Stone Soup

Where young artists paint the world with words

The international magazine of stories, poems, and art by young writers and artists. Published continuously since 1973.

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Fiery Blue

​ ​Fiery Blue  Most people that use the word fiery use it before the word red.  And that’s true. My hair is red but my heart is blue. What I mean  is that I belong to the ocean.     My parents think that I should be adventurous. I say that I am. I  go out to the ocean and let the cool water hit my toes. I climb  rocks and sometimes stub my toes and get bruises. My parents  STILL ​say that I should be more adventurous. They say that I  should go on hikes and go canoeing but they don’t understand.  The ocean is my happy place.    When they were younger they were happy. Their parents spoiled  them and told them that everything was going to be alright  when it wasn’t.     When my parents are away on business trips ( which is very rare  for them NOT to be), I go to the ocean to relax. I think that  everyone should have their happy place. They should have a  place to melt away your worries. I have those a lot.    When I first came to the ocean at 2 years old, I knew that I  couldn’t leave. The lullaby of the waves rocking me to another  world. My Aunt Lucy used to tell me that if you liked the ocean,  the waves were waving at you. I used to laugh. Ever since she  vanished, I've been going to my happy place. My destination. I  was going to visit Aunt Lucy.    My mom never really cared about Aunt Lucy. My mom never  really cared about anyone but my father.  My father was a famous and rich businessman. My mom wants  to impress him so much that she ignores me. I get really  annoyed with her and my dad that now I’m going to the ocean  every day.     Me and my mom never did get along. We would always fight  about something even if it was a dribble of jam on my dress.  Most of the time it’s about Aunt Lucy. When it’s about her, I go  to the ocean and relax.    Sometimes I wish the ocean was in my pocket. It’s my dream. It’s  my lullaby. It’s my Fiery Blue.