The Ebb

by Effrosyni Moschoudi

  The look of panic had come and gone in the blink of an eye, but Danny had seen it. It had made him feel sorry, but not entirely put off. She was far too stunning in his eyes to give up on her like that. Perhaps he needed to be even more careful with her than he initially had thought.

  “Come on, just a peck,” he suggested softly, tilting his head, but this time, he didn’t move any closer. Instead, he waited, submerged to his chin at a respectful distance from her, just hoping for her to change her mind.

  “Are you crazy? I live here! The whole village knows me. I can’t be seen doing this!” She felt exasperated but managed to keep her voice down.

  “No one can see us down here. Come on, I promise to keep my hands behind my back.” True to his word, he clasped his hands together behind him.

  Sofia hesitated for a few moments, as she glanced at him across the short distance between them. His cute and pointy chin that added to his charm was submerged in the water, but she could see his fleshy lips, and they were calling to her, numbing everything else in her mind. Could I?

  As he waited, he licked his lips and smiled rather hesitantly. In his mind, he willed her with all his might to trust him. Come on, gorgeous!

  Caught in his eyes, she felt a warm feeling deep in her gut, burn and melt like liquid metal. There was a flicker of delight in his eyes when she finally moved slowly forward, and, despite all her defences and fears, she was now there; close enough to kiss him.

  Danny kept his hands behind his back just like he said. He didn’t even breathe as she approached. Silently, they closed their eyes as salty lips came together with the sweet honey that only the young can taste. When their lips parted, she opened her eyes, and all at once, it felt like she could see the world from behind a veil. It had a tint of rosy pink and the softness of silk. It felt like nothing in the world could sadden her ever again.

  “Oh, heaven,” said Danny, his face a picture of bliss. He had just tipped his head back to gaze at the sky. His reaction to her kiss caused Sofia to melt inside even more.

  “I’d better get back to work now. See you later, Danny,” she mumbled, looking away. She was self-conscious now, eager not to disclose how important that kiss had been to her. Without turning back, she paddled to the shallows and got on the pier again.

  She had turned into a hard, impenetrable wall once more, the one she had learned to put up whenever she wanted to hide her feelings. Except this time, they weren’t feelings of discomfort or upset. These were the most blissful and exciting feelings she had ever thought possible, but they were seized at once in the secret confines of her cloistered heart, by unbearable thoughts of fear and uncertainty. It was the result of a lifetime of feeling uneasy, if not guilty, every time she had fun or a moment of freedom.

  As soon as she left, Danny got out as well to join Steve. When Jimmy returned to the pier a few minutes later, he noticed Sofia seemed miles away, and he asked her if anything was wrong. She smiled to him and did what she always did best in these situations: make an excuse and hide her innermost feelings and thoughts.

  In the early afternoon, when she popped in at the bar to get a bottle of water, Sofia told Loula all about her kiss with Danny. Loula had trouble hiding her excitement in front of the patrons. She had to place a hand over her mouth to stop herself from squealing. After Sofia left, Loula kept stealing even more glances at Steve, who was sunbathing at the time, wondering what a kiss from him would taste like.

  ***

  “Is it safe to join you? You won’t try to shred me to pieces or anything?” Danny asked, and Sofia let out a little laugh, beckoning to him to approach. Jimmy had just gone for the day, and she had been loitering around the pier on purpose as to stay behind again. Danny had arrived just as she expected: as soon as Jimmy departed.

  All afternoon, despite work being busy, she had been watching the boys, keeping track of their whereabouts at all times. They had had lunch at Karavi and then sunbathed a bit more before getting back to their room for a short siesta. They had returned around five p.m. for another swim and both times they passed her by, they had waved at her from a distance without speaking. They were being discreet for her sake; it was so sweet it made Sofia’s heart melt.

  Danny had spent the last hour on his own, sitting on his mat, listening to music on his Walkman as he waited for Jimmy to go. From under the wide brim of his hat, he’d been stealing glances at Sofia, his anticipation to be with her again, all the more growing.

  Steve had been at the bar at the time, trying his best at improvising a sign/body language that could transcend his communication problems with Loula. Sofia had been watching them at the bar, feeling envious of their friendly, easy-going rapport. She had noticed they kept touching each other’s arms as they talked. She wished she had the ease and the freedom to be like that with a boy, especially Danny.

  “Look, we’re all set!” said Danny opening a napkin carefully to show Sofia a thick slice of bread. She was delighted he hadn’t forgotten. Seconds later, they were sitting at the same spot again as last time, feet splashing in the shallows, throwing bread to the hungry sparrows.

  “Okay, I have a question,” he piped up when they were finished.

  Eagerly, she met his sombre gaze. “Sure.”

  “Why is it so important to you that no one sees you talking to me?”

  She frowned and looked away. “It’s difficult to explain, Danny.”

  “Try me!” He nudged her playfully on the arm.

  “My family is very strict,” she responded, regret colouring her voice.

  “Let me talk to them and I’ll sort them out!” he joked with a wide grin.

  “If only it were that simple.” Sofia shook her head wistfully, as she stared at the rippling water.

  “Look, I may come from a liberal country, but I can understand that here, things may be different. I don’t want to get you in trouble, Sofia,” he said, putting up his hands earnestly.

  “I know that Danny…”

  “But it’s hard to keep away from you,” he whispered, leaning towards her, bringing his face closer.

  “I have that trouble with you, too,” she admitted, her heart melting away.

  “Okay, how shall we go about it then? Any suggestions?”

  “I don’t know, but besides the beach, I can’t see you anywhere else.”

  “You’re joking!” he exclaimed, moving away to sit upright again. “You mean, I can’t even take you out for a drink?”

  Sofia rolled her eyes. “I wish!”

  “What about a walk then? Down the beach or along the main road perhaps? There’s a nice village on the river. Steve and I went there yesterday. Would you go there with me?”

  She pursed her lips and shook her head. “I don’t know, Danny. I have family in Messi too. That’s the village you mentioned, on the river.”

  “You could wear a large hat. They won’t recognise you!” he joked with a mischievous smirk.

  Sofia smiled wistfully. “Yeah. And really big, dark sunglasses.”

  “Oh good, you get the idea.”

  “Look, let me think about it. When are you leaving the island?”

  “Not this coming Monday, I know that!” he responded, his eyes squinting with the effort to work out how long he had. “Haven’t had a full week yet… So, it must be the Monday after that,” he surmised, his face brightening up.

  “What day is it today?” she mumbled to herself.

  “Beats me! I’m on holiday. Don’t know, don’t care!”

  “Okay, it’s Sunday. So that’s just over a week from today. Um…”

  “What are you thinking? Did you find something?” he asked impatiently when he noticed a flicker of enthusiasm in her eyes.

  “No promises, but I’m allowed long afternoon walks with my cousins. I could ask them to cover for me,” she said, hoping Dora and Nana would be coming again within a week. Before he could respond with a cheer, Sofia’s eyes lit up.

  Danny, studying her face up close, guessed at
once she had found the perfect solution. “Tell me!”

  “How about a day boat trip to the island of Paxos this Saturday? Loula and I are going!”

  He beamed at her, his eyes twinkling. “Seriously? This is too good to be true! Of course! We’re on! Where do I sign?”

  “Have you heard of Paxos? It’s gorgeous there—”

  “Girl, I don’t care! I’m prepared to go to the black hole of Calcutta just to be with you!” His face was so animated with delight that it bordered on delirium.

  “That’s okay then!” As she smiled back at him, it dawned on her she’d just granted Loula a day with Steve, too. Captain Spyros didn’t require pre-booking. She knew for a fact he often took on passers-by even in the last minute.

  “Sofia, I just want to spend some time with you while I’m here, that’s all,” he said putting up his hands, breaking her reverie. “You don’t have to worry I’ll get you in trouble. I can be careful. I won’t talk to you when there are locals around. Hey, I won’t even look at you,” he said in a low, velvety voice. Once again, his face was nothing like the joker’s face he’d normally put on. Still, his smile remained just as bright as always.

  “Thank you, Danny, I appreciate that.”

  “How long can you stay?”

  “Well, I could spare another quarter of an hour or so before my grandparents start wondering where I am.”

  He moved a little closer. “Good! And now, before any locals pass by, and I have to deny you three times before the cock crows, you’ll have to tell me all about you,” he piped up, and they burst with the most insane, the most uproarious guffaws imaginable.

  Chapter 28

  The full moon was magnificent. It was amazingly large and bright, suspended in the midst of a clear starry sky, like a glowing ball of fire. Its strong light reflected on the open sea in the distance, making the water ripples on the surface look like silver snakes sliding softly on a dark, velvet blanket.

  Sofia arrived on the beach with her grandparents and laid beach towels down on the sand. They chose a quiet spot a few feet away from the pier but on the other side to where Karavi was. That was on purpose in order to avoid its strong lights. Their chosen spot in the semi-darkness was ideal as to enjoy fully the enchanting moonlight. Besides, they didn’t want to be watched by onlookers at Karavi during their private family ritual.

  Not to say that they were completely alone there, though. Tourists passed by along the promenade that stretches out along the beach all the way to the river mouth at Messi. Some of them said hi and gave them a little cheer before moving on.

  Gran and Sofia laid on the towels a large box of Uncle Yiannis’s special pizza, cans of lager, plastic cups, and napkins. Granddad took out his torch to shine it on the food as everyone helped themselves. Sofia was relieved that Uncle Yiannis hadn’t lingered in their company. He had left in a hurry to return to his busy restaurant.

  Making appreciative sounds, everyone enjoyed the generous and fresh pizza toppings and the delicious, thick crust. Of course, their little feast couldn’t have been complete without Granddad’s little radio. He had found a local station that played folk Greek music and set it down on his towel. It filled the air with a sweet melody by Stavros Xarhakos. The melancholic bouzouki chords were a lament to a love lost and yet, they had a bitter-sweetness and a joie de vivre about them that made them apt for any given celebration.

  Soon, they finished eating and were now growing silent as the semi-darkness shrouded them, just enjoying the serenity while sipping beer from their plastic cups. Granddad had switched off the torch by then for everyone to enjoy the moonlight better.

  Sofia was looking towards the promenade absentmindedly, just watching the silhouettes of the tourists who emerged from the darkness every now and then, mostly to reveal loving couples of all ages, their arms all over each other. The two people who emerged last caught her attention as they became visible under the light of the only streetlamp there. They were two boys, laughing and joking. As they turned to look at Sofia, recognition caused expressions of awkwardness to appear upon their faces.

  Danny flashed a little uncertain smile and so did Steve but neither of them spoke. Steve nodded but only after he glanced at Sofia’s grandparents to check they weren’t looking. As for Danny, he had to make a joke of course, and Sofia found it hilarious.

  At the exact moment that he passed them by, he raised a hand to hide his profiled face from her and walked away rigid, quickening his pace to a hilarious effect, as if trying to escape the scene unnoticed. She couldn’t help but titter as soon as he passed her by in that fashion, and when he heard her, he never turned back but she saw his hand behind his back, give her a departing little wave.

  She glanced across to her grandparents to find them talking and realised they had missed the whole thing. She looked over her shoulder at the boys again and was overjoyed to see they were going to Karavi. She imagined Loula’s joy to see them arrive and longed to be in her place.

  After what seemed like the longest five minutes of her life, which was the time it took her to make up her mind, she dared ask her grandparents if she could be excused for a while.

  “Where are you going, psyche mou?” Gran asked.

  “Oh, just to Karavi… to say hi to everyone,” she replied, trying her best to feign nonchalance. Yet, for all the need in the world that she had for pretence, she was simply lousy at it.

  “But we’re all going there in a minute to say hi,” said Granddad.

  “That’s the point. I thought if we go separately, then whoever stays behind can mind our stuff,” she said, having the excuse ready.

  “But we’re all going there together with our stuff when we’re ready to go, aren't we?” reasoned Gran. “We’re calling Uncle Yiannis from there to pick us up, remember?” Gran wasn’t trying to be difficult. Besides, she had no idea of Sofia’s secret intention to see her friends. She was just being practical.

  “Well, to be frank, I just wanted to have a word with Loula. I won’t be long,” she replied while realising she was starting to perspire. Why does everything have to be so difficult?

  “Of course, kyra mou! How silly of us,” replied Gran sharing a chuckle with her husband, not to mention a secret pang of guilt for taking on the role of policeman with their granddaughter despite their best intentions not to.

  “Go, go! Go and speak to your friend! It’s lovely here. We’re not going anywhere,” Granddad assured her while making shooing gestures with his hands.

  ***

  “Hello!” said Sofia triumphantly when she arrived at the bar. Loula gasped and the boys, who were enjoying a beer at the time, spun around, delighted to see her. Danny put up a hand in front of his face, then turned his back on Sofia playfully. She giggled and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around again and this time pulled her close to him to give her a cuddle.

  His breath smelled of alcohol, but he wasn’t drunk, just intoxicated enough to lose his inhibitions a bit further than usual. Still, Sofia thought with amusement, Danny was such a nutter that even when sober, he probably had fewer inhibitions than the average person in their deepest alcoholic stupor.

  “So, we know each other after all? Is it okay to talk now?” he joked, still holding her. With a wide grin, he brought his face closer, pressing his nose against hers.

  “Let me go, you crazy boy!” she joked, slapping his elbow. He smiled and moved his face away from hers, but kept an arm around her waist. His touch made her feel uplifted, as if her feet didn’t touch the ground. It felt as if her head was buried in the twinkling fairy lights strung up overhead, filling her vision with flashes of disorienting light, clouding her thoughts, yet heightening her senses.

  “Were those your grandparents? They look nice,” Steve commented.

  “Nice, yeah! But try to speak to this girl in front of them, and they’ll have you for dinner, young man!” replied Danny, putting on a shrill old woman’s voice while shaking his finger.

  Sofia slapped him on
the chest. “Oh, it’s not as bad as that!”

  “Is it tonight? The full moon pizza dinner?” asked Loula, pointing to the radiant full moon.

  Sofia nodded with a happy grin, then translated to the boys what her friend had asked.

  Danny turned to Sofia with googly eyes. “What? Does your granddad turn into a werewolf then? Cool!”

  “Right! No more beer for you!” She grabbed the bottle from his hands and took a sip.

  “Wow! A woman who likes her drink; my favourite type!” exclaimed Danny, and they all laughed as he tried to pry the bottle from Sofia’s hands. In the end she gave it to him, and he planted a kiss on her cheek, taking her by surprise.

  “So, Saturday!” said Steve, his face glowing.

  “Yeah! Cheers for that, Sofia! I owe you one,” said Loula. Sofia turned to answer her but was silenced when she noticed Steve was holding Loula’s hand across the counter. It was so sweet, and all Sofia could do is look at their beaming faces and smile happily.

  “What is the name of that black hole of Calcutta you’re dragging us to again?” asked Danny. “Pasos? Pesos?”

  “It’s Paxos! And it’s not the black hole of Calcutta!”

  “Well, it sounds like a dirty job, but I guess someone has to do it.”

  “Why is it a dirty job?”

  Danny beamed at her. “Because I’m escorting you of course!”

  “And why is that?”

  “Are you kidding? One wrong word from me, and I’m in danger of being devoured whole! And let’s not forget that your granddad’s a werewolf! Now that’s a peril and a half. But I’m a brave man. And I dare go where no man has ever gone before!” He puffed out his chest, hit it with his fist, and then pretended to have a coughing fit.

  Sofia shook her head in mock disapproval. “You silly-billy!”

  “How dare you call me Billy? It’s silly-Danny, for the hundredth time, woman!” he answered, causing Sofia to break into hysterics.

  Danny shook his finger at the others, feigning indignation. “See? That’s what I get for daring to escort her despite the mortal dangers! Honestly! And I don’t even know what that place looks like.”