The sun shone over the sandy shore
lapped by the waves that travelled from far out to sea
peace was all around
and sleep was but a breath away
as the sun caressed his tired body  

The seagulls cry pierced the air
then the cry of a child brought adults to heal
the carnage on the Prominade
was not for the faint hearted
chips and sausages were being fought over
by pecking birds
the children stood
as the parents swung their feet  
as the last chip flew over head
the sausages were well gone
late commers swooped down to survey the scene
paper blew in the wind
followed by an empty carton of chips
a loan dog walker collected the debris to the nearest bin
the children still sobbing
walked back to the chip shop
and sat out of view with their new dinner
The chippy smiled as he opened the till
and cursed the gulls with a grin

The sunbather listened
as the peace gathered and breathed gently
as he drifted to a snooze
a Splat
awoke him
he became a victim of the digested stolen chips
apart from the cursing of the sunbather
and the tutting of his neighbours
all you could hear
was the lapping of the waves