Happy Hours on the Sand:—

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22909, 11 December 1937, Page 8 (Supplement)

Happy Hours on the Sand:—

By A, B. Storm

A NNETTE 'shook her head until the r\ curls danced and bubbled in the sunlight. Her long brown legs, bare and thrust into blue sandals, were planted wide apart. She looked down at her skimpy snorts and yellow shirt qnd shook hur head harder than ever. "No, mummy," she said, I truly don't want to go to meet Auntie lish. I'm sure she would rather vou met her at the station and I was here to welcome her." & , , , ' , Mrs. Dbnald hid a smile* but looked rather . .sadly at her mutinous little daughter. . . "Very well, Annette," she replied, "but please tidy yourself before we get back. ■ *> Annette pulled a face to herself, because that was.the very reason why she had not wanted to go to the station. Her shorts were so comfortable; she could skip and roll about without a thought of soiling them. She gave a -Wriggle and a jump and turned a neat cartwheel. Digger, the pup, always eager for a gainej , leaped after her, barking and snapping joyfully at her heels. ■ "> ?N f The sun was warm and- bright and the sea sparkled like diamonds pn blue velvet. Annette forgot her mother's warning to wash and dress before their return, and danced down the sandy path leading to the beach. She kicked off her shoes and began digging in the sgnd. This was a game

Digger knew well. He jumped into the hole and was soon furiously throwing the sand out from between his hind legs,,''/. . V "■]; ' • Annette shrieked with laughter and copied him, her head bent low and her bright curls dangling in the sand.

The sun rose higher, the heat became f;reater and Annette's freckled little ace was scarlet, damp rings of hair clinging her forehead. Digger's cheeky black nose was plastered with sand, even his lolling red tongue was coated with it. / ; ' "Coo-ee, coo-ee —Ann —efte." •> .

Annette started guiltily and gazed in horror toward the gate. There ,stood mummv, Auntie Tish and a little girl. "It must be Diana; I didn't know she was coming too," thought Annette. "Oh dear,) and I haven't had time to wash or anything." She picked up her sandals and ran along the sand to the waiting figures. "Hello, Annette," called her aunt. "You look as if you have been having a jolly time. Diana has ; been longing to seo you again." •Annette stole a look at her small cousin, Diana. She was dressed in a filmy cream frock, white shoes and socks and had her shining hair held back with a ribbon band.

Suddenly Alette felt ashamed of her own dirty face, tumbled curls and crumpled shorts. "I'll—l'll just dash up and wash, she mumbled. . • ~ "Oh no, dear, that is all right," said Auntie Tish. "We will have some tea and then get Diana into some sensible shorts and all go down to the beach again." . ... Annette gave a great sigh of relief. How she loved Auntie Tish. She always understood. "Horray," she shouted and caught her cousin's hand. The two little girls dashed up the pathway , and into the Annette's mother smiled and shook her head. : , , "She doesn't deserve it, Tish," she said. "You spoil her."