The Chiki Beach Chair Wars

[charlescroes]

In the still hours of the morning - sun still on the other side of this planet and the moon barely glancing off the water, you can see them. They are warriors and are dressed in their camaflouge suits to make them blend into the beach sand. They wear sand colored overalls with bits of plastic and cigarette butts glued on in various places. A bent soda pop straw here or there add the last cute touches. In stead of hats, they have CHEETOS bags over their heads The holes made for breathing and vision are minute. There are different versions of this attire but the basics remain the same.

Like a wind blown pile of litter, they roll strategically into place. FOCUSED - totally focused on their objective = THE CHIKI.

Looking up at one of the rooms, a signal comes. the window shades are used to send signals and messages (much like they do on ships at sea). One of the beach sand warriors flips our his RAZOR looks up at the window - and in hush tones. says - "I copy".

Slowly they creep to the chiki's of choice. Snake-like and with stealth. they near the areas and then spring up and pull out towels, books and half finished Piña Coladas. This is "Territory Claiming Gear" The towels get flipped on to the chairs and the books and half finished drinks on the tables.

Then - they slip away. Silently - ever so silently. No one must know that they are the warriors that would come into the night and fight for shade while it is still dark - and then - often times not use it untill the sun is about to set. It must be a top secret operation. And it is. Binocular eyes with bits of moon shining from the glass lense surfaces - pull away from the windows. Mothers look at the eldest children and say "Daddy Did It!" It is a ritual. Passed on from generation to generation and the ability for the children to see and learn is priceless. Sons go back to bed with proud button-busting-chests. Mothers go to the kitchen with their daughters to prepare coffee and grub for their warriors.

The combination buttons on the door handles make their clicking sounds and in comes what appears to be a walking ball of sand with junk glued to it. The son hops out of bed and goes to the warrior and unzips the back. The war and battle torn uniform is carefully packed away.

"Which one did you get Dad?"
"I got #34 - tough battle this morning"
The kid looks up, smiles and in his mind ring out the words "That is MY dad". The father looks down and just before he is able to say something sentimental about war - in comes the coffee and the ladies of the family.

They all sit over a coffee table and look at a map. Intently they look at Chiki #1. It is circled in red.
Dad looks at his trained team and says "Tomorrow it is ours!"
The family flutters. They look at each other and blush with excitement

It is still dark
The family unit goes to sleep
In a few hours they will awaken to the reality of the day time war. Enough battle for now. Afterall - they are on vacation and need to rest

Eyes close and snoring starts. In this family, the women snore. They are a unit. They are tough. They are the CHIKI WARRIORS.

charles

[BigPapa]

Love it Charles....Great way to " put it "

[Manzanita]

Charles, your assessment of this phenomena is dead on the money! Last year at about 8:00 am, I found an un-reserved table right next to the pool. I sat down with only my coffee cup & a newspaper & was hungrily eyed by several passers-by looking for a prime spot to park their belongings.

About 8:30, a family stopped by their reserved table next to mine & the children began to take off T-shirts & sandals for a morning swim. Mom said, "No, no! We're going to our beach site & we'll come back here after lunch." Needless to say, this family was still at the beach at 1:30 & their pool table remained unused all morning.

I've adopted Aruba's "One Happy Island" spirit regarding the beach/pool turf wars. Last year I had the best Aruba vacation ever, partly because I looked for the humor in all potentially negative situations. Your essay captured the humorous spirit of these turf warriors & made for a very good read with my early morning coffee. Thanks

[charlescroes]

Thank you and glad you enjoyed it
charles

Originally Posted by Manzanita

Charles, Your essay captured the humorous spirit of these turf warriors & made for a very good read with my early morning coffee. Thanks

[AuntieMame]

Like Ninja's on holiday -- sooo true.

Great story, Charles.

[Elaine S]

Charles!

Now THIS story hits a nerve and how well I can relate!! Instead of just one person getting up before the sun comes up, we now have a group called the "rotators." Godforbid if one rotator sleeps a second too long and doesn't get the "property we think we own," ~man, all hell breaks loose!

I'm at a slight disadvantage ... I don't have enough time or ambition to put in my contact lenses, (unless I'm just coming in from a night out) and as soon as I hit the air my glasses fog up! I must be a sight to behold and no question a vision of loveliness... Picture this ~ an old broad with "anything handy" thrown over pajamas, half blind, glasses fogged up, groping on the beach trying to read numbers on huts, throwing towels all over the place, and usually with a cigarette dangling!! Kinda frightening, huh???