Story 58
The entrance by the red steps
One familiar landmark gives arriving friends a place to meet before carrying their things onto the beach.
The beach had four entrances, but only one had red steps down through the dunes.
That was where the friends had agreed to meet. Erin arrived with the umbrella and a bag full of towels. Before carrying everything onto the sand, she stopped beside the steps.
Their beach-day PingRoom room had a Quick Ping called “At the red steps.” Erin tapped it, then leaned the umbrella against the railing while she waited.
Tariq saw the Ping after parking near the next entrance. He followed the path along the dunes. Liv was still buying ice at the kiosk; when she read it, she knew which way to turn with the heavy bag.
They met at the top of the steps and divided the load. Tariq took the umbrella. Erin carried the towels, and Liv insisted someone else could carry the ice on the way home.
