Strange Solace

At first the residents of Seagrove Bay, a small English Seaside town, were surprised by a flamingo taking up residence on the marine parade. 

“I’ve never seen owt like it.” One man said. “Don’t they live in hot countries?” Said another, “it ain’t ‘ot ‘ere with the weather we’re ‘having.’

But the flamingo was well mannered, friendly, and kept his chosen spot on the parade impeccably tidy, ‘as neat as a pin’ some said. 

In time, the residents of Seagrove Bay got used to his presence. They didn’t even mind when his wife moved in, along with their pink five children. 

They are all very well mannered, the townspeople said, a well brought up family, they declared.

It was when the aunts, uncles and cousins started arriving that feelings began to change. 

‘It’s the big one.’ A woman said, ‘I don’t like the way he looks at me.’ 

‘There’s something sinister about them.’ Said another.

They were right to worry. 

There were more flamingos on the way. 

They had always dreamed of a seaside town all of their own. And Seagrove Bay was perfect.

Copyright: image by Photographer Unknown. Used here for creative, non-commercial purposes. Commercial postcard of Marine Parade, Joyland, Great Yarmouth, England. Copyright: Coates & Sons, Wisbeach.