On the pathway up from the beach I come upon some children at play.  One child stops and looks at me with an intensity which takes me by surprise, he is so very young.

“Where are you going?”, he asks.

“I am on my way to begin a voyage”, I reply.

“Where are you going?”, he repeats.

“I am going to the market for supplies and then I am to find a boat”, I respond.

“It will be an interesting journey”, he says.

“Indeed”, say I smiling broadly.

He is staring hard at me.  Looking straight into my eyes…I feel a little uncomfortable.

“What have you lost?”, he asks.

I am taken aback.

“Um, nothing as far as I am aware”, say I.

“Okay”, says he and turns back to his playmates.

“How odd”, I think to myself as I walk on.  I have gone only a few feet when he calls, “Hold on”…….he comes running up to me.

“You may need this” he says grinning and hands me a piece of the most delicate red coral.

“Have fun” he laughs as he runs off returning to play.