Findy's Day Out
[continued from Hella Gnarly, Dude]
The world beyond the portal was something out of a fever-dream painted by joy. The ocean glowed with bioluminescent sparkles in all the colors of the rainbow, and storm clouds swirled above without menace—just drama, flair, a bit of lightning for mood. A biplane with a gnome in the cockpit (and, bizarrely, a gremlin co-pilot sipping lemonade through a curly straw) looped overhead, trailing rainbow vapor.
On the surf, Charlie rode the waves like he’d been born to it, paws steady, golden fur gleaming. Bartholomew, a gnome in green, rode on his back, waving to no one in particular.
Shams, somehow bone-dry, glided effortlessly on his surfboard like a tiny silver bullet, his expression the usual blend of regal disdain and “I meant to do that.”
“Is it weird that I’m not surprised?” Fin whispered, clutching Andy’s hand as they stepped onto the warm golden sand. The tropical drinks appeared in their hands with a satisfying poof—complete with tiny umbrellas and glowing rainbow butterflies that circled them lazily.
“It’s our life,” Andy replied, smiling. “Of course the dog’s surfing in another dimension.”
Bartholomew saw them and whooped with delight. “Fin! Andy! Welcome to the Rainbow Coast! We were just getting started!”
Barnaby, the pilot gnome in the sky, dipped the biplane in greeting. Bob, the gremlin, waved from the back with a tiny flag that read “YAY.”
The couple settled on the sand, sipping their drinks and watching the spectacle unfold. Charlie caught a wave and spun his board, Bartholomew clutching his hat and yelling, “Extreme maneuvers!”
Shams, not to be outdone, leapt from one board to another mid-wave, landing gracefully back on his own with the silent judgment of one who always lands on his feet.
Fin chuckled. “Do you think he’s been practicing?”
“He’s definitely been plotting,” Andy said. “He probably bribed a sea spirit.”
The sky roared with thunderous applause—no storm, just skybound dolphins with tambourines. Barnaby looped again, this time dropping streamers shaped like hearts.
Fin leaned against Andy. “This place… it’s like someone painted our dreams.”
Andy nodded. “I think it’s a gift. A little break from the world.”
Charlie came bounding up the beach, tongue out, Bartholomew still clinging to his back. They skidded to a stop just beside the couple.
“We’re going again!” Bartholomew beamed. “But first—sandwiches?” He snapped his fingers and a picnic appeared: tiny sandwiches, fruit that shimmered with enchantment, and a pie that seemed to hum a love song.
“Don’t mind if we do,” Fin grinned.
The day spun on like a lazy, magical carousel. They ate, they laughed, they watched their pets conquer the ocean with the confidence of seasoned adventurers. Bob parachuted from the plane using a jellyfish as a canopy and landed with a triumphant fist-pump before promptly falling asleep in Fin’s lap.
As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky with the kind of pinks you only see in fairy tales, Fin turned to Andy and whispered, “I love you.”
Andy squeezed his hand. “I know. Me too. Even if we have to go back.”
“But not yet.”
“No,” Andy said, leaning in for a gentle kiss as the butterflies gathered like stars around them. “Let’s stay in the magic a little longer.”
And so they did.
Forever, or just for today—it didn’t matter. On the Rainbow Coast, time was just another wave to ride.
On the surf, Charlie rode the waves like he’d been born to it, paws steady, golden fur gleaming. Bartholomew, a gnome in green, rode on his back, waving to no one in particular.
Shams, somehow bone-dry, glided effortlessly on his surfboard like a tiny silver bullet, his expression the usual blend of regal disdain and “I meant to do that.”
“Is it weird that I’m not surprised?” Fin whispered, clutching Andy’s hand as they stepped onto the warm golden sand. The tropical drinks appeared in their hands with a satisfying poof—complete with tiny umbrellas and glowing rainbow butterflies that circled them lazily.
“It’s our life,” Andy replied, smiling. “Of course the dog’s surfing in another dimension.”
Bartholomew saw them and whooped with delight. “Fin! Andy! Welcome to the Rainbow Coast! We were just getting started!”
Barnaby, the pilot gnome in the sky, dipped the biplane in greeting. Bob, the gremlin, waved from the back with a tiny flag that read “YAY.”
The couple settled on the sand, sipping their drinks and watching the spectacle unfold. Charlie caught a wave and spun his board, Bartholomew clutching his hat and yelling, “Extreme maneuvers!”
Shams, not to be outdone, leapt from one board to another mid-wave, landing gracefully back on his own with the silent judgment of one who always lands on his feet.
Fin chuckled. “Do you think he’s been practicing?”
“He’s definitely been plotting,” Andy said. “He probably bribed a sea spirit.”
The sky roared with thunderous applause—no storm, just skybound dolphins with tambourines. Barnaby looped again, this time dropping streamers shaped like hearts.
Fin leaned against Andy. “This place… it’s like someone painted our dreams.”
Andy nodded. “I think it’s a gift. A little break from the world.”
Charlie came bounding up the beach, tongue out, Bartholomew still clinging to his back. They skidded to a stop just beside the couple.
“We’re going again!” Bartholomew beamed. “But first—sandwiches?” He snapped his fingers and a picnic appeared: tiny sandwiches, fruit that shimmered with enchantment, and a pie that seemed to hum a love song.
“Don’t mind if we do,” Fin grinned.
The day spun on like a lazy, magical carousel. They ate, they laughed, they watched their pets conquer the ocean with the confidence of seasoned adventurers. Bob parachuted from the plane using a jellyfish as a canopy and landed with a triumphant fist-pump before promptly falling asleep in Fin’s lap.
As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky with the kind of pinks you only see in fairy tales, Fin turned to Andy and whispered, “I love you.”
Andy squeezed his hand. “I know. Me too. Even if we have to go back.”
“But not yet.”
“No,” Andy said, leaning in for a gentle kiss as the butterflies gathered like stars around them. “Let’s stay in the magic a little longer.”
And so they did.
Forever, or just for today—it didn’t matter. On the Rainbow Coast, time was just another wave to ride.
For Vibrant Visionaries #8 from the word list Surfer, Ocean, Mammal, Storm, Mountains, Aircraft, Rainbow
