Then ghosts come out of the ocean mist.

The bells of Saint Catherine echo past the turn-of-the-century, Sears catalog houses down to the beach. John walks at the ocean's edge. The fog and ocean-mist create a black and white world like some old photo of a happy time. And there's been happy times for a long time in Seaside Heights, NJ. The carousel alone  is almost 100 years old. On the beach, the Funtown Pier looks hauntingly empty. Rides must be spinning and soaring to be fun and alive. But this is a happy town. A place where people took time to be together-while they could. He imagines people walking in 1940s and 50's and 60' and 70's and 80 and 90'sstyle bathing suits and shorts. All walking towards him and smiling. It reminds him how fleeting our time is on this earth. The ghosts move by like the mist on invisible feet. The ghosts remind him it's important to realize that. Maybe it's not enough to feel connected with different people's through a realization of some form of reincarnation as John does. Maybe you need to do something for people...in some small way...or stand up for them...for what's right. Otherwise, all you are doing is thinking good thoughts.

John heads under the pier into a darker world of black pillars and wood-framed views of a foamy, angry sea. There are braces against pillings to further support the pier and boardwalk above from the relentless waves. And with the higher tide, John finds he has to walk up from where he usually does and climb over these supports. Without warning he is in a foamy world of churning water with no where to go. 'This is how people drown.' John thinks. Swimmers who've drowned appear in the ocean's mist-calling to him. John thinks, '...this was really stupid to walk under here.'

Some survival energy kicks in and he's jumping over supports and soon is out from under the pier and onto the beach. Now he sees a figure walking right towads him-out of the mist. It's wearing red shorts and a whistle.

Lifeguard

'What the hell is the matter with you.? Do you see anyone else on the beach?'

John

'No'

Lifeguard

'Do you know what  a red flag means?'

John

"Stormy....'

Lifeguard

'You could die. Surfers could die too. Yes I've seen you surfing. Now get off my beach.'

John

'Sorry I got you so...'

Lifeguard

'Why are you still on my beach?'

John walks up the beach towards the boardwalk. He thinks a red flag means you could run into a lifeguard with a red face. Geeze. Dead people were warmer to me.'