by Matty Duffy
There’s nothing like Ditch Plains Beach, my favorite place on Earth. When I swim out quickly on my boogie board, I see waves far out as big as the Titanic. The water smells as salty as a pretzel. Crash! I hear the wave break over my head as I swim under it. I almost hit the rocks that separate the surfers and the swimmers. I make a diving football catch and feel the water smack me against the face. When I walk down the shore, I see how perfect and beautiful the beach is. I go to the food truck and get Nerds that taste like heaven. Then I go farther down the beach and start to fish. I feel a big fish take a bite and I set the hook. Then the fish starts to fight, and it’s back and forth between me and the fish. I keep reeling as my rod looks like it’s about to snap. I finally reel it in and it’s a huge Sea Bass. I gave it a piece of my bait because it gave such a good fight. Then I let the fish go and start to head back. As I’m sitting down, I take an enormous bite of the juicy yet crispy, fried chicken. When I go in the tidepools to look for crabs, I feel the rocks and seaweed tickle my feet. Later, I go out on a surfboard and drift slowly through the ocean. I look up and see a big wave. I stand up and ride smoothly to shore. When I get back, I realize I have to go, so I pack up the car. We get home and my Mema has a feast ready. I gobble up the ribs and fish. Me and my brother played knee hockey and I made a game winning save and it was like I just won the Stanley Cup. That night I slept like a baby dreaming of another day at the beach.
*Editor’s Note: Matty Duffy is a 12 year old attending the Annunciation School. He was 11 when he wrote the above essay. Matty’s joy of reading has translated into his joy of writing and we at “The Montauk Sun” encourage him to continue. Way to go Matty!