Dragon Cave

There is a steep place down below the end of Jenner Street where centuries of waves have cut a sandstone cave. Each night when lovers walk on the cliff-top, when old people rest there, when stray dogs pause and point their noses to the sunset sky, the sea rolls in across the narrow beach and fills the cave with thunder.

Children call it Dragon Cave, they say the hollow booming sound and the rapid crashing sound of waves doubling back upon themselves inside are the alternate laughing and cursing of an unseen creature. They say that one long evening, with all the lovers and old people and stray dogs standing there, a shower of starfish and broken abalone shells will fly from the cavern; and that will be the creature preparing to come out.