Tide

The tide forgot to come in. I waved the tide tables at it, pointed to my watch and the sands and the mud. I looked up at the moon, pale and whole in the blue sky, still pulling at us. I can wait, I shouted at the sea. I've got all day. I was outwaited. The next day it came back, not crawling but crashing. I spat in a wave, but I didn't mean it. The tide took me in its arms and told me all about the pretty mermaid that had kept it out so long.