Tojinbo I was watching the sea while my scallop skewer waited

I stopped as soon as the coastal rocks came into view at Tojinbo. I was struck by how many vertical lines ran down the rocks. I’d noticed them from a distance, but when the waves ran between the columns, their shapes stood out even more.

As the wave that had just crashed ebbed away, another came rolling in. I thought I was watching the same place, but the view was never quite the same twice. I wanted to show a photo to my driving friend, but now I wanted her to see the waves in motion, too.

I stood by the sea again with the scallop skewer I’d picked up on the shopping street. I lifted it for a bite just as a big wave crashed against the rocks. I ended up staring at the view, mouth open. It struck me as a little funny, as if the scallop were waiting for me.

The wind lifted my hair, so I used my free hand to tuck it back by my ear. After straightening my scarf, I noticed my other hand, still holding the scallop skewer. I wanted to eat, watch the sea, and get my hair under control all at once. This was supposed to be a break, but it turned out busier than I expected.

Once my hair was back in place, I finally took a bite of scallop. Even as I chewed slowly, I could hear the waves hitting the rocks. Until then I’d been focused on the view, but as I ate, I wanted to remember the sound, too.

When I’d finished the skewer, I looked out at the sea once more. I’d thought I’d take a photo as soon as my hands were free, but now I just wanted to stand and watch. I’ll have to tell my friend how I got so caught up in the waves that I made my scallop wait.