Time to go home. Packing had been a chore, but everything had finally been made ready to go. It wasn’t that there was a great deal to pack. The difficulty lay in finding the will to accomplish the task.

He was walking slowly, ankle deep in cool blue water. The sand was gentle on his feet. The sun was still just a salmon colored orb newly risen above the turquoise horizon. Its young rays were soothing tentacles that caressed his bare torso and bare legs. It was indeed beautiful, and it was quiet.

He allowed his young body to collapse suddenly into the sea. He leaped up jubilantly and meditated upon the gems of water that were cast off violently from his playful eruption. The wonder of the sight impelled him to repeat the maneuver three times. Every time he was amazed at the complex shapes, sizes and colors of each translucent drop. Then, he tired of the game, got out of the water, and made his way in the opposite direction that he had come.

The modest hotel where he had been staying was the only building that could be seen from that point on the beach. He only had to collect his backpack before he could make his way, slowly and methodically to civilization. A short hike, two buses, a taxi and an airplane would take him away from the warm beach and back to the cruel world of responsibilities. He was pretty sure that his job would still be waiting for him if he could leave at that precise moment . Buses and airplanes are not frequent in that lonely place and the vacationer certainly delayed his departure as long as possible.

The sun was now warm as he lifted the backpack on his still bare back. Soft sweat refreshed his limbs and brow as he started the inevitable journey down the sandy road toward town.

He said, “Buenos Días,” to two boys that he passed on the road. Otherwise, he concentrated on the sea birds flying above the oceans gentle waves. A kitten meowed. The unexpected noise made him halt to examine the tiny gray creature. It was thin, hungry and all alone.

“I’ll call you Liberation,” he said as he cuddled his new friend. As he passed through a tiny fishing village, he held the purring beast to his ear.

“¡Mi gato! ¡Mi gato!” called a young child who came running. She pulled the quiet animal from the stranger’s arms. She paid no attention to the man and nearly cried with joy as she smothered the prodigal kitten in her small arms. He watched the girl and smiled.

Beneath a palm thatched ramada he identified the slender figure of the girl’s older sister. “Gracias Señor,” she intoned softly. He went over to her, to receive her gratitude more directly. He took her hand and did not let go.

She was truly a handsome young woman. Her features were small and delicate. Her complexion, dark brown. Her eyes, undoubtedly beautiful, if she could only dare to return the foreigners gaze.

She conducted the young man to a small wooden table with two chairs. She offered him a coconut, but he begged her to sit down beside him.

It was very pleasant to sit on the beach with a beautiful woman. He did not get tired of looking at her sweet smile and holding her small brown hand on the table. Furthermore, it seemed, she did not get tired of being with him either.

The table cast no shadow in the sand at that moment, but he anticipated that a shadow would eventually appear and grow very long. The kitten might wander away again from the little girl, and maybe, curl itself up against their bare feet. That would be nice.

He was glad he had found Liberation.