By Lois Whitaker:
It was a Sunday..my little sister Elizabeth and I had happily put on our favorite summer dresses. How we loved those dresses!! Mama said we were her lovely little ladies, Daddy just kept calling us his little princesses.
What do I remember when I look at this picture? We were loved. The day was a beautiful one and we skipped down the sidewalk to meet up with Daddy. (well…mama strolled….we skipped!). Daddy was coming home from work and you see, he had the BEST job in the world in this seven year old’s eyes. NO ONE had a better job in Ocean Grove. Our dad ran the Ferris wheel!
He was the happiest guy on the boardwalk and bragged to everyone when his little princesses came to ride his wonderful ride. He grinned from ear to ear. Those were the good old days…summertime, sunshine and a lot of love.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We asked for writers to submit a one paragraph piece of fiction related to this postcard, with the winner to receive a prize. There were six entries, and all can be read in the comments section below. The judging was done without knowing the authors’ names. Everyone was quite good, and we thank all the contestants. Note that we edited this paragraph to 3 sections.
Congratulations to our winner, Lois Whitaker. She wins a signed, hand crafted, black and white photograph by Paul Goldfinger.
ROBERT GOULET:
“Reflections”
The western sky was afire, spreading tendrils of aqua, peach and vermillion, tingeing the summer cotton candy clouds a rosy pink, and signaling the close of another peaceful, blissful Sunday in The Grove. There had been no cars on the streets, and no cares for all. Now, at twilight, as the last mirrored images on the lake began to dull and fade, it was time to pause, reflect on the day, and give thanks.
“Father will be here soon. Eliot, you will behave and not throw anything at the ducks! Elizabeth, stay close.” Anna looked at her two children and was almost as giddy as they were. The family summer house had taken forever to prepare with dust covers removed, windows to be washed and rugs to be beaten. She saw in Eliot’s and Elizabeth’s excitement the same as hers as a child coming to the Ocean Grove house. She could almost hear her mother’s and grandmother’s stern command to “Pay attention; there will be all summer to see the ocean.” But it didn’t seem like that then or now. Every second was needed to enjoy the season. She saw it in the greetings all around her. Yes, she had to shop for their dinner and Jonathan would be tired from his long journey from the city, but now as she deeply breathed in the sea air, now was time for ice cream and the boardwalk.”
“He’s going to jump!” the matron yelled as she let go of her twin daughters’ hands and clasped her clenched fists to her bosom.
“Don’t do it, young man!” shouted the group of men surrounding the pitiful youth perched precariously on the narrow wall surrounding Wesley Lake.
The huge Ferris Wheel and tantalizing amusements of Asbury Park on the far side of the lake shimmered in the afternoon heat, beckoning.
“Call a policeman!”
“There he goes again!”
“Someone should grab him and bring him home to his poor mother!”
The group of gawkers on the walkway offered no sympathy, only disdain to the hapless jumper.
“Why, Clarence?” said the man in the slick boater. “Why must you jump?”
“I must!” the lad blubbered. “I want to go see the sights, the lights, the rides! They’re there! See? Can’t you see them? Are you all blind?”
“We see them plain enough, Clarence, but why don’t you use the footbridge?”
“Footbridge?”
“What did I tell you,” the old woman in the black cape snickered. “Balmy as a bed bug!”
“Clayton’s delivery horse kicked the poor mite…..never been the same since,” offered the peanut gallery on the walk.
“Look! Here comes his father now to collect him!”
“Let’s all go home, folks.”
“Yes, let’s. Much too much excitement for one afternoon!”
It was a Sunday..my little sister Elizabeth and I had happily put on our favorite summer dresses. How we loved those dresses!!| Mama said we were her lovely little ladies, daddy just kept calling us his little princesses.
What do I remember when I look at this picture? We were loved. The day was a beautiful one and we skipped down the sidewalk to meet up with Daddy. (well…mama strolled….we skipped!). Daddy was coming home from work and you see, he had the BEST job in the world in this seven year old’s eyes. NO ONE had a better job in Ocean Grove. Our dad ran the ferris wheel! He was the happiest guy on the boardwalk and bragged to everyone when his little princesses came to ride his wonderful ride. He grinned from ear to ear. Those were the good old days…summertime, sunshine and a lot of love.
I was coming from my luncheon by the Casino, when I spotted this relaxed and lovely woman strolling though the park. She had her two daughters with her, and they were all most happy and amused, engaged. As there were many people in Founder’s park, gearing up for an evening of amusements and social flights. I didn’t expect to see this woman, at 3:00 no less, so wistful and pleased, full of the lives around her, and wishing the same for her daughters. The rapt, blissful friends, in groups, planning and delighting, and the strolling families, breezes in their smiling faces.
This photo depicts the town split into 3 groups. The near group is quite set on the opinion that the people on the ferris wheel in the distance can see them. They have formed a committee to express their ideas. The far group has the opposite opinion and have also formed a committee. The third group has not made up their minds and have decided to walk between the groups to hear both opinions. One thing is for sure, though. The sun is going down and this debate may last for weeks.