Baseless Society- with help from ChatGPT. (The idea, I wrote it myself)
The sky turned orange as Chris Johnson, his wife Sophie, and his dad Geoffrey watched it at Bitterfront Sound beach, listening to the waves.
“It’s nice to be on a sandy beach, isn’t it, Soph?” Chris said.
“I honestly have no idea why you’re so obsessed with sand, Chris.” Sophie said. “Sandylook Bay clearly has a superior beach and pier.”
“Never mind whether sand is better than stone.” Geoffrey said. “All that matters is that beautiful sunset.” Geoffrey took a photo of it with his phone. “Just like your mother used to love.”
August was always a bittersweet time for Chris and his dad. On the one hand, it was Chris’ birthday in a month, on the other, it was the anniversary of the mysterious death of his mother.
Because of this, it was always a hard time for the two of them.
Which was why they tried to make an effort to spend it together, to celebrate both Chris’ birthday and his mum’s life.
“Are you sure you’ve never wondered how she died?” Chris asked Geoffrey.
“Sure, I’m sure, son.” Geoffrey said. “We went to walk past the Avon. Your mum stayed at home, a burglary happened, she got in the way, we came back, and she was dead. There’s nothing more to it.”
“But is there really?” Chris said. “Are you sure she didn’t have enemies, someone who wanted her dead?”
“You certainly know a lot, don’t you? Considering you were ten,” Geoffrey said.
“Your dead mother lying on the ground covered in blood tends to stay in one’s memory.” Chris said.
“I remember my dad having bullet holes in him when my mother and I found him lying on the shingle.” Sophie said.
“Perhaps. But that don’t mean nothing.” Geoffrey said. “Now then, I fancy taking a little stroll along the pier.”
Geoffrey, Chris, and Sophie were silent on the way to the pier. The atmosphere was still peaceful. All that they could hear were the seagulls and the crashing waves.
Lindisfarne was the only place more serene, with the sunset, water, and birds complemented by the gentle wailing of grey seals..
Once they had finally reached the pier, Geoffrey was disheartened to see that it was closed, and didn’t open again until 10:00 AM the following day.
Feeling a bit peckish, Chris suggested they find a nearby pub to have a bite to eat, so they walked the remainder of the seafront.
“Sandylook Bay Pier is open practically all day.” Sophie said. “And is free.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s a superior pier, Soph.” Chris said.
“Personally, I think it does, Chris.” Sophie said. “I know it’s owned by a Sheikh, but at least he’s done a decent job of reconstructing the pier’s Victorian charm.”
“That’s because he had to, Soph.” Chris said. “It’s protected by law.”
“How about I compare the two piers when I next visit Sandylook Bay.” Geoffrey said, ended his son and daughter-in-law’s argument.
After a brisk walk along the sea front, Geoffrey, Sophie, and Chris found a quaint pub to have dinner in.
“How about a Private Investigator? Really look into mum’s death.” Chris said to Geoffrey.
“You can try that, but it’ll only be inconclusive, believe me,” Geoffrey said.
“Why did armed burglars decided to raid our house, was mum hiding something that someone else wanted to have?” Chris asked, browsing through his menu.
“No. Those burglars just chose to rob our house, and your mother was a threat. They got rid of that threat in a way they knew best.” Geoffrey said.
“If my dad was hiding something that resulted in him being shot, mum would have told me.” Sophie said, settling for her usual choice of Pan fried Sea Bass.
“Dad, you’ll have to realize that she was assassinated eventually,” Chris said. “It’s the only logical explanation.”
Geoffrey took a drag of his Hobgoblin. “Things have happened that are stranger than fiction, son. She simply got in the way of some horrid, horrid people.”
Before Chris could respond, a server arrived to take their order.
“Let’s drop the subject now. Your mother wouldn’t like us arguing about how she died, would she?” Geoffrey said.
After an enjoyable meal, Geoffrey, Chris, and Sophie walked back along the seafront.
“Well, that was a nice day at the seaside, weren’t it?” Geoffrey said.
“I suppose so, Dad,” Chris said, sadly.
“I suppose Bitterfront isn’t that bad,” Sophie said, looking out to sea, “but it’s still just the place people from the Midlands go to because they can’t be bothered to go further south.”
Chris looked at the last remnants of the sunset. “There are worse places to be.”
“Indeed, there are,” Geoffrey said.
Eventually Geoffrey, Chris, and Sophie returned to Geoffrey’s house in Avalon. They bid each other goodnight and went to bed.
“Don’t worry, mum. I’ll find out why you were murdered. Somehow.” Chris thought to himself.
And with that, he turned off the bedroom light and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
The Robinsonverse 