Small footprints left on damp ground,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cup in one small hand, dented shovel in the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reaching up an arm, try to push away <\/p>\n\n\n\n
stray strands of bright blonde hair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prepared to construct <\/p>\n\n\n\n
a fortress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step one: find a spot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secluded from the surf,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
out of the way of wild dogs <\/p>\n\n\n\n
and wild children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They aren’t all like you, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
and security <\/p>\n\n\n\n
is essential. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step two: the design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too many options, all the world <\/p>\n\n\n\n
is a stage, all the world <\/p>\n\n\n\n
is your foundation…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stone keep? Medieval? Victorian? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Motte and Bailey,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
just stick to the classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step three: building materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consistency is crucial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not too dry, not too wet, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
not something you can describe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ll know it when you feel it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You already have your tools,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
dented shovel, giant cup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step four: construction begins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start with a solid base, packed tightly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now the pillars, three of them, no, four. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perfectly shaped, perfectly detailed—<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Möbius strip recycling arrows adorning the towers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The moat is next, deep enough that water <\/p>\n\n\n\n
starts to seep from the bottom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set a dead crawfish at the highest point, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
let it keep guard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You step back, admire your work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Indestructible, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
by land or by sea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n