The Little Girl

I saw her on the jetty, silhouetted by the moon. My heart missed a beat. Was this the rumored ghost? I looked at the distant lights from the village that had started to go off now. The beach lay deserted. I could ignore her, go back to my watchtower and bar my doors and windows. But in case there is an accident, I would lose my watchman's job.

Wrapping the shawl around me, I walked towards her, swinging my stick to give myself confidence. A hundred yards from her, I blew my whistle. She still did not turn.

"Hey," I stood 20 yards away from her and shouted.

She half-turned. In the moonlight, I saw the features of a teenage girl. Perhaps she was crying.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Nothing.

"You from the village?"

She nodded.

"Go home. Why are you here?" I said and took a step forward.

She sprung around, hissed at me, and then threw herself on to the water. I stood there motionless, only my heart thumped on my chest. And then far away in the sea, I saw a slender body jump out of the water and then vanish again. Like a giant snake? A fish? Mermaid? My drunk hallucination?

I ran back to the watchtower and huddled myself against the door. Either I had to quit my job, or my drinking.