Image: Dawn M Miller
As we sipped our morning coffee and contemplated the tennis match we were planning we couldn’t help but notice the tsunami approaching to our left.
I had been taking photos of the court as part of the record of our trip to Bansui Beach. We were both keen players and the location of the hotel court below our room only served to whet our appetites for a game.
Our games were always a battle with neither of us giving in to the other.
We enjoyed the closeness of our matches with the loser had to pay for lunch. As we were both misers we played with great tenacity.
But within seconds of this photo the court was gone. Swallowed up by the surging ocean.
It took ten days to get a flight home.
Mother nature had certainly aced this holiday for us.
Words 142
Written for: https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2015/02/24/flash-fiction-for-aspiring-writers-week-of-2-25-2015/
Morpethroad 
The narrator seems to be recalling this while still being in a state of shock – nonchalant.
Ellespeth
Thanks so much Ellespeth for stopping by to read and comment.
Thankfully the match wasn’t called earlier!
Yes exactly. Tsunami wins 6 – 0
Excellent how the narrator compares mother nature to that of winning a tennis match. I feel the sadness evoked in this story. I loved, “as we were both misers we played with much tenacity.” I enjoyed reading your story Tommy. Thank you so much for participating and I really hope you will continue. 🙂
Thank you Joy, it was a good image to write to. See you next week.
Thanks Tommy! See ya next week.
Well, that’s certainly a holiday they’ll never forget… I like how the narrator contemplates all that’s about to be lost.
Thanks Sonya, glad you enjoyed my contribution.
Loved the last line. Couldn’t be a more perfect fit!
Thanks so much Nortina.
Two ambitious tennis players thwarted by nature during their vacation/holiday. Usually when they lose, it’s to each other, and they both get something positive out of the match (lunch and extra motivation to win next time). But besides an opportunity to look outside themselves, this recent loss seemed to leave them (or, at least, the narrator) devastated with an unshakable yearning for one last game before returning home. Thanks for the read!
Thanks Izzy for reading and your comment.
Everything seems lovely and then wham, the tsunami hits. I liked how you say this picture was the court before tsunami.hit. It is sad, surprising, and poignant.
I’ve seen enough tsunami movies that I have a healthy respect (actually great fear!) of the ocean. Good job at evoking the balance between the anticipated day of enjoyment (tennis) and the end of the world (tsunami)!
Thanks Mandy, I can understand a fear of that kind. There’s more than tsunamis that can harm you.
So true. I must keep things in perspective 🙂
LOL somehow sipping coffee while watching a tsunami approaching just doesn’t seem right. Why aren’t they in a complete state of panic – I know I would be. Love the matter-of-fact conversational feel to this, Michael.
A devastating hold up to the match ~ The tsunami photographs were probably spectacular after the court had disappeared ~ Great work Michael ~ 🙂
I liked how we didn’t know if they were male or female, the entire focus was on their competitive tight-fisted natures… but I might have put the tsunami in towards the end.
Great write as usual, Michael. The loser paid for lunch, making this story so real…witha punch ending.
Oh man, I was a little afraid for your pair, I’m glad they hadn’t actually gone to play tennis or they too would’ve been wiped out. I’m glad you came back to the destruction of the tsunami at the end from your reminisced segway. There was a certain amount of darkness to this story with how fierce their competitiveness was with elemental disaster approaching.
Thank you so much for that insightful comment. Much appreciated.
This was a great take on the prompt. Wow that must have been something to watch as the ocean swallowed up the courts!!
Hi kirsten, one cannot imagine how horrifying such a sight must have been. Thanks so much for reading my post and I appreciate your lovely comment.
Not a holiday anyone wants to have, I think. This was a really interesting and different interpretation of the prompt – and a very enjoyable read. 🙂
Thanks Millie I appreciate you stopping by.