by Red Phoenix
We walk through the wall of people, some of whom pat Anderson on the back, praising him for the performance. He obviously enjoys the attention, based on the charming grin on his face.
I, on the other hand, do not care for it and keep my head down.
“Handsome stranger!”
I look up to see the girl I had a tryst with in the laundry room standing in the middle of the crowd. I smile at her as we walk past, grateful to see her again. For some unknown reason, I haven’t run across her since that day in the laundry room, and I’ve wondered if she was still around.
Anderson and I finally free ourselves from his many admirers and start on our way back to the dorm. We’re both startled when someone comes up behind us and grabs Anderson’s hat.
“Hey!” he complains, trying to snatch it back.
I turn to see Durov placing the cowboy hat on his head and grinning at us. “I saw what you were doing back there…” Anderson makes a swipe for his hat, but the Russian is too fast. “I didn’t know you were a keeper of cows.”
“Very funny.” Anderson grumbles, successfully getting the hat back from him on his second attempt.
“I must admit, cowboy, I’m impressed,” Durov states.
Anderson shrugs. “Just something I picked up as a boy.”
“Don’t be so modest.”
Durov turns to me. “And, you, comrade. You wish to master the bullwhip as well?”
“No. Anderson simply wanted to show me what it can do.”
“I’d be happy to teach you, buddy,” Anderson tells me.
“Do you only whip cows with it?” Durov asks.
Anderson laughs. “I don’t whip them. I herd the cattle with it.”
“Shame,” Durov states sadly.
“However, I could be persuaded to whip a certain Russian, if you’re so inclined.”
Durov smirks at Anderson. “I am not, but I know some who are.”
Anderson looks at him as if he is crazy—and maybe he is. But I’m relieved to see the Russian. He missed our last Microbiology class, and I was concerned enough to go searching for him after class, but I hadn’t been able to locate him.
Durov leans over to me and whispers, “You know that picture you took?”
“Yes, I have it locked in my desk. Do you want it?”
“I want you to give it to your professor with my blessing. There is beauty in pain—I understand that. Since she admired the photo, I want her to have it.”
I look at him in shock. “Is that truly what you want?”
“It is.”
I would hate to have my emotions exposed like that, but Durov is an enigma, and he is unlike anyone I’ve ever met.
Durov flicks Anderson’s hat to get his attention. “I especially liked your Volley Crack.”
Anderson’s annoyance at having his hat messed with again is quickly replaced with interest. “So you know about bullwhips, do ya?”
“Only through observation.”
Anderson stands back to look at him. “You don’t strike me as the type of guy who spends time on a ranch.”
Durov chuckles. “Da, you are correct. I am not.”
“Mind explaining how you’re familiar with bullwhips, then?”
The Russian’s smile broadens. “I may tell you…someday.”
He leaves us, striding away confidently as if he owns the world.
“Your friend is odd,” Anderson states.
I agree with a sense of pride.
Fun in the Sun
With fall semester finals looming, I have been studying particularly hard. If I ace these classes, and follow it up in the spring, there is a strong possibility I’ll be able to advance a full year.
I know Anderson is focused on enjoying his time here, but I need to get out as quickly as possible and begin my adult life. I won’t be free until I am financially independent. I’m thankful to my uncle and aunt for funding my college tuition, but I loathe owing anyone—especially family.
This feels like purgatory to me.
Until I’ve paid them back and am earning my own way, I will be vulnerable. I’ll do whatever it takes to sever all ties to my past.
However, I can tell Anderson is getting nervous about our bet when he asks, “Hey there, buddy, I was thinking… Why don’t we enjoy a day relaxing on the beach?”
I look up from my desk. “Not interested.”
“Life’s so much more than books and endless tests, young grasshopper, but how can you know this when you spend your days stuck in this room? It’s time to live a little.”
“That is exactly what I am doing,” I correct him. “I plan to graduate early through sheer will and effort so I can begin my life.”
Anderson shakes his head in disbelief. “You’re missing the whole point. This is your life—right now. You’re a young man living on a campus of possibilities, my friend, and it’s my solemn duty to open your eyes to what you’ve been missing.”
I put my arm around him in a fatherly manner. “And it’s my duty to help you realize that life is not all fun and games. What’s the point of going to college and acquiring tuition debt if you aren’t going to seriously apply yourself every day you’re here?”
Anderson frowns and the light seems to leave the room. I’m beginning to regret my words when I meet his harsh gaze. Just when I think he’s about to explode in a ball of pent-up anger, he howls with laughter. “You’re one insulting little bastard, Davis. No wonder you don’t have many friends…”
I chuckle at his insult. “As much as I appreciate your need to fix me, I’m content to remain in this room, focused on my schoolwork. Go enjoy your day on the beach.”
I return to my book, legitimately fascinated by Dr. Bruce Dunn’s revolutionary work on the power of the mind.
Anderson slams the textbook shut.
“What the hell, man?” I shout.
“All work and no play make Davis an extremely dull boy,” Anderson answers with an impudent grin.
“Fuck you.” When I go to open the book again, he takes it from me. “Nope. You’re coming with me today.”
“Like hell I am.”
“I’m headed to the ocean for some sun, and your pasty white Italian skin is in some serious need of some,” he says, covering his eyes as if the glare hurts.
“Very funny. Now give me the damn book.”
Anderson’s grin only gets bigger. “Only way you’re reading this book today is if you’re on the beach.”
I let out an irritated sigh.
“You’re in freaking California! You do not spend all your waking days stuck here on campus. It’s not right!”
“I don’t have swim trunks or even a beach towel,” I tell him.
Despite my protests, I know he’s right. I’ve become a hermit at seventeen.
“I’m positive they sell that shit beachside,” he laughs.
“I’m not interested in being gone all day.”
His eyes light up, knowing he’s won. “I wouldn’t dream of keeping you away that long.”
I don’t believe Anderson for a second, but simply mentioning the beach has me thinking back to those days in Italy with my father, and I’m suddenly homesick—needing to feel the ocean breeze against my face.
Still, I warn him, “You’re going to owe me for this.”
“Owe you?” Anderson scoffs. “For taking you to the beach?”
I nod slowly.
After a few seconds, he shrugs. “Fine, I owe you then.”
He borrows a friend’s car to drive us to Hermosa Beach, and I have to admit that when we crest the final hill and look down at the expansive blue waters stretching out to the horizon, I actually catch my breath.
I’d forgotten how much my soul connects to the ocean.
“You doing okay there, buddy?” Anderson asks, noticing a change in me.
I turn to him, trying to underscore my excitement. “This might not have been a bad idea, after all.”
His boisterous laughter fills the car. Grin
ning, he gives me a hard sock in the arm. “I’m going to win that bet, Davis. Just you wait and see.”
I knew he was motivated by the bet. Anderson knows he’s going to lose and believes today’s outing will hinder my focus. I’m not so gullible, but…why not pretend that I am?
I smile at him, thinking, Sure hope you’re ready for Calculus next year.
Finding a parking lot at the beach proves to be a challenge, but we finally secure a spot and head down to the pier.
Tourist shops line the streets on both sides. Stopping at a random one, Anderson walks in and tells the beautiful woman who works behind the counter, “Any recommendations on swim trunks for this guy? He can’t be trusted to look trendy without help.”
She appears to be in her early twenties, sporting a copper tan and long platinum blonde hair that complements her skin tone. She looks me over, batting her eyes flirtatiously. “I’m sure your friend would look good in anything he wears.”
I wink at her before giving Anderson a self-satisfied smirk.
He grins at her and offers a challenge. “Impress me with your suggestion.”
She nods and moves from behind the counter, walking over to the row of hanging swimwear. Flipping through the hangers, she pulls one out with neon pinks and greens and holds it up to me.
“Sorry, not my style,” I inform her.
“No problem,” she replies, putting it back.
While she continues looking, Anderson nudges me. “I’ll grab some beach towels while you shop.”
After several additional offerings, she comes up with a gray one with a sunset motif.
“Yes. That will do.”
“He’ll need some footwear, as well,” Anderson calls from the back of the store.
“Are you interested in leather sandals?” she asks.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, a simple pair of flip-flops will do. I don’t plan on staying long.”
She twirls her hair, tilting her head in a flirtatious manner. “That’s a shame.”
“Got any Frisbees or hacky sacks, beautiful?” Anderson asks, walking up to her.
She stares at him, blushing an even deeper shade of red. “Sure…um…that second row…no, third…to your left…no, right.”
Anderson winks at her. “Awesome.”
He glances at me when she’s not looking, giving me a roguish grin. Yeah, he’s all too aware of the affect he has on women and, unlike me, he embraces it without a shred of restraint.
After I pay for my items, he tells me to change in the back while he purchases the towels.
Since I don’t relish the idea of undressing inside a tiny bathroom stall at the beach, I appreciate the suggestion. I shed my pants and underwear and slip on the swim trucks, replacing my shoes with the cheap flip-flops, and throw everything in the shopping bag, but I purposely keep my t-shirt on.
When I come out, however, I see that Anderson has not only taken his t-shirt off, but is also flexing his muscles for the clerk. She seems completely enamored and doesn’t notice when I approach.
“Are you ready, Casanova?” I ask drolly.
He chuckles as he leans on the counter and tells her, “If you get a break, be sure to join us on the beach.”
I clear my throat. “We’re not planning on staying long.”
Anderson smacks me on the back. “You need some color, man, and that takes time.” He turns to her and says, “Poor soul has been cooped up in his dorm room for so long, he’s lost all his Italian coloring.”
“You’re Italian?” she asks me in a dreamy voice.
I want to avoid anything associated with my father that could lead to his identity, so I answer, “I’m just a typical American mutt with a variety of nationalities mixed in.”
She smiles invitingly. “I like mutts…”
I chuckle. “Good to know.”
Anderson slaps me on the back. “I’m off to introduce Davis to the sun.” He looks back at her and adds, “Keep us in mind if you get that break, beautiful.”
I shake my head as we walk out and head down to the pier. “You’re really incorrigible.”
“What? Because I love women?”
“I enjoy women, too, but you don’t see me flirting every second of every day.”
“That’s because you’ve got your priorities wrong. Women are far more interesting than books.”
“Books win over people every time, no question.”
“And that is what sets us apart, but I aim to change that…starting today.”
We find an empty spot on the beach and Anderson hands me a towel as he sets his down on the sand and lays on it, hands crossed behind his head. “Man, I could get used to doing this every day.”
I go to lay my towel down and snort when I see what’s printed on it. He’s given me a white towel with a rainbow and prancing unicorn in the middle. “Good God.”
Anderson snickers to himself as he puts on his shades and lies out to tan. “No need to thank me, buddy.”
I glance around and see a little girl eyeing the towel, so I toss it to her saying, “It’s yours to keep.”
“Thank you!” she exclaims excitedly, smashing it against her chest.
I turn back to the ocean, captivated by the power of it. Pulling off my t-shirt, I ball it up to use as a headrest and lay directly on the beach. The warmth of the sand relaxes me as I give into the soothing sounds of the rolling waves, enjoying the ocean breeze caressing my skin. Damn, I’d forgotten how good it felt.
A random vision floats by…a day on the beach making sandcastles with my father.
I miss you, Papà.
The thought catches me off guard and I immediately bury it.
I can’t afford to think like that, because dealing with the untapped pain would completely derail my efforts at school.
I open my eyes and look up as a thin cloud drifts by above me. I reset my way of thinking, forcing myself back to this moment rather than dwelling on those thoughts in my head.
Pushing my toes into the sand, I revel in the feel of each tiny grain. The sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore calls to me like a childhood friend. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the waves carry me along, and I find I can’t resist the urge to join them.
“Come on,” I command as I stand up.
“Where are you headed?” Anderson asks.
“You can’t come all the way to the ocean and not jump in.”
“Hey, I just came to soak in the rays.”
“You’re going to soak, all right,” I tell him, holding out my hand to him.
Anderson removes his sunglasses and takes hold of it, but as soon as he stands up, he pushes me to the ground. “Last one to the water buys lunch.”
“Cheater!” I yell after him, getting up and running. As soon as we’re in deep enough, I jump onto his shoulders and dunk him thoroughly.
He comes sputtering up out of the water and then lunges at me. What he doesn’t know is that I am an excellent swimmer and have no problem outmaneuvering him.
“Seems cowboys aren’t good swimmers,” I laugh.
“Laugh all you want, pasty boy. At least I got you out in the sun.”
I swim closer, wanting him to think he has a chance of getting even. But, just as he lunges, I change direction. As he hits the water, I jump on his back and dunk him again. I can’t stop laughing when he tries to stand up and is hit by a rogue wave that sends him straight into the sand.
Anderson gives me an irritated smirk. “Yuck it up, buttercup.”
When I finally stop laughing, I tell him, “I haven’t had this much fun since…oh, hell, I don’t know when.”
“Hey, isn’t that the girl from the store?” Anderson says, pointing to the shore.
Sure enough, I see the girl searching for us on the beach.
I should have known it was coming. One second of distraction and my face hits the water as Anderson crashes on top of me.
This time, I’m the one breaking the surface, coughing and s
puttering. Naturally, all I hear is the sound of Anderson’s howling laughter.
I dunk my head back in the water momentarily, then brush back my hair. Heading to the shore, I ignore him as I make my way to the girl way ahead of him.
My First
When I see the woman turn away, I whistle loudly to catch her attention. She glances in my direction and waves when she sees me.
I look back to Anderson and give him a nod. He may have gotten me under the water, but I’m going to get to the girl first.
“Don’t forget—you still owe me a lunch,” he yells behind me, struggling to catch up.
As if on cue, the blonde smiles as she holds up a picnic basket to me. “I thought it would be nice to have lunch together.”
I guess I won’t be owing Anderson anything.
“Sounds great, but don’t you have to work?” I ask her, surprised that she’s managed to come.
“Actually, my parents own a place here on the beach. I just work at Eddy’s to pass the time whenever I watch their house. When you guys invited me to join you, I immediately called in my replacement.”
Anderson comes up behind me, dripping wet. “Well, hello there, beautiful.”
She bites her lip, holding the basket out to him. “I made this for you guys.”
“Well, now, aren’t you a sweet thing?”
“It’s not every day I’m invited to hang with two gorgeous men. Do you mind if I take a picture of you both?”
“Sure, but let me dry off first,” he tells her. Anderson dries himself off slowly, making sure to emphasize every muscle as he goes. He makes quite the show of it and by the end I have to roll my eyes.
He tosses the wet towel to me, stating, “You can use mine, since you gave away the one I bought you, you ungrateful wretch.”
The woman laughs, “I wondered who that towel was for.”
I nod at the little girl lying on the unicorn towel. “Anderson bought it for her. He just didn’t know it at the time.”
“Anderson, is it?” she asks him. “And what’s your first name?”
“Brad, darlin’.”
Her smile widens. “Pleased to meet you, Brad. I’m Rhythm.”