Siesta Key Beach, Sunset Ritual
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I often wonder why so many locals drive gas-guzzling, pickup trucks, and here is at least one good reason. Can’t pile ten lusty college students into a Prius.
It is sunset at Siesta Key beach, and a veteran is lowering the flag to the mournful notes of taps. Students on spring break are standing on the back of two pickup trucks parked illegally. A few appear attentive to the ceremony, but the rest seem preoccupied.
The male on the left is posturing. Two females in the other pickup have noticed and are tittering. The girl on the left with extremely short cut-offs is focused on her cell phone,
but perhaps not. At least two males have noticed her and perhaps she’s feigning lack of interest. No one seems concerned that these trucks shouldn’t be parked here at all.
It occurs to me that these students are not participating in a ceremony. Rather, they are immersed in a ritual – a spring mating ritual.
We never had pickup trucks when I was a teenager in South Africa. But we did borrow our fathers’ cars and park at the lighthouse.
