Do You Trust Me?

Story by Tom Cochrun

“I do not want to get wet!”
“Nah, it’s cool. You have to listen.”
“The sand is cold. This is silly.”
“Hear that groan? It’s the little stones, the sand and gravel. The surf is dragging it out.”
“Nature’s lapidary huh?”
“Exactly.”
“Isn’t this dangerous?”
“Can be, but you’ve got to pay attention.”
“I do not want to get wet. I do not want to be knocked down by the surf.”
“Do you love me?”
“You know I love you.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Can I?”
“Do you trust me?”
“We’re getting married this weekend!”
“Do you trust me?”
“What does standing on cold sand, turning our back on the ocean have to do with trust?”
“Everything. Trusting yourself. Trusting me. I want you to do this. It’ll be fun. You’ll hear the surf like you’ve never heard it before.”
“I better be able to trust you.”
“Seriously. Listen to the gravel groan, it ends in a kind of hiss. The next wave begins to swell and you listen. When it tumbles you’ll hear it rolling and then a slap. It’ll start off to the side and the sound will move toward you.”
“I don’t want to do this.”
“Hold my hand. I love you. I promise.”
“I’m scared!”
“It’s starting. The set’s coming. Take a deep breath. We’re going to outrun the surf. Listen, it’s the song of the planet.”