The Wall and its Architect222Please respect copyright.PENANAzdyvSBVOIt
222Please respect copyright.PENANAhLOYlh3HHr
Imagine; August, 1998, the beach, sun high in the sky, salty sea spray moving in on warm breezes, coarse sand hiding seashell treasures. The sand moves, shaping tall towering spires, massive moats: a pristine castle for the fish, shaped by little hands wielding shell-shovels. Suddenly, decimation, a tsunami crashes in destroying the castle's port in its entirety. But this little architect is crafty, they repair the damages, and build a barricade. Poseidon strikes again with waves washing over the barricade and razing the port again, this time with even more of the castle returning to the sea. Not to be bested by something as unfamiliar as the ocean, the little architect devises a new barrier, a bigger better blockade. This time the wall is reinforced with shells, a hardened defense to withstand the onslaught. The process continues for seemingly eons, a never-ending battle between the little architect and the sea god, with each bout the castle's splendor diminishes, while the wall begins to cast a shadow over the now sad, small fort.222Please respect copyright.PENANAOSlPNtKFGY
222Please respect copyright.PENANAw98n1zBenU
Returning from the depths of the sea, the little architect's father realizes his child's struggles, and approaches. "That’s a nice pool you’ve got there, little one." Being an adult, he couldn’t see it was clearly not a pool. "It's supposed to be a castle, daddy." Said the little architect saltily, due to the sea spray of course. Not wanting to blunder any more the father asked "Oh I see now, and what's this then?" He was referencing the giant wall, clearly a giant wall. "That’s to stop the waves, they keep ruining my castle." The child's lividity vividly displayed across their small face. "Well what’s left of it anyway-I’m trying to fix it but my wall keeps getting hit with the waves and I have to rebuild it the wall instead." Knowing everything as fathers usually do, he replied with the perfect solution: "Here let me show you something," AND HE KNOCKED DOWN THE WALL "don't worry, I'll make it better." The little child was astounded and watched awestruck as his father didn’t rebuild their wall, and instead built three arcing in front each with their own moat at the base. "But how is that going to help?" The little child asked, "These are so small." The father, already finishing up the last of the walls, it helps to be a giant with massive hands, said," watch when the next wave comes, and you'll see." 222Please respect copyright.PENANADgE9XjZEza
222Please respect copyright.PENANApSCAbBAKaN
Knowing the sea, the little architect knew a wave would be coming soon, the water was retreating, gathering for another assault. In an instant it was upon them, rushing and gushing and pushing in on the land. It hit the first wall with full force, cascading over and onto the second wall. It struck the second wall with surprising force, surprising because it was excessively... lessened? Wonder and excitement began bubbling in the little architect's mind, not wanting to rush blindly they continued to watch as once again the ocean tried to lay claim to their castle. The wave rushed down the second wall, into the moat, and up the third wall. Until, halfway up it stopped, energy depleted and it retreated back down into the moat and dissipated into the ground. "Whoa, it didn’t even get up the last wall!" Exclaimed the little architect. "Exactly," said the father, "it's better to have several smaller walls than one big one."222Please respect copyright.PENANA36xYDbudcs
222Please respect copyright.PENANA9aYUufXn6o
This concept of: more of less, is better than less of more, shaped the way I do many things. The most obvious being the way I protect my sand castles from waves. Although it also changes the way I play games, the way I complete tasks, even the way I eat throughout the day. Many times, I'll give several small packets of instruction when teaching someone how to do something, rather than giving them the whole thing at once. One thing it didn’t change however; I still bring all the groceries in with one trip.
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Just a few words
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PhiXiDelta
ISSUE #1
The Wall and its Architect
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Just a few words
Memoir
Short Story
Last updated: May 5, 2019
Total word count: 991
Total reading time: 5 Minutes
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