After finishing their breakfast on the patio, Adam picks up the dishes to take inside. She knows that he is just piddling around avoiding what he needs to do by picking up the dishes and cleaning them. It is a refreshing change, so she lets him do it.
However, it's just a sign that he is further withdrawing. I know what he needs. A good stroll through the neighborhood. She walks over to him and puts the dishes down. "Let's do that later. The sun is out and I thought we would take advantage of what God has to offer."
Walking hand in hand, the swell of the ocean air is prevalent. The wind whips through Ashley's long hair. As they stroll through the harbor, the couple spot a boat mast rising from the deck. They glance from side to side at all of the many sailboats and yachts parked on the docks. Flags flying on top of each boat. Some boats idle while still tied down to the deck. They even hear dogs barking.
Each one lined up like a boat parking lot. "Captain's Pride" Adam says as he reads the back of a mega yacht. "I wonder what he is proud of?"
"Maybe it's a lady."
"Look how much that boat costs. I'm sure it's something else that he is compensating for."
She slaps him on his shoulder, "Adam!"
They look at another boat, about a twenty-five footer. Adam grabs her hand as they walk closer. "Sunnyside of the Beach". He chuckles, "Not very original now is it?"
"Well, let's see you come up with a name?"
He thinks about it. "Adam's Apple." She looks at him like he hits a sour note. "Writer's Plight?" She shakes her head no and smiles as if she is laughing at him. "Oooh… how about "Adam's Original Sin?"
"I don't know. It has so many hidden meanings." They saunter along towards another section of the neighborhood called Bayview Wharf. They enjoy this walk along the harbor side shops and cafes. Adam makes a comment about how the strange that all of the signs in the window have a light blue coloring. "Even that striped fabric on the awning is sun-faded."
Strolling along an uneven dirt pathway between rows of smiling shopkeepers. Ashley, dazzled by the colors, picks up a one of the items. She can feel the weight of a glazed figurine in her hands. Just browsing, she puts it back on the shelf. One of vendor gets aggressive in his feeble attempt to sell her some of their wares. The more she says refuses him, the more he will not take no for an answer. Finally, they had to walk out of the shop.
Walking along the boardwalk, they spot a candy shop. Ashley says, "My sweet tooth is acting up." Adam buys her some of the sweets from the vendor.
While slowly eating their morsel, they walk along the beach with their shoes off and the cuff of their pants rolled up. The hot sand burns Adam's feet. He quickly runs into the crashing waves to cool off. Then it rolls away. As they walk along it, they leave behind wet paths of footprints through the sand, just below the tideline.
"Ash, do you remember when we were at this very beach and you said that if we put our feet in the sand, we will return?"
"Yes, I do. And it worked!"
As they stand on the shore, a wave comes in and plashes them. Ashely screams. "It's cold."
"What do you expect, it's the Pacific."
The ocean water fizz of foam sweeps ashore, engulfs them. A giant patch of seaweed catches on to their feet. Adam freaks out over the seaweed touching him.
Ashley laughs at him. "It's not going to bite."
"I know that," trying to act like the tough guy. "It just feels creepy when it contacts the skin." He pushes it off of him.
They continue walk along the beach, Adam walks a bit closer to the waves. Ashley follows him. The tide flows in, and they walk back to the sand. As they walk out of the water, Adam says, "Have you ever noticed that when you march in the opposite direction against the wave, it seems like we are mime walking in place."
Ashley looks down. "You know… you are right."
They see a big piece of seaweed washed up on the beach. "Ooh, what's that?" Says Ashley.
"It's seaweed again."
"Are you sure? It looks like a squid." She points to it. "Look, you can see its head."
"That's just a bulb from the seaweed." He reaches over to show her.
"Ooh, don't touch it, it has sandflies."
"I am not going to. Just pointing it out."
"I thought you were scared of seaweed."
"I'm not scared of them… I just don't like them touching me, that's all. It gets all wrapped around you and feels slimy."
"You're such a contradiction," Ashley said.
****
After having their fill of the beach, Adam and Ashley head on back to their neighborhood. They walk towards the pier and towards the lineup of vessels along it. There is a boat in their neighborhood they have not seen before with an unusual name on it. "Scrimp Dancer."
She turns to Adam, "Okay, oh wise seer with knowledge beyond the cosmos…"
"Now you are just mocking me."
"What does that mean?"
"Hmmmm." Clique like, he puts his hand on his chin. "Maybe he dances with scrimps."
Ashely pushes him away. "Not very insightful."
"Maybe he likes scrimp a lot. Or maybe one of his many wives was nick named scrimp."
"That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard," she said.
"Look," Adam says, "There is someone on the boat. Should we ask him?"
"No… we'll be cordial."
"How else will I be?" They both walk up to the dock and greet the salty passenger of the Scrimp Dancer. "Eye matey."
"Stop it Adam. It's not nice."
"My name," the man says to them, "Is Karl Jensen." He reaches out his hand. "But, my friends just call me Jensen."
"My name is Adam… um… my friends just call me Adam." He shakes his hand. "This is my lovely wife Ashely."
"Nice to meet you Karl."
"Jensen, ma'am."
"Just Ashely will do."
"Jensen, you look like a fisherman. Let me guess… you catch scrimp."
"No, I catch crabs."
Both Adam and Ashley laugh. "I told you it was because of a woman."
Jensen looks confused. Then he looks at the side of his boat at the name pasted on it. "Ah, that… I use to be a scrimp fisherman. I bought the boat from an old timer who wanted to get rid of her. He warned me that the others might crack down on me if I crossed over into their territory."
"What others?"
"The other scrimp fisherman. There is a code that you don't dip your pole in another man's pond."
Adam and Ashley look at each other again not sure whether to laugh or not. Jensen eases the tension. "That one was a joke." They all three laugh. "But, seriously, when the others found out that I was going to catch what they feel is their crop, they forced me to stop."
"Forced," Ashely replied.
"Well, this is not Treasure Island. They didn't shake me down or nothing. I was informed that crabs were abundant and no one wanted to put in the trouble to catch them because they didn't want to get bit. So, I figured… what the hell. What do you have to lose… besides a finger or two."
He holds up both hands. "I am proud to say I still have all ten. They haven't got me yet those bastards."
Their first impression of Jensen was that we was a tough old bird, but had an inner sense of morality.
As they talk about the community and the people in it, they walk along the pier. They hear the barking in the background. "What's that?"
Jensen says, "That's the seals."
"Seals?"
"Yes, there are plenty here. I guess they feel safe from sharks and hang out here away from the predators."
When they walk around the corner, they see a bunch of rocks by the dock with a ton of seals of all sizes lying on it sunning themselves. "How cute," says Ashley.
"They are bigger than I thought," Adam says. "I always think of the ones in the circus balancing a ball on their nose. These guys look like they couldn't even be bothered."
Ashley pulls out her phone. "Go in front. I want a picture of you both."
Jensen hesitates. Adam looks at him, but does as he wife says. she puts the phone up to her face. "No good. Get closer."
He sighs, but moves a bit closer. Jensen says, "Not a good idea."
"Ah," Ashley says, "They look harmless."
"If you insist," Jensen mumbles.
Adam very carefully walks up to them. He almost next to the seals when one of them barks out at him to get away. Adam jumps ten feet. Ashely laughs as Adam runs away as fast as he can. She has never noticed before his fear of wild animals.
"You have to respect them," Jensen said. "I was fishing out in the deep one late afternoon dumping out my bait for the day when one of them jump up and grabbed my fishing pants and pulled me into the water."
"What did you do?"
"I fought back. Eventually he let go, but left a reminder. It was a good thing I wore rubber pants, or he might have gotten me deeper." He pulls back his shorts and shows them the scar.
"Now I make sure to give them whatever I have at the end of the day," Jensen adds. "We became fast friends."
"We? How do you know it's the same seal?"
"I can tell one seal from another just as I can tell one person from another."
Adam says, "I guess they are not as cute up close as they seem."
"I tried to warn you," Jensen said.
Adam and Ashley bid their ado to the friendly scrimp fisherman. They hope to see more of him. They continue their walk throughout Harbor Shores. As they do, they cannot help but notice another neighbor who also has a dog. Does everyone have dogs? Adam responds, "There is so many dogs at our apartment complex, it's like living at a kennel."
Ashley had to hold back laughing out loud.
This one dog strutting by is a foo foo poodle dog. She… at least Adam hopes it's a she… is more friendly than Bruno.
The owner is a spry older woman with plenty of pep. Kind of like an old flower child from the 60s. "Come now Ruth." Adam reaches down and pets her. Adam and Ashley introduce themselves.
The elderly lady does likewise, "By the way, my name is Fifi."
Adam had to hold back his laugh because she looks like a Ruth and the dog looks like a Fifi. They tell her that they are new and are exploring the lay of the land. Fifi say, "Well, you must let me show you around. At first, they walked around the complex.
Fifi took them to the old part of the community that has long since been abandoned. Despite the bad condition, the area is very charming. "What happened here?" asked Ashley.
Ever since the pandemic it's like they just let it go. This used to be a thriving hotel. And the restaurant was the finest in town."
"What restaurant?" asked Adam.
"Here, let me show you." Fifi takes them around the back in a section that looks condemned.
Adam asks, "We won't get in trouble will we?"
"Here? Nah! No one has taken any sort of interest in this for a few years. It is a shame though. You can still see the opulent to it."
They are just in awe how everything seemed to be in its place like someone said, "Last day everyone" and they left it as is.
Ashley gets goosebumps. "It reminds me of the Titanic."
"How so?" Adam asks.
"Well, look at it. It's as if the place is frozen in time. Just like moments before the Iceberg hit." She walks closer to the dirty window. "Here Adam, get closer."
"I don't think it's a good idea Ashley."
"Nonsense. You heard Fifi, no one comes around here anymore." Just as Adam does, a salamander runs from a rock. He jumps. "Don't mean to tell me you are scared of a lizard?"
"No, of course not. It just took me by surprised that's all." He is not paying attention to any lizard. He is more concerned with in what bad repair everything is. All it needs is some attention and restore it to the way it used to be.
Fifi takes them all over. She leads them to a vintage welcome sign that has seen better days. This leads to a once thriving seaside shops. Adam places his hand on a wooden beam with uneven texture of chipped paint for balance. He almost twist his ankle. "Watch Ash, there is a lot of potholes here."
They look into a dusty window filled with cobwebs. Adam could tell that at one time these shops were once bustling with tourist. The place needs bad repair. "What a shame," Adam said. "If someone would put some sort of attention to it, it can certainly bring in people again."
Fifi said, "But, he won't allow it."
"Who's 'he'," Adam replied, "God?"
"No, but he might as well be. Edward Wilcox. He is a developer that is purposely letting this place rot so he can put in his condos. Like this place needs more condos."
When Adam hears of the news on how they are going to tear down the seaside community in favor of condos for the wealthy, he gets excited. Ashley can't quite make out what he says, but something like, "That's the big story" and he rushes back to their apartment.
Ashely is upset because she failed to get Adam to relax and unwind. Heck, he was still wearing nice close instead of shorts. She's afraid she has lost him to his mistress… the computer.
She'll have to come up with more stuff than the harbor has to offer to tempt him away from that computer of his. Even if that means sitting through a Padres baseball game. Baseball… yuck. Then if we can go to that barbeque place that was in the movie Top Gun…um the name escapes me… anyway, that would be a lovely compromise.
****
It was a couple of days later and summer is full bloom in Southern California. Adam is excited that he has sample copy of his newsletter printed up to show to everyone what future issues will look like. With the Adobe programs he has, he used Photoshop to design a masthead. Looks pretty professional if I do say so myself. Then by using InDesign he was able to create a fairly good looking paper.
He shows it to Ashely. "Here, what do you think? Not bad huh?" She just shakes her head and tosses it off to the side without saying anything. "Okay, what's wrong now?"
"Nothing."
"You always say that and it's always something."
She opens the curtains to the back window, which is like a giant fishbowl view of Harbor Shores. People walking by with their dogs, ducks waddling along quacking all of the way. The waves off of the pier ebbing and flowing.
She stands in front of it and says, "Look Adam. We have a window to the world. And what do you do? Sit and type. It would be a shame just to sit inside and let life pass us by."
"So, what are you saying?"
"Are you thick? I want to get out and explore."
"Okay."
She is in stunned silence. He called her bluff and she doesn't know what to say next. He replies, "In fact, let's go for a walk around the neighborhood."
She pouts her lips together and nods her head as if to say alright. "Let's finish breakfast first," she said. "We don't want a repeat to what happened to us with Mrs. McCluskey."
"Oh, God no," Adam responds. "No more Bruno."
As they leave, Adam stands by the front door and frisks himself to see if they have everything. Ashely, "What's wrong?"
"I think I forgot something." He goes back inside and grabs a sample newsletter and a pad of paper. She lets out a sigh.
As they walk around the harbor, Adam shows his newsletter around to everyone they see. "Good morning Fifi. Here," he hands her a newsletter.
"Oh, what's this?" she replied.
"I wrote it. Take a look."
"You are so talented Adam. It looks real nice," Fifi said.
"Off course this is not the real thing. It's just a dummy
"Yeah, like the guy that wrote it," mumbles Ashley.
Adam ignores her and continues with his pitch, "The real one will be filled with more stories and such."
"We can even put recipes in it," Fifi suggests.
"Uh, yeah if that's what the people wants." Adam is not sure if that is where he wants to go with it. Another neighbor thinks it would be great. He heard that the guy above him does some very unusual things late at night.
"Oh, how about that pot house."
"The what?" Adam said.
"Oh, yeah," says another. "I know whatcha saying. They smoke pot all day long and their dog sits next to them getting high too."
"He's a menacing looking thing, but I guess he don't attack because he doesn't want to harsh his mellow."
The others laugh. Adam does not know what to make of it. He didn't want his newsletter to be a gossip column. But who knows… to make an omelet you have to crack a few eggs. He writes things down as fast as he could.
There is a commotion going down the harbor a bit. They rush over to see what it is. Ashely looks down towards a little waterway separating the pier and boardwalk. "Look at that."
"What?" Adam says.
"There, I saw it again."
Adam stares into the murky harbor waters. "I don't see anything."
"There, there. It's an octopus."
"Are you sure? Did it have eight legs?"
"I don't know, but it had a long body and testicles."
"You mean tentacles."
"What did I say?"
"You said… never mind."
Another neighbor said that he saw it too. "But, that's not an octopus. It was a squid."
"I am certain it was an octopus," Ashley insisted.
He pulls out his phone, "See, I took a picture of it." Sure enough, Adam sees the dark, murky image of what looks like a squid. Not much of a story because the harbor is known to have sea life swimming around all of the time.
There has to be a real story around somewhere. So like a good reporter, he plants some ideas into them. As soon as he mentions about how run down the community is and how much better is could be, the neighbors starting to spill their guts on who they think the real bad egg is in the community.
Once he got them going, they could not stop. One chance conversation happened between these two guys sitting on two boats different boats side by side. They each hold a beer in their hands. "Bud, Silicon will be the death to this place."
Adam butts in, "Silicon. You mean like the microchips?"
"No, Silicon Beach Realtors. They are the ones developing the condos."
Bud chimes, "The condos are not the only thing they are invested in Chuck."
"Now keep that hush Bud. We don't want to start any trouble." Chuck finishes his beer and throws the can into the harbor.
Adam cringes at the sight, but ignores it because of the info this guy Bud spills out. "No, go ahead. I'm new here."
"California is supposed to be in a drought. Hey Chuck… throw me another can would ya?"
"So was Arizona where Ashley and I are from."
They look at each other, then at Adam as if they were annoyed that he interrupted them. Bud catches the can without looking and doesn't miss a beat. "anywho… despite all of the warnings and conservation of drinking water and such, Silicon Beach Realtors is under construction with an Estuary Restoration Project which will be a manmade lake stocked with fresh water fish."
"Where will they get this water from?"
Bud puts his finger on the tab of the beer. Adam braces for the spray that most certainly will come. Somehow, Bud opens the can with a slight pop sound. Adam is puzzled.
Chuck continues the narrative. "They claim they can desalinate the water and have it connected to the ocean. Kind of like a hybrid water structure. But I don't buy it. I think they are stealing our water from us."
"What do you mean stealing," Adam inquires.
"It's rumored that the basic structure is in place as we speak."
With his reporter senses going off, Adam knows he has the makings of a real story, which will be the perfect launching point. Ashley stands in the background getting antsy. She still wants to walk around more. Being downwind of the ocean, the wind blows just a bit n. They hear the squawking sound as before. They look into the sky and a giant bird with long legs flaps its wing lazily.
"That's my heron," Ashley says excitedly.
The bird lands on the dock. It creaps very slowly as if it was walking on hot coals. It stares down on the waters on the pier as if it was watching something. Very stealth like, the bird freezes, waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Until… jabs a fish swimming by. The heron gulps it down.
Ashley thinks that is something else. "Isn't that cool?"
"When I eat that way, you criticize me."
"That's because you aren't a cute heron."
They watch the heron look for more. Just as it was about to jab for seconds, a dog frightens it and flies away. A small shih tzu runs by. "Nikita," says Jensen. "How many times have I told you to respect the other creatures?" As Jensen tips his imaginary cap at Ashely and Adam, the dog runs besides him with her tongue hanging out, strutting proud as if she owns the docs.
It seems that everyone at Harbor Shores has a dog. There is one though that stands out because he does not have a dog. He is a good-looking guy about in his mid-thirties. He walks towards the docks to a boat.
Ashley notices him right away. "I always wanted to go on a boat ride. I wonder if he will give us a ride on his boat." She taps Adam on the shoulder. "Find out if he will. Make friends with him."
"I don't know… I don't want to impose on him."
"Come on… what will it hurt. The only thing he can say is no."
Adam is not interested in making nice with a stranger because he wants to get back to his computer and research the nugget of information he received about this Wilcox and Silicon Realty. But, she is like a dog with a bone when it comes to these things, so he reluctantly walks over to where the guy's boat is.
Being good at starting conversations, Adam looks for any sort of opening other than the obvious. He sees that the man is wearing a medal medallion with a small ivory pocketknife next to it. Curious, Adam opens with that. "Is that a Saint Christopher?"
The stranger says yes. "It's my good luck charm. I never go anywhere without it. Especially when I dive."
"Do you find the water calmer at this time of year?"
"Oh, you dive?" says the stranger.
"No, but someday I would like to learn."
"Maybe someday I can show you. I can teach you all of the tricks and before you know it, you'll be certified."
Adam is excited about this. He cannot wait to tell Ashley. She might even appreciate that he's being adventures. As he gets back to their apartment, she too seems excited. She jumps in "So, when are we going to go out?" It dawns on him that he forgot to ask that. "What's his name?" He just gives her a blank stare. She blows up, "Oh, come on… don't tell me you didn't even ask him his name? You were there a long time. What were you doing there the whole time?"
The many distractions diverts him from the big story. He must dig up more info about Wilcox before he goes off halfcocked. Some of his colleagues at the paper did just that. He doesn't know how they still have a job. A good journalist should do his due diligence before going to print.