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This writing was accepted for publication in the 108 page perfect-bound ISSN# / ISBN# issue/book “The Beach at Night” Down in the Dirt v212 (10/23) Order the paperback book:

Order this writing that appears in the one-of-a-kind anthology Instant Karma the Down in the Dirt September-December 2023 issues collection book		get the 422 page September-December 2023 Down in the Dirt 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

The Beach at Night

Maureen McDole

I go to the beach two hours before the sun sinks into the sea. I have fair Irish skin, so my entire childhood I was terrified of blistering, screaming sunburns. Before I figured out the time I breathe best at the beach, I would feel jealous of girls that could lounge in bikinis at any time and not worry about getting burned. My sister Alicia could handle the striking sun. She was a lot thinner than me, so no one made her feel she should cover up. All summer, she’d make her home at the beach. This was way before any of us thought of skin cancer.

When I was in my teens I was the typical punk rock kid who wore black T-shirts and would never be caught in a bathing suit. Over the years, I’ve learned to embrace my body and breathe with ease in a swimsuit. This translated into my love of swimming laps at the pool and feeling comfortable showing longer stretches of skin.

My favorite time at the beach is night, but I never feel comfortable going there alone as a woman. It’s frustrating that there are so many places women don’t feel comfortable going alone because we have not created a society that is safe for us. Thankfully, the man I am with loves the beach at night as much as me, so every Monday, when most of the beach towels have already been hung in their homes, we start our week watching the sky streaked with the pink and yellow highlighters of my youth.

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