The gulls flew softly over the beach as she watched the sun slowly descend into the ocean. The day had been a good one. She'd worked hard; now it was time for a little relaxation. She'd been a professional tanner for over a decade now. It wasnt easy carving out such a career, but she was determined, because she knew, even as a young girl, that this was what she was destined to do. The moment of realization came when she was perhaps 16. She'd fallen asleep on the beach -- not far from this very beach, as a matter of fact -- and she woke to a small crowd of men watching her tan. From a respectable distance, but nevertheless... they were watching her. And it was then that she knew. Two years later, she was in a pitch meeting with ESPN. Her approach was simplicity itself: which would their viewers prefer to watch, a bunch of beer-guted wheezers playing poker or a pretty girl getting a tan? It was no contest, none at all. She was on the air, in prime time, within a week. And all she had to do was lie there and tan as the cameras rolled. There was nothing blatantly prurient about it; she was insistent on that point. The camera was to maintain the same respectful distance. She would do nothing beyond lie on a blanket. And she was an immediate hit. The ratings were through the proverbial roof and beyond. Within two months, she was a millionaire three times over; within six, she was buying an oceanfront home. But just as quickly she realized there were bullets to be dodged. Perpetually tanning meant a dark tan, and it was determined in the focus groups that they prefered her more golden. So she took to avoiding the sun save for the times when she was being filmed. Her choice of housebuying was predicated by a complex formula that determined that this very spot was the best for optimum tanning response. Then, when she was a hit, there were the copycats, other girls who thought they had the stuff to do what she had done. But what she knew and what they didnt was that the show was more than just her on a blanket. Oh, of course, it seemed that way, but no one, not even the wannabes, noticed the little things she would do to keep the viewers' interest. So it was no surprise when they went down in flames while she continued strong. Nevertheless, it was inevitable that someone would figure it out. Certainly the book -- Tanning for Life -- betrayed some of her secrets, even though she didnt realize it at the time. The rest was no doubt just careful observation. Or maybe it was just that it was a new face. But whatever it was, her star was waning while theirs were ascending. Still, she'd had a good run. Her complete series on DVD was selling well, better than expected. Her house was paid for, and she still had plenty in the bank. So she left the show with no regrets, retiring to her home, spending her days now tanning strictly for its own sake. Yes, every now and then a fan would show up, and she would graciously allow him to watch -- but only for ten minutes and only under supervision. She was generous, but no fool. Other days, some innocent young thing would rung her bell and ask for professional pointers on tanning, and she was always happy to share. Now there was talk of making tanning an Olympic sport, and her expertise and insight were proving invaluable: the best blanket colours, the best body orientation, the right SPF number. Now she was coordinating rules and training judges in anticipation of the 2024 Games. And she couldnt resist a smile of satisfaction, knowing her life's work had only just started. It was just as her mama said: when the sun goes down in one place, it's coming back up in another. You just have to be on the right beach to catch it.