By @silenttomorrows

As she looked out over the garden, the wind chimes played gently against the breeze, soothing her safe passage to another time. The iron hissed, as if in disapproval of her stray thoughts. So she put the iron down on the creaky wooden ironing board, poured a glass of wine and let her thoughts drift back to a time without children, a time without Harry.

They lived twenty miles from where she had grown up. Ogan was just a small seaside village but she missed the walks along the beach, the cries of the seabirds and the familiarity of the people and places she had grown up in.

It wasn't that she was after a divorce or didn't love the kids, it's just that she craved a little excitement, a pinch of dare and the freedom of earlier years. She remembered the mornings when she and her friends had paddled out to catch the curls of the white tipped waves. They would hop and balance on their sleek stream lined surf boards and race towards the shoreline with the brazen rush, crash, clamour of sea and gulls in their ears, and the salty spray taste on their lips. Exhilarating and exhausting, but god it was good to feel alive.

Her mind was coaxed back to the present by the things she still had to do before everyone was home again. She reached behind her and pulled out the back scratcher that she had seen poking out from behind a cushion. Then she gently threw it onto the chair opposite where it bounced onto the the floor. She let out a long sigh and went out to find the saw in the shed.

The kids arrived back from school at about 4 o'clock, loud laughter and some pushing from her 9 and 7 years old children as they came off the school bus. Harry returned soon after. Walking into the kitchen he kissed her cheek and said, 'what's for dinner tonight luv?'

'Fish and chips' she replied and was greeted by a chorus of approving cheers. 'By the sea, in Ogan'

Harry was surprised by this but enjoyed his wife's spontaneity. The kids went to quickly change, then there was a sound like a drum kit falling down stairs as they descended back into the living room.

She smiled at their excitement and shouted over them, Everyone in my car then, I've got everything we need.

It took no ore than 30 minutes to drive to Ogan and park in the beach car park. They all got out.

The sea breeze was refreshing and she let her hair down, it blew around her face. She took a deep breath. It felt good. It all felt good. 'I'm going down to the beach, you three go to the chip shop, cod for me today'.

The kids bundled along with their dad. When they were out of sight, she took her belongings from the car, locked it and walked down to the shore where the breakers were hitting against the sand. She contemplated her life.

A little while later, Harry and the kids returned with the hot food. They could not see her but spotted a small heap of clothes on the sand near the edge of the water. 'Your mother's clothes' Harry said, trying to be rational and not alarm the kids.

They anxiously looked around to see where she was. 'Mummy?' They looked towards the sea. Couldn't see her.

Then, there she was. Surfing on the top of the sawn off wooden ironing board, in the curl of great wave. She was wearing her purple swimming costume and a broad smile on her face.

'Weeehee.....'

In the box I have placed for @naomimrshl

An Abacus
A poached egg
And a pool cue :)