Date: Thu, 7 Aug 1997 10:11:46 -0500 From: Phanny Subject: SUB: CONTEST: THE ROCK CREVICE THE ROCK CREVICE "Grandpa, can we eat lunch there?" the child inquires. "Yup. I don't see why not." The old seaman squints at the big rock, glances at his watch, and smiles. The homemade lunch and sunny rock warm them this chilly day. I'm stuck, Grandpa!" the boy declares, as they prepare to leave. "It's my boot...." "Ayah. I see. Let's get you loose then. The fish are waiting!" Boot freed, the old man turns to see the dingy slowly bobbing away. Too far for his arthritic limbs to catch, he judges. "What will we do now, Grandpa?" "Wait for them to find us. I told Grandma we'd be home before supper. We'll learn to tie knots." And so they do, talking about things they love best in life. As the tide rises, Grandpa lifts the child to his shoulders. Sea water lapping around his beard, he instructs the boy to stand on his shoulders and grips the child's feet. At dusk, search boats pull slowly back to the dock. Grandma waits, where she has waited so many times, so many years, before. "We found this...." Someone speaks gently and hands her a man's boot. Numbly she looks inside -- and finds a starfish.