I twist my feet and wiggle my toes
Searching for the cool sand that remains
Untouched by the sun’s harsh rays.
I find it and swipe away the hot sand.
I stand in an athletic position
Eyeing my competition
Assuring them that my team will win.

A girl on the other team hurls the volleyball
Straight up into the air, over the net
And into the arms of my team mate.
He chucks it into the empty space on the court
Leaving them down one member.

They return fire.
“Got it” I call along with another member of the team
We simultaneously crash into each other
I hit the ground first while he lands on top of me
He rolls off and smashes my face into the blistering sand
When I look up my friends are staring at me in silence
And then we are all in an uncontrollable fit of laughter