Make Up a Story
Stories from Around the World
Hell On Sand
By the storytellers at The Huntington
Once upon a time
Myrtle and Alice, they're sisters, they're not twins though
Obviously they're down at the beach. Hampton Beach.
They're swinging and talking about their day.
One's reading a book and one has a bottle of water.
One shined her shoes to make 'em look nice - she has three petticoats.
They went to the beach because they had nothing else to do, it was a beautiful day.
The woman who was in the other chair left - she hadn't used her deodorant that morning.
They'd be awfully hot in the sun.
They're swinging but who wins? The woman who was in the other chair (her name is Mary).
The sisters tolerate each other.
Underneath it all they like each other.
They're obviously swingers.
Before they got to the beach, they discussed who they might see and they went out to breakfast.
One of them belched - she didn't say excuse me.
The other one's upset.
In their family, there must be a mother, a child - Mommy and Daddy.
They have a grandmother, grandfather - he's deceased (There's no question) but I don't think he's dead.
One of them is stern (Alice is crabby), Myrtle is happy.
Alice wishes she wasn't there - she'd rather be home.
I think she's afraid of the swing.
She's upset, she must've read the will.
The other is happy, she's the favorite child and she got all the money.
They dream of each other, they dream of when they're gonna get married, they dream of children.
They want to marry rich men and they want to come to the Huntington: MaryEllen will perform the wedding and Bill's gonna play the organ - no charge!
Then they fall out of the swings and the wedding is cancelled due to injuries.
They're gonna get back on the swings.
There are no shadows, so we don't know the weather, the sun is out though.
They must have a top over them, a canopy.
They smell the salty ocean, dead fish, a doggy.
I wouldn't last long - Myrtle didn't wash her feet today: they smell.
Their favorite song is Sand In My Shoes - they love it. It's kind of gritty.
The one on the left is having a much better day.
She's not a beach person - she's miserable.
Is that a hairdo or a hat? It's a hat (we hope).
The boys are talking to Myrtle and there's jealousy.
She's scannin' 'em all, she's not lookin' at the sister or anyone else there.
I'm surprised the other one's not reading her book.
She's giving instruction to her sister.
The little sister says "It's none of your business, I'm having a good time."
She's fun to be with - the other one, I wouldn't last very long if I had to sit with her.
Is that a baby carriage? It's an illegitimate child, she was sleeping around!
It's Alice's child, she doesn't know who the father is, he didn't leave his name, it was just a one night stand.
Myrtle was fertile and she didn't wear a girdle and she looked more like a turtle.
He wouldn't shell out his love.
They didn't obviously live happily ever after.
Alice was grumpy the whole time.
Myrtle had a good life.
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