Daily Deed


Daily Deed


He was poking around the spigot, hoping for a few drops, wishing the faucet was running. And although he was a seagull, I could feel his want.

I approached at a slow gait while he gave me the side-eye. When I got too close, he waddled away. I decided to wash my feet then and there, though I had been planning a longer walk through the sand. I would take the short way home instead of de-sanding myself at the next washing station.

I jammed in the metal knob that was as hard to press as it was high (how did children manage, I wonder?) It was just in my reach and I kept my eyes on the gull as I lifted one foot under the strong stream of water.

"Look, I turned it on, Buddy!" I announced. 

He looked at me askance. 

"Hey, I finished!" I called out to him when my feet were wet with no grains of sand sticking to them. "And I left the water on!"

He wouldn't come near, however, until there was sufficient distance between us. I watched from the railing as he gobbled up the runoff, even gulping up between the gushing wooden planks him.

I had never noticed seagulls drinking fresh water before, I thought. I always assumed they drank seawater because they dive for prey under the sea.

The things you learn by observing.

Satisfied, I arched up my now chilly feet and took my first step toward home.

I had done my good deed for the day.☺️




Text: Kristen Mastromarchi


Photo:  <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/ghun-22241/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=183229">ghun</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=183229">Pixabay</a>

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