Three Reasons for Revenge

Part One

The beach was where they went to play. Renée always led the way, even though she was the younger sister.

She would run down the path through the dunes like a wild creature just released from a cage, skinny legs strong and true, dodging sharp spinifex grass underfoot, while Margaux lingered, picking seaside daisies from the dunes until her hands were full.

The screech of silver gulls and the sound of crashing waves would greet them as they reached the shore.

They didn’t swim, not when they were alone.

The waters of their beach were not to be taken lightly.

Instead they sat on the sand and made daisy chains and crowns, and paddled in the shallows and explored the rock pools.

They crushed mussels with stones and threw the remains into the water, just to watch the little fish and the crabs swarm.

They built sandcastles on the beach and stories in the air and when the hunger came, gnawing at their bellies, they played louder, ran faster, until the sun started to dip low, then lower still, and they had no choice but to retrace their steps, back up through the dunes to the house.