pee Pee's Playhouse!
DeleteMade me smile, Perry! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteScott
Mine: http://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/friday-fictioneers-62113-romantic-fiction-pg13/
Thank you, Scott! The damn sentinel isn't smiling though.
DeleteFunny as always, Perry. I love your sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amy. Bumble onward!
DeleteAfter all these years, your sentinel still has amazing eyesight (good sense of smell as well?)--fun piece.
ReplyDeleteHa! Hope for his sake it's more the eyes ...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if that would be good or bad, to live in a world where police only worry about the eradication of small crimes. This seems like something that would be on the Simpsons.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll be pleased to write that episode of the Simpsons!
DeleteA true sentinel never questions his purpose, he only fulfills his role!
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, sir!
DeleteBTW, he just caught you peeing too.
i shudder to think what the gun is for. ^^ absolutely funny. you come up with stuff others never would've thought of
ReplyDeleteThat thought about the gun is something others never would have thought of. Maybe it's a smell eradicator?
Delete