A Day of Games By Aditi Nair, 12 Andtheskybluewavesreflectedasilveryglow,eagerlyinvitingchildrentodivein.Thewaves bouncedaroundinjoy,encompassingeveryspaceofthesmalllagoonlikeablackhole devouringeverythinginitsvicinity.Thecuriousandcarefreefromthelotponderedaboutallof the adventurous games they could play. “Let’sgoin!Thewavesarecallingus,”oneofthemcriedashetrudgedhiswaythroughthewet sand and knee-deep water. Theysoonfoundasmallstreamflowingintotheocean’sdepthsandpromptlyfollowedthe smoothcurrents.Waves,bigandsmall,crashedonthechildrenleavingafoamyaftermathof grittycrystalsandshellfragments.Purpleflowersandbrightgreenleaves–alongtheshoreline– addedcolorandlifetowhatseemedlikeanever-endingwinter.Ceruleanblueandshadesof turquoisedancedinharmony,engagingthechildrenasthewavesbouncedthemlikeastray buoy. Andtheoceandidnotstopplayingwiththem;withtheirexcitementquicklyrising,theysoon forgotaboutthefast-pacedcurrentsandventuredfurtherandfurtheruntiltheynoticedthatthe shore had disappeared. The unforgiving ocean was theonly entity in sight! Eachchildhadaheart-rendingstorytotell;somemorepainfulthanothers,buttheyhadall foundawaytoescapeandthrivewithnature.Thechildrenstayedcalm;theyusedtheir adaptive mindset to set their reality aside and focuson the problem. Andthen,agiantwaveplummeted,sendingthelotintoasetoftumbles–allinonedirection. Quicklyrecoveringfromthesuddensweep,thechildrenlookedaroundtoseewheretheocean ledthem.Thelagoon!Itwasthere,anditwasinsight!Quizzically,thekidslookedatone another;theoceanshimmeredasifitwassmilingatthem.Maybetheoceanwasnotso unforgiving after all! Beforethesundippeddownintothehorizon,revealingitsorchestrateddisplayofreddish-purple hues,thechildrenfoundtheirwaybacktoland.Relievedandgrateful,theyhuddledtogetherby the shore once again to continue their day of games.