Frank used to hold shells to his ear so that he could hear the sea. But there are no shells here.

He’s not sure why Mom likes this place. There’s no beach. No swimming. No nothing.

If Mom keeps smiling though, Frank thinks he won’t really mind about the shells.

Ben lives in Dallas where he is viewed with tolerant amusement by his wife and two small boys. He has just started writing micro fiction and hopes to get better at it.