The Voice Issue two, June '22

THE VOICE

VOL. 2 |JUNE 2022

FROM THE EDITOR Growing up, I always wanted to be older than what I was. When I hit fourteen, I wanted to be fifteen. When I got to fifteen, all I wanted was to be sixteen. You get the picture. I think this came from the narrative that once I got to a certain age, a particular era, I would know what I was going to do and be in this life.

The ‘grass is always greener’, ‘it's the destination not the journey’ mindset.

Graduating highschool at seventeen, the thought of being twenty two felt so distant, so old, so put together.

Well here we are, five years later, and seventeen is the distant memory. Life was so simple then, so very easy. Is my life put together like I thought it would be? Do I know what I want to do? Have I made it? All these questions teenage Bailee had, still exist. And they will exist for the rest of my life because they are there through every season of our lives. These are the sobering questions we need to ask ourselves. The ones that wake us up.

So while questions remain a constant, the answers have changed. Have I made it? ‘Made’ what? Upheld the unrealistic expectations of society and the ones I placed on myself? No, I saw through those and left them in the past. It sounds harsh, but moving on from the things that don't serve you is the best response you can have. It brings growth in every way possible. How boring to have a life where we never evolve, never reach the level of growth we were created to. I thank god I evolved from seventeen year old me, but I also thank god for the questions I asked myself then, the experiences I had and the ones that are to come. They grow you, so you are prepared to live through each season.

I think I've realised that I don't want to grow ‘up’ but just grow. Growing up suggests that what we are now isn't enough, and that's simply not true. So, grow on.

Bailee McLeod

GET IN CONTACT The Voice Team Bailee Mcleod - s17056539@student.avondale.edu.au Nik Baumanis - s20075121@student.avondale.edu.au Eilish Ryan - Eilish.Ryan@avondale.edu.au

Security Phone: (02) 4980 2333 Extension: #333 Email: security@avondale.edu.au

Avondale University Church Pr Norman Hurlow - Norman.Hurlow@avondale.edu.au Pr Morgan Vincent - Morgan.Vincent@avondale.edu.au Phone: (02) 4980 2272 Extension: #272 Email: collegechurch@avondale.edu.au Located: in the main foyer of University Church Open: Monday - Thursday from 9am - 5pm & Fridays 9am - 12pm

Wellbeing Centre Phone: 0403 478 994 (SMS preferred) Email: counselling@avondale.edu.au (appointment queries only) Located: the counsellor's office is situated in the wellbeing centre

Lana Hibbard (Lead Clinical Counsellor) Jonathan Gould Our counsellors offer confidential counselling to students experiencing a range of academic, mental health and personal concerns

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Counsellors

CONTRIBUTORS Bailee McLeod Editor-in-Chief Bailee is an English and Visual Arts Major, who is ‘no, not doing teaching!’(and yes, she’s considered it). If she is not doing yoga or drinking coffee, she will be at the beach with a good book or listening to Sam Fender on her way to the shops.

Nikolai Baumanis Assistant Editor Nikolai (or if you’re unsure of the pronunciation) “Nik” - is an English and Food Technology Major studying Secondary Education. He spends most of his time listening to local Aussie music, daydreaming about ridiculous hypothetical scenarios, and cringing at grammatical errors.

Danae Grolimund Graphic Designer Danae, pronounced ‘duh-nae’, is studying a Bachelor of Arts and Primary Teaching. She spends her spare time hanging out with friends and watching Gemma Collins's funny moments on youtube or the Great British Bake-off funny moments.

Rachael Thomson Photographer Rachael is completing her fourth and final year at Avondale as a Bachelor of Arts Student. She loves travelling & photography, so any chance for her to do both is a win. She also considers herself a major connoisseur of Chai lattes, unable to resist a smooth, creamy mug.

Emilie Jackson Guest Writer Emilie is a third-year secondary art, English and business teacher. She likes eating blueberries, can be convinced of most conspiracy theories, thinks 45minute naps are the most effective, tends to avoid butterflies, and if given the choice, would have her life narrated by David Attenborough.

Acknowledgement of country

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We acknowledge the Awabakal and Guringai peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the Country in which we work and play. We thank them for protecting this coastline and its ecosystems, and we recognise their continuing connection to land and waters. We acknowledge that they never ceded sovereignty. We pay our respects to elders past present and emerging, and extend that respect to all First Nations People present today.

RECIPE RECOMMENDATION GLUTEN STEAKS Growing up Gluten Steaks were always associated with burgers on a Friday night. The burgers often consisted of cheese that was cut wonky and extremely thick due to my brother's slightly terrible knife skills and tomato that was diced instead of sliced because someone hadn’t communicated to dad what we were eating. Gluten Steaks have become a tradition in our house, it’s a recipe that has been passed down through four generations of my family, and it's somewhat of an art which I have messed up many times. I hope you enjoy eating them as much as I do because after a number of tries I still can’t get the recipe right.

Ingredients: 2 Onions 2 Eggs 1 Can Asparagus Soup 1 Large Can Tomato Soup Soy Sauce Gluten Flour Peanut Butter (Smooth) Marmite (Because we’re cultured) Milk Oil Soup 1. Chop onion, add to pot and fry with little oil, until clear.

2. Add the tomato and asparagus soup.

3. Stir Patties 1. Chop Onions and place in mixing bowl 2. Add Eggs and stir 3. Add ¾ tablespoon of soy sauce, the mixture should be light brown not black.

4. Stir 5. Into a mug put a heaped tablespoon of peanut butter and a heaped teaspoon of marmite.

6. Add milk to fill cup, stir, add to the bowl with other ingredients, add extra cup of milk.

7. Stir 8. Add gluten flour by cup stirring regularly.

9. Stop adding gluten flour when the mixture falls off the spoon in a lump, not piece by piece.

10. Fry the mixture in a very warm frying pan. Add to soup and cook for an extra 45 minutes, stirring regularly.

BY: BEC DARKO

GRATITUDE JOURNAL Bailee If one person in this team has to be 'cheesy', I will gladly take that role. I am incredibly grateful for my lecturers. The ones who take time to listen to our woes, our triumphs, who read draft, after draft, after draft of our assessments, organise our messy degrees and are just overall legends. We see you. We appreciate you. Eternally grateful for your dedication, and you have blessed us in more way.

Nik When reflecting on where I have come from, and where I am now… I am grateful for the strengths and skills that I have been blessed with. I am so thankful that I am able to grow and develop each day so that I can build a life where I am able to help and support those around me. I am so appreciative of the fact that I have been blessed with a position where my voice can be heard, and I can make a difference in the world.

Danae If there’s one thing I'm grateful for so far this year, it would be my friends.

Knowing that I wasn't the only one doing that assignment last minute at 1am, and going on random spontaneous trips when we definitely had work to do, are some of the best memories I'll have throughout my life. Also Chai Latte’s.

Always grateful for a good chai.

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Rachael There is so much to be grateful for in life. This semester has been such a blessing and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The thing I have enjoyed most is making new friends and discovering new passions. Also extremely grateful for the opportunity to work on the Voice with this amazing team, shoutout to Bailee, Nik and Danae, you guys are awesome.

MESSY MEDIA The Batman 2022 is arguably one of the best and the most awaited DC movies in the current two decades which honestly isn’t saying much. However, it’s truly worth the hype.

Yes, we did get the 2021 Suicide Squad which was a much bigger hit than expected, however, coming off a movie that was more of a flop then a bop (I would disagree simply because of Captain Boomerang) the OG suicide squad movie was predominantly voted as a failure to most audience. The general populace would argue that it wouldn’t be too hard to make a reboot better when the original was trash. A Batman movie though? A completely new Batman in the form of Robert Pattinson? The vibe before the release was one of unsteady hope and varying expectations. But I loved it.

Disclaimer: before we get into spoiler territory!! Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy is amazing. Nothing will ever compare to Cillian Murphy as scarecrow or Heath Ledger as the joker (rest in peace). But as a younger DC fan who wasn’t old enough to be a part of the major hype of the series (2008 - I was in prep) watching an extraordinarily good origin movie is a very cool experience and I’m glad I can now be a part of it.

Now for the spoilers and review…

Robert Pattinson brings an uncertain, awkward, and relatively fresh-faced Bruce Wayne and an inexperienced, equally fresh-faced Batman, who believes fear solves crimes (getting scarecrow vibes not gonna lie) compared to BaleBat and BatFleck.

Patterson’s Batman (PatterBat? Yes) is visible in his lack of experience, and Gotham is visible in their uncertainty of him. PatterBat fights with “vengeance” but is no means a superhero. Those he saves are equally as scared of him as the perpetrators he punishes. Which is realistic - I would be terrified of a badass bat who hides in the shadows and I’m mostly a law-abiding citizen.

Bruce Wayne is adorably awkward. He’s literally described as a hermit; a 22-year-old hermit who’s been held up in his manor training to be PatterBat with only Alfred and whatever other servants he has for company.

He’s not going to be suave and charming; it’d be sociopathic for him to be super charismatic when he’s a young broody emo man dressed as a bat. He’s literally emo and edgy at home. Alfred is literally dealing with his ‘it’s not a phase’ phase. I’ve been there. My poor mother. Awkward Bruce is new and cute and realistic, and I love him.

When he enters a room, he doesn’t need to speak (could be also due to the lack of voice changer he has but still), his sheer presence is immense and powerful. His body language and facial expressions are enough to both communicate and intimidate - which shows clearly amongst criminals and the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD). Speaking of the GCPD, the depiction of the cops and Gordon is one of the best I’ve seen.

It’s very ‘Arkham-esque’ but BETTER. There’s a definitive opinion throughout the force about PatterBat, which mostly goes along the lines of “is this allowed? is he allowed??”

There’s also a healthy amount of suspicion and fear of the guy who dresses up as a bat and beats people up. He’s not operating within the law and does mess up a lot of ‘bad’ people - who’s to say he’s not in cahoots with the guy murdering corrupt people? It’s realistic that cops (whether corrupt or not) are suspicious of him and his morals.

Gordon is portrayed amazingly. His relationship with Batman is both familiar but also new and uncertain. You’re unsure whether Gordon knows who’s under the mask, but you also don’t care because they bounce off each other so well. There’s more potential chemistry between those two then Catwoman and PatterBat. Catwoman is cool, she kicks butt and holds her own. Her nails are sick and a great addition to her design by Zoe. She’s independent and a girl boss. Go her. She has a compelling, rather fleshed out story for a female character in a male dominated and lead movie. People felt that the kiss came out of nowhere, but personally, I felt that it wasn’t specifically a romantic kiss.

Using her sensuality to her advantage was always a core part of her persona and is clearly used throughout the movie. She invited PatterBat to leave an (in her opinion) unsavable and cursed Gotham and start anew in Bludhaven. Catwoman cares for Bruce and doesn’t want him to end up dying for a city that doesn’t deserve him. It was probably meant to be romantic though.

You’re grounded in this version of Gotham in a way that the other Batman interpretations don’t allow you to be. Of course, there’s unrealistic modifications but they aren’t sleek and clean and super-duper expensive. PatterBat uses a regular printer and it’s adorable!

The way this movie was made and edited is beautiful. Each frame can be screenshot. They’ve taken aspects that have worked well in other media and bettered it. The colour grading is red and gold and warm, and green and blue and cold depending on the location, subject, and character. It makes everything distinctive and meshed at the same time.

I also love how the movie answers the question that many other Batman media has asked but barely touched on - does Batman breed criminals?

I definitely need to rewatch it again and again and again and again and again.

Taylor Kelly

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PatterBat grows from ‘fear’ and “VENGENCE” into a literal superhero, leading the people of Gotham to safety and being comfort and hope to those who need it. (Obviously still beating up the baddies of course). After so many flips and flops that have come from a consistently derailing DCU, it is really nice to see a movie where the actors and writers clearly care, and that has been born from the source material. (Not looking at you The Suicide Squad 2021 and Batman Begins xx). There is love and dedication poured into this movie and I’m so glad it’s hit the mark and gone above expectations.

WO/

WHAT IS YOU NICKNAME/S? Talz or Lil

WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING HERE AT AVONDALE? Primary Teaching WHAT IS A HABIT OF JUSTINS' THAT IRRITATES YOU? He thinks he is always right and never backs down

TALIA RENFREW

WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST FEAR AS A CHILD? That Justin would never be taller than me

OUT OF YOU AND JUSTIN, WHO WAS THE GOOD CHILD AND WHO WAS THE BAD CHILD? I was the good child, Justin was the bad one WHO IS YOUR MOST LISTENED TO MUSIC ARTIST? Probably any Christian music WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE YOUR TOP 3 STRENGTHS? Serving someone to make their lives easier, hanging out with kids, and cooking some good food WHAT COLOUR WOULD JUSTIN BE AND WHY? Blue because he loves the outdoors, but also because 90% of the shirts he owns are blue WHAT IS YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE QUOTE? Psalm 119:106 - "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" WHAT'S ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUTJUSTIN? I love his adventurous spirit WHO INSPIRES YOU? Probably my parents and Francis Chan, if you don’t know who he is look him up.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR SO FAR THIS YEAR? I am just grateful to be back at college with all these amazing people

/MAN WHAT IS YOU NICKNAME/S? Jimmi, Cone, Juzz, Juzzy, Jizzy

WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING HERE AT AVONDALE? Bachelor of Business. But the truth is I study the men of Watson to give Talia advice regarding eligible bachelors.

WHAT IS A HABIT OF TALIAS' THAT IRRITATES YOU? When I'm mad she just laughs which only makes me far more mad, which makes her laugh harder and it becomes a deadly spiral

JUSTIN RENFREW

WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST FEAR AS A CHILD? Talia was much taller than me so I was deadly afraid of being misidentified as Talia's younger brother

OUT OF YOU AND TALIA, WHO WAS THE GOOD CHILD AND WHO WAS THE BAD CHILD? Definitely me. As I was often manipulated into doing good child things. I would always do the chores, being easily manipulated allowed mum to mould me into the good child.

WHO IS YOUR MOST LISTENED TO MUSIC ARTIST? Justin Renfrew... His voice has power and he always hits this ONE SINGULAR note.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE YOUR TOP 3 STRENGTHS? Singer/Song Writer, Humility, Humour.

WHAT COLOUR WOULD TALIA BE AND WHY? I wasn't sure so I asked Jonah Duperouzel and he said yellow because she lights up his world. But I would probably say silver because she's always second to me WHAT IS YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE QUOTE? “Do I need to be liked? Absolutely not. I like to be liked. I enjoy being liked. I have to be liked. But it’s not like this compulsive need like my need to be praised”

WHO INSPIRES YOU? Because I'm not a first-year female, it's not Cooper Redman, however, there are few things more inspiring to me than humans pushing themselves to their limit, which is why endurance athletes always inspire me, but if I had to choose one I'd say Pheidippides WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR SO FAR THIS YEAR? I'm grateful for the opportunities that arise at Avondale, whether it's meeting new people, or messing around with the boys - just to be around like-minded people who together form something bigger than ourselves.

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WHAT'S ONE THING YOU LOVE ABOUT TALIA? How good she makes me feel about myself just because of her existence, definitely just the way that no matter how upset we get at each other it won't last long

Adventure Checklist We get Emilie Jackson to give us a lay of the land; here’s a list of adventures and practical things to do during mid year break.

Relax - Take it easy have some early nights and catch up on sleep Live Music - See who's playing in your local area big or small and go see them Do go chasing waterfalls - everyone has one locals only waterfall find yours Go on a road trip - borders are finally open so why not hit as many states as you can during break Spend time with your family - so maybe they don't want to do midnight maccas run but they can still be fun

Hike - get out in nature because I think someone wise once said blue and green should always be seen Prac folders - Education students, amongst all the other fun things, maybe look at your place folder at least once Make art - it doesn't have to be good and it can be anything from stick figures of people walking down the street to a wall sized masterpiece; just make it Visit your college friends - good adventures and maybe even some sneaky free accommodation could be included

Go to the beach - yes it's cold but wouldn't you rather be cold at the beach ?

Checklist Continued...

Climb a mountain Get a plant - water it, name it, love it Read a book Declutter - lockdown online shopping added to the collection of stuff, maybe it's time to cull a few things...

Get a fish - fish are fun pets! unless you are Isabella Southon then don't get a fish please

Volunteer - food banks, soup kitchens church service trips always are happy for more help Send a letter to a friend - bring some joy to someone you love let them know what your up to!

Get a Job - more money = more Pauly’s next semester Cook - have a go at cooking something you've never cooked before it might surprise you

Explore the closest city to you - if there is one close to you go find some museums, gardens, art galleries

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The Presidential Debate Lake Macquarie vs. Wahroonga Lake Macquarie Campus It’s no word of a lie that Lake Macquarie while inevitably having more pandemic freedom, is far better than any other excuse of a campus that we could grace with our presence.

Stephen R. Covey has said that “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” In essence, a strong culture is built in a place that facilitates multiple degrees and careers, not a place that only offers one. I believe that this very premise, of Wahroonga vs Lake Macquarie, is exactly what Covey is referring to. Strength stems from people who have different life ambitions, people with different perspectives and interests. Lake Macquarie’s conglomeration of characters studying an assortment of degrees celebrates difference. It encourages differing trains of thought. It opens itself up to other schools and areas of study to create a vibrant culture that recognises the various aspects of our society, not just the medical.

Our campus is home to tantalising experiences. We have a bell to ring…albeit you are not allowed to ring it, but it is nice to know the option is there. Amongst such things are a clear pathway to the 2nd most beautiful body of water in NSW…Dora Creek. With mountains nearby to get lost in, and the beach on which many sharks are sighted regularly, what’s not to love?

It goes without saying that when everyone was lining up to receive the most exciting facilities, Lake Macquarie was first in the queue (and Wahroonga at the back of the line). Hoards are wanting to start their nursing degree at Lake Mac for the Avondale XP. No one is saying they start on the Wahroonga campus to get the Avondale XP a campus that smells like bleach and Dettol had a fiesta.

To conclude, I’d like to finish with a quote from Winston Churchill himself: “To improve is to change; To be perfect is to go to Avondale University Lake Macquarie campus.”

Jay Borrott

Wahroonga Campus I just like to start by addressing the fact that I have been lucky enough to attend both AVONDALE campuses and really like both very much! However, after two years on the Sydney campus I have to say this is the best. Nestled within the beautiful Upper Northshore of Sydney, close to good cafes, half an hour from the beach, half an hour from the beautiful Ku-ring-gai National Park, this campus sits in the beautiful, green suburb of Wahroonga.

The campus offers a range of great things: a huge library with super supportive librarians that can pretty much tell you what textbooks you need for your essays, our lecturers’ are only one staircase away from answering questions, our common room has large, comfy lounges for big groups of friends, we also have a pool table to play at when you’re needing a brain break and our simulation labs for clinical skills practice are almost scary they feel so real!!!

Our campus allows all students to mingle with each other and form friendships within each year. The nurse’s residence, where quite a few nursing students live, is a huge advantage to our campus. Numerous times I have rolled out of bed, grabbed my laptop and five minutes later ended up in the lecture theatre. It really is the best campus ever!

Additionally, our campus is literally next door to The Sydney Adventist Hospital, where a lot of our clinical placements are allocated. How convenient!

Grace O’Toole

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To finish off, Avondale Sydney campus is the BEST place to study nursing at Avondale, but it is also the greatest campus.

(Plus we have bunnies on site. What more could you want?)

Welcome Home - Morgan Vincent

Where’s home for you?

Home for me will always be Newcastle. I spent the first 23 years of life in Newcastle but currently I am living in Cooranbong.

What is your official position at Uni Church? What do you do all day?

My official position is Associate Pastor. No two days are the same in pastoral ministry but generally my day consists of three things: 1) Bible study and prayer. This is important as I am always in need of God’s Spirit, wisdom, and direction. I can only give to others what I have received myself from God. I believe it to be important to continually be learning of Jesus in His Word.

2) Administration and organisational work either by myself or in collaboration with the pastoral team. This is where planning, visioning, meeting, and excitement happens.

3) Interactions with people. This can take place in Rejuve, in my office, going for a walk, on the tennis court, over the phone, in the cafeteria, in people’s homes, a hospital bed, in the library or in boy’s dorms.

Have you pastored anywhere else within Australia or even globally?

In 2020 and 2021, I spent two years in pastoral ministry on the Central Coast. In 2017 and 2018, I was a Chaplain at Port Macquarie Adventist School. God has opened other doors for preaching and pastoral appointments on a short-term basis in India, Thailand, Ethiopia, New Zealand, and the United States of America.

What led you to Ministry? Was there a particular moment you felt God prophesy this over your life or have you always felt called to it?

There have been multiple times when God has made it undoubtedly clear that He was leading me to pastoral ministry. Two occasions stand out. The first was when I was 19 years old, and God saved me from drowning. It was at this moment that I knew God had saved my life for a purpose: to lead others into a saving relationship with Him. The second moment was in fact over the two years when I was Chaplain in Port Macquarie. It was here that God was redirecting my path back toward pastoral ministry.

Now for the important question, are you a coffee drinker? If yes, what is your brew of choice?

I’m not into caffeine, rather, I get my kick out of exercising. I am a massive fan of chai and also Korean tea.

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Can you share the pastoral team’s vision for Uni Church over 2022?

Our purpose is to inspire, equip and empower people to respond to God’s love and calling.

The way we do this is by seeking God, living grace, being real, serving together and connecting humanity. This leads to Spirit-led transformation for which we have the vision to send 1000 Spirit-led missional leaders by 2025. So 2022, is an integral part of our overall vision.

Knowing me, knowing you Knowing people and being in relationship with others is one joy we have in this life.

Community and relationships are integral to longevity and wellness. They are the things that sustain us on a spiritual level. Who we invest in and give energy to, matters, whether we like it or not.

The American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine published a study led by Dan Buettner and a team of researchers, scientists, demographers, and anthropologists, who set out to find the secrets to longevity. They uncovered five zones – later dubbed, the Blue Zones – around the globe containing the highest number of centenarians. Buettner and his team distilled their findings into 9 commonalities they called the ‘Power 9’. These nine common denominators showed that the responsibility was not solely on the individual, but it was the environment and lifestyle changes that increased life expectancy. They include, Move Naturally, Purpose, Downshift, 80% Rule, Plant Slant, Wine @ 5, Belong, Loved ones first, Right tribe. While I could discuss the impact of adding more plants to your diet for eternity, we are going to focus on the last relational based points, particularly the last two.

Point eight, Loved ones first, shows that Blue Zone centenarians put their families first. Ageing parents and grandparents lived nearby or in the home. They commit to their life partners and invest in their children. Buettner found that these practices lowered disease and mortality rates in the children of the homes and increased life expectancy by three years. Point nine, Right tribe, indicates that centenarians choose a social circle that supports healthy habits and behaviours. Studies show that who we surround ourselves with matters. If the habits of the people we acquaint ourselves with are different to ours, there’s a chance we could take them on. Things such as happiness and loneliness are contagious.

Buettner’s findings are simple and practical and can be easily implemented into our daily lives.

It’s taking the time to recognise where things must be shifted within our lives. It’s refining and letting go; there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes people come into your life for a season, then they go on their way. Some people are in it for the long haul. You know who they are, the ones who come into your life with ease and make everything lighter. The human experience is a joyous yet tumultuous ride. If the last two years have taught us anything it's to grab a hold of your community. The one that sustains you. Who knows, you might just make it to 100 with them.

Buettner, Dan, and Sam Skemp. “Blue Zones: Lessons From the World’s Longest Lived.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, vol. 10, no. 5, Sept. 2016, pp. 318–321

Bailee McLeod

Tne Little Wind The breeze burns your skin. The sun’s lips pressed against the ocean. Waves, alive, a shimmering array of coins. The land is bright, but new, as the clouds lift and the warm glowing beams can finally reach the sand. Oar-like leaves scrape against one another, like forks on ceramic plates. A light wind, just enough to carry the kite’s wings above the mountains. Teardrops roll from illuminated webs and down into the pool below. Before long, the landscape becomes a scolding hotplate. The kites return to the shadows of the willow trees, and the pools below have dried. Little crabs scuttle to the ocean before the sun burns them orange. The roaring of waves against steep cliffs begins to thunder through the air. The little wind lifts the teardrops from the ocean and carries them upon your beetroot face. Cicadas begin, just one, a soloist, soon accompanied by their choir.

You can taste it, the salt mist in the air, the sand in your hair and the water stinging your eyes. Your throat - dry, like sandpaper as you swallow. Hundreds of white wings flock to the sky, towards a little family perched on the beach. The scavengers surrounding them are no match for the little creature that begins after them, stumbling once, twice, receiving a mouthful of sand. The shimmering coins begin to roll away from one another, dark thin shapes move among them like sheepdogs.

Darting back and forth, working as a team to heard the coins, raging gamblers. Launching out of the water with great lust and elegance, diamonds falling from their strong muscular bodies. The ocean begins to meet your toes, rising up and up. It would not be long before the barren desert was flooded with the cool salty water that slowly creeps up from the depths. The sun began fading into the ocean once again, drowning, down to the ocean floor. The desert became cold and hostile. Silence, only the roar of the waves crashing onto rocky cliffs, carried upon the wind.

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Nik Baumanis

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