The View From Pier End

A boy’s blissful memories of life by the water are shattered by an act of cruelty.

from The View From Pier End:

"He slashed wildly as if he intended to make a scene. Jude came over too and we both realized that Kurt wasn’t crabbing. We backed away and let him be. Jude went back to his fishing post and I went off to the main pier and started catching crabs. I caught one after another, all of them large. When I had half filled the pail, Kurt approached me from behind and looked into it. He lifted it and shook the crabs to rouse them.
“That’s all? I thought you would’ve filled it by now.” he said.
“It takes a while. You gotta go slow.” I said without looking up. My eyes stayed fixed on the water and I tried to ignore his presence. He walked away, dragging his feet to enunciate himself and his boredom. Out of my periphery I saw him bent over, searching the pilings. I heard his net plunge and emerge twice, empty each time. I tried to ignore him but his futility angered me, and whatever he was mumbling under his breath began to itch in my ear and drive me crazy.