THE MEMORIAL BENCH It all started when I was little more than six years old. My family and I were celebrating the 40th birthday of my Uncle Charlie. He had also just suffered from a stroke and was lucky to be alive. We had traveled a long way and we had reached a place called Arnside. This small town was beside the coast and my Uncle had moved there with his wife a few years ago. As we reached the party of people we received a warm welcome from everyone. My parents had soon indulged in a boring conversation so I decided to go outside but before I went a man offered me a balloon. I accepted gratefully and proceeded to go outside. Soon I was out and beside the dangerous gurgling waters of the bay. By my side was a large sign. It read: Danger: Quick changing tides Quicksand Strong currents of course as I was only six years old, I did not realise what any of this meant. I was curious and wanted to find out what quicksand was. As I tried to climb over the railings that separated me from the dark water beneath me I felt a strange force holding me back and a voice whispering in my ear : "The sands are cold. Do not choose the same fate that has befallen me. Go back!" The force that was holding me back suddenly grew stronger and I was forced back on to the grass. As I did this I dropped my balloon. It floated a little way up into the air and then hovered over a memorial bench nearby. Then I ran. Five years later when I came back to the same spot, I saw the plaque on the memorial bench. It read : Samuel Baul 1903 - 1915 This delicate boy suffocated in the Arnside quicksand. As I walked away to return to my caravan I heard a faint voice call for me from in the distance : "Thank you for remembering." Contact me here: yoyamime@yahoo.com Submitted From: Peter Whitfield, South Tynside, UK