Sediments

Calm tides were moving that evening, steady tones that washed towards and away. Particles of sand leaving imprints of footprints in the steps taken. Laughter and chatter of people heard about in the background. The sun was just about setting, intense tones of saffron, crimson, and burgundy in display. As sounds of sediments skid across the surface of water, movements of continuance.

“You have to find a flat rock. Not too big, not too small. Not too heavy, nor too light, just right.” A coincidental rhyme, he thought. “Kind of like this one,” he bent down to show her.

“Let's look for some.”

Summer grabbed a few rocks and came back. “Is this good?” Her father smiled. “Those are perfect, sweetie.”

He held the rock between her fingers and demonstrated. “Hold it between your index or middle finger, and your thumb. And when you throw,” he paused. “Flat and firm, letting it twirl.” He walked toward the tides. “Look into the distance,” he said pointing. “Aiming for where you want it to go.”

In a single motion, the world paused, an allure as the stone touched across a trail of ripples. He turned towards them, “kissing it across, the edges of sea.”

There are many factors that affect the way stone skips across water. Each subsequent bounce slows the acceleration until it penetrates the water’s surface. A matter of the height from which it is thrown, the angle that it was released, the altitude and the impact, and the condition of the water's surface all of which influence how many skips occur and how quickly it may splash. Can you beat my record? 11+ skips.

…

Her mother smiled. “It's like a story of being lost and found.”

Summer began practicing her stone skipping, in between her parents talking, sometimes showing something cool she found and sometimes asking for help. As the sun began to set and it was getting late, her father called for Summer so they can head back home.