Surf School

by Laurine Croasdale

  She stretched wearily, trying to get her body moving, and threw some cereal into a plastic bag before heading across the road to the beach. Every part of her body felt heavy and seemed to operate separately. She tripped on the pavement then stopped at the crossing to check her mobile. Three missed calls and one text: ‘Old man’s picking up. Will stay with him. Come when u can. Sam.’ A car hooted impatiently. Tilly jerked her head up, noticing it for the first time, and jogged over the crossing towards the crowd gathered at the seats.

  Waves crashed hard onto the sand, their energy and shape mesmerising the rows of people who were wrapped in towels, sitting on car bonnets, sand or seats, waiting for the next set. Tilly’s heart spun like a weather vane. She swallowed to keep it inside her body.

  ‘It’s your dream day, Dad. Next wave’s yours,’ she whispered, then climbed over the back of a bench to sit between Marlee and Fran. They eased sideways to let her in, eyes trained on the surf, then snuggled into her warm body, reaching hungrily into the bag for the cereal as though it were popcorn.

  ‘How’s your dad?’ Fran asked. Tilly stared dully ahead.

  ‘Any news? Is he okay?’ Marlee asked.

  Tilly nodded, eyes brimming with tears and Marlee squeezed her hand tight.

  Fran tried again. ‘Hey, Til, you missed the best surf. I even got tubed.’ She held her thumb and finger so they were almost touching. ‘Just that much.’ Her face glowed.

  ‘Yeah, Til, it’s so hot.’ Tears filled Marlee’s eyes. ‘If Phil was here it’d be perfect.’

  ‘Well thanks for pointing that out, Captain Obvious,’ Tilly snapped, even though she’d just thought the same thing. ‘My dad’s in hospital, broken up in bits and all you two can talk about is the surf he’s missing.’

  Marlee bit her tongue and counted the baby lambs frolicking along the leg of Tilly’s pyjama pants. Her best friend sat curled inwards like a shell, eyes glassy and shadowed from lack of sleep, her face hard, unfamiliar. Marlee put an arm around her shoulders. They felt brittle and thin.

  ‘Hey, bedhead,’ she said gently. ‘We’re just trying to cheer you up.’

  Tilly put her head onto her knees. ‘Sorry,’ she groaned. ‘I’m just so worried about Dad.’

  ‘We know that,’ Fran rubbed her back. ‘Have you had any more news?’ She dipped her hand into the bag for more cereal.

  ‘Sam’s with him now. He says he’s picking up.’ Tilly pulled herself upright, squinted her eyes against the sun. She winced as the wave chomped Jamie, his board spiking out the top of the wave as he disappeared. ‘Ouch. Bet that hurt.’

  ‘Come for a surf with us,’ Marlee urged. ‘You’ll feel so much better and then,’ Marlee glanced wistfully at the new set lining up, ‘I’ll catch the bus to the hospital with you.’

  Tilly squeezed her hand. ‘Thanks but I can’t. It doesn’t seem right somehow, Dad stuck in the hospital and me going surfing. Can’t,’ she said again quietly, rolling up her pyjama legs.

  ‘Guess what?’ Fran held up a damp business card and nodded at a woman taking photos. ‘She’s from Surfing Life. We might be in the magazine. How cool would that be!’

  But Tilly was staring along the pavement towards the Surf Club.

  ‘What the —?’ She jumped to her feet.

  Marlee followed her gaze. ‘What?’

  ‘The Surf School sign. It’s practically midday and it’s not on the pavement.’ Tilly sprinted along the boardwalk and down the steps to the school, almost running into a group of people crowded around Kyle. The reservations book was flopped open across his knees and he had a pained look on his face, as though the whole thing was giving him a headache.

  And with reason, Tilly thought, glancing behind him at the chaos. Rash vests lay tangled in a wet, sandy pile; the phone was ringing endlessly; a pile of flyers was soaking up water and sunscreen on the floor; the rinse bin was clogged with surf gear still to be cleaned up and people were firing question after question at Kyle. The surf roared behind her and Tilly’s head pounded, the tiredness, worry and stress building up.

  ‘What are you doing? Where’s the other instructor Shane said he’d hired?’ she snapped at Kyle.

  Kyle put a hand over the book as if covering it up would take the problem away. He raised his voice over the ringing phone and said, ‘He didn’t show and we’ve had a heap of walk-ins. Dad rang and asked me to help.’

  Tilly jumped over Kyle’s feet to answer the phone, then took it off the hook. She twisted her hair into a knot, yanking Phil’s Surf School shirt on over her pyjamas.

  Kyle said, ‘I’m not sure who’s paid …’

  Tilly ripped the book across to her lap. ‘Well, why didn’t you ring me?’

  Kyle slapped his forehead. ‘I’ve called you non-stop. There were people waiting when Dad came to open up – we didn’t even get set up properly. Dad’s already cracked the shits and,’ he added quietly, leaning down for his towel, ‘I’d rather be surfing myself than taking crap from you.’

  The group around them watched curiously and Tilly realised that they’d stopped asking questions. She ran a finger down the class list to hide her embarrassment, at the same time remembering the missed calls she’d ignored when she read Sam’s text. Her flare of anger dissipated, she felt foolish and ungrateful.

  ‘Sorry, I forgot, I turned my phone off. Sorry. I’ll sort out the bookings and money. Can you set up the next class?’ She smiled apologetically. ‘Please! I know you were trying to help.’

  ‘We’ll help.’ Marlee and Fran stood at the entrance. ‘What do you want us to do?’ Marlee asked, watching Kyle skulk off to the board racks.

  Tilly tossed them a couple of old Surf School T-shirts. ‘Thanks. Can you help Kyle kit up the next class and then we’ll sort out the rest?’

  Tilly smiled warmly at the group. ‘Who can I help first?’

  Fran and Marlee hovered near Kyle as he pulled out the soft-top learner boards, leaning them roughly against the wall.

  ‘Hey watch it!’ Marlee said, taking one off him and placing it carefully against the wall. ‘They’ll end up chipped if you do that.’

  ‘Have a good surf?’ Kyle scowled, ‘while I’ve been stuck in here.’ He scowled even more as they beamed at him.

  ‘You bet,’ said Fran. ‘The best surf ever.’

  Kyle didn’t respond.

  ‘For girls,’ added Marlee, teasingly.

  Kyle brushed past roughly and the boards he carried knocked the girls to one side.

  ‘Hey!’ Marlee staggered, regained her balance and followed Kyle. ‘What’s your problem? Do you always behave like that when you don’t get what you want?’

  Tilly rushed over, glancing anxiously from Marlee to Kyle. ‘What’s up? I thought you were going to help him?’

  Marlee narrowed her eyes, watching Kyle dump the boards in the sand. ‘Why? He’s a jerk.’

  ‘Because I’m asking you to. Because I’m desperate. Because it would help me and Dad out big time.’

  Tilly stared at Marlee, hands on hips, and Marlee’s face softened. ‘Sorry, he just gets me riled. I hate bullies. Can you have a word with him?’

  ‘Looks like I won’t need to.’ Tilly watched over Marlee’s shoulder at Kyle running down the beach with his board. ‘Thanks.’ She turned back to the customers.

  Fran rolled her eyes at Marlee. ‘That’s so unfair. She saw Kyle push you and now it’s like we’ve done the wrong thing.’

  ‘She’s just stressed out. C’mon, let’s get this stuff organised.’ Marlee picked up a pile of boards, wishing she’d stayed in the surf.

  Kyle didn’t come back and Tilly made amends by buying the girls wraps for lunch. It was well into the afternoon before she slumped onto a seat, the classes almost done, the phones now only ringing intermittently. The seat was coated in wet sand but she was too tired to brush it off and sat back against the wall, her eyes closed.

  ‘Hey, wake up!’ Shane arrived and pulled off his wetsuit, towelling himself dry. Over the years the
sun had dried his skin to brown leather. He’d got burnt again today in spite of the sunscreen and his nose shone red. He rubbed the towel through his blonde hair, not bothering to comb it. ‘Those ads your old man placed have paid off. It’s just a shame they all want to learn to surf on the same day.’ He tore the wrapper off his sandwich, downing it in two bites, then started on the next one. ‘Thanks for helping out today.’

  ‘That’s okay. I never realised there was so much to do. It always seems so organised when Dad’s here.’

  Shane nodded, his mouth full. ‘Can you follow the book?’ he mumbled.

  Tilly had spent most of the day trying to work out her father’s squiggles and cross referencing. ‘I’ve got it now but it’s a real mess. What does the star symbol mean?’

  Shane put his finger on the star. ‘That means they’ve been before. The different coloured ink indicates their level, the stickers have their contact details so he can write it up later and this column is for who paid and how. Then there’s another section for outgoings and receipts.’

  ‘A computer would make this so much easier.’

  Shane laughed. ‘Well, that’s the general plan but Phil doesn’t have a clue about computers. Kyle’s tried to show me but I’m pretty hopeless too.’ He drank from his bottle of water. ‘Heard any more from Sam since this morning?’

  The bookings swam together momentarily and Tilly bit her lip. ‘He called just after lunch. The doctor’s hoping to start waking Dad up. I’ll go in when we shut and give Sam a break.’ As much as she wanted to see her father, the thought of going back into the hospital made the wrap she’d eaten at lunch flip in her stomach.

  Shane hugged her reassuringly. ‘Cheer up. It’ll take more than a knock from a car to stop old Phil,’ he said. ‘Tough as an old rhino he is. We’re just about done here so let’s close up and I’ll take you in.’

  She smiled gratefully. ‘You don’t want to go for a surf?’

  ‘Nah, I’m a bit waterlogged,’ he lied. ‘Hey, any chance you could come in fairly regularly? I’ll keep trying to get another instructor but if you could take care of the stuff Phil normally does, like the bookings and banking, I can focus on the classes. I know you’ll want to go to the hospital but if you’ve got a bit of free time that’d be a huge help.’

  ‘Yep. Great idea. I’ll try and work something out with Sam,’ she said trying to downplay her relief. ‘If I can back you up here and he can help Dad then we’d be covering all bases. The girls did a great job setting up as well. You know, if they come in a bit more we mightn’t need another instructor.’

  Shane chuckled. ‘Cutting costs already – you’re worse than your old man.’ He ruffled her hair. ‘Not a bad idea though. Kyle’s trying to earn a bit of money for his Hawaii trip. I’ll have a word to him too. He’d rather be working here than babysitting.’

  ‘Great,’ Tilly said, wondering how Kyle would fit in. ‘Oh, speaking of Kyle.’ She pulled a faded leather wallet out of the drawer. ‘He left his wallet behind.’

  Shane shoved it into his backpack. ‘That’d be right. He’d forget his head if it wasn’t screwed on.’

  The roller door shut with a long metallic shriek. Tilly winced, her hands balled into fists.

  ‘C’mon, let’s see how Phil’s doing.’

  8 DECEMBER

  Nice one. Found the book under my pillow this morning. I can see it now – 101 weird places to hide the Blood Book.

  The doctors say that Dad’s getting better. I don’t know how they can tell, because his eyes are closed and he doesn’t talk. Maybe it’s what those beeping machines are saying.

  I just had the longest shower. My pjs practically walked themselves into the laundry they were so yucky!

  This morning seems like a million years ago but it’s only nine hours since I first walked into the School. The day’s passed in a blur. Sorry I didn’t say goodbye. I heard you call out but just as I went to wave, some little kid showed up with a cut finger. All of a sudden I’m a nurse, babysitter and business runner or whatever they call people who run businesses. Thanks for helping out today. If you want to come each day I can pay you!!!

  Shane took me to see Dad so I didn’t call you. Figured you’d rather be surfing anyway than being in a disgusting hospital. I spent all day trying to find excuses not to go myself. I feel SO BAD because I care about Dad, but just the thought of going in there makes me shake all over. Pathetic, isn’t it?

  You know how people say that just before a crash everything slows down so you see it all in slo-mo? My life feels like that right now. The rest of the world’s going at normal speed but I’m in slo-mo. It’s freaky. You know me, I have to be in control or I get panicky and then EVERYTHING feels out of my control.

  Right now, there are no edges, no borders to keep things in check and going to the hospital totally sets me off. I started breathing really fast when I was there today. I couldn’t stop. The nurse made me breathe into a paper bag then told Sam to take me home.

  I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed. Sorry. I know you’re coming around later but you’ll have to put up with me via the Blood Book for now.

  Luv ya,

  Tilly

  Expensive perfume wafted up Pink’s nose a few seconds before her mother’s voice.

  ‘Jas, Jas, are you awake?’

  ‘No, Mum. Eyes shut usually constitutes sleep,’ Pink growled, pulling the covers up.

  ‘Okay, well, I’m off, Jas. Bye.’ Christie pulled the sheet down and tenderly kissed the soft blonde curl on Pink’s forehead. Her tailored pastel skirt clung to her trim figure and she tugged it into place, then checked the tortoiseshell clip holding up her hair. A few curly tentacles of blonde hair fell down the side of her face, failing to soften her thin mouth, which looked like it had been knitted with too few stitches. She consulted her watch. ‘I’ll be doing long hours over the next few days, Jas. All the store managers are here for the Island Breeze conference.’

  ‘So what else is new,’ Pink sulked.

  ‘You don’t seem to mind when you want shopping money,’ Christie observed wryly. ‘Don’t forget there’s a dinner on the last night and I’d like you to come a bit earlier and help if that’s okay.’ Pink looked blank. ‘The annual dinner for the shop managers at the hotel, seafood smorgasbord, fashion parade, band …’ Christie said.

  ‘Oh yeah. I forgot. Can my friends come?’

  Her mother raised an eyebrow. ‘Depends. How many?’ She clicked open her organiser.

  ‘Til, Marls, Fran …’

  Christie smiled. ‘Sure.’

  ‘And boys?’ Pink added hopefully.

  ‘Can’t we just leave it at the girls?’

  ‘Okay,’ Pink said. ‘Tilly said thanks for the clothes by the way. She loves them. Everytime I see her she’s got something of ours on.’ She paused. ‘Must be great publicity for you.’ She paused again. ‘Would you and Dad sponsor Marlee too?’ Her mother didn’t answer so Pink rushed on. ‘It’s just that she has, like, no money and I mean NO money, Mum, and she wants to start going into contests and you know how expensive it all is.’ Pink talked faster and faster. ‘It’d really help her and it’d be great for the brand.’

  Christie perched on the side of Pink’s bed, straightening her skirt. ‘Sure, I understand that. I know her mum has it tough. Bringing up one child with two parents is hard enough, let alone four kids with one parent. But from our point of view, from a business perspective, what’s in it for us?’

  ‘She’ll be world champion one day. If anyone can get there it’s Marlee and she’s as loyal as. If you support her now she’d always stay with you.’

  Christie laughed, a spontaneous free laugh that always caught Pink by surprise. She beamed, encouraged, willing her mother to say yes.

  ‘She probably will be a champion. Apart from Kyle I’ve never seen a more competitive surfer. Get it from their fathers I suppose. They were always fighting it out, even as kids.’ Christie shook her head. ‘Jack had a shocking temper. Marlee can be
a bit unpredictable too, can’t she? Maybe she’s a bit young yet.’

  ‘But you sponsor Tilly,’ Pink added quickly.

  Christie nodded. ‘We do, but that was an easier decision. Tilly’s surfing style really sets her apart, she’s good with people and she’s kind of …’ Christie hesitated. ‘Well, she has her own look. People notice her for all the right reasons, but Marlee’s more …’ she paused again, choosing her words, ‘more complicated.’ She said this almost to herself, even though she looked directly at Pink. ‘I know you want me to say yes but let me think about it.’

  ‘She’s not her father, Mum. You don’t like her because of her dad. It’s so obvious.’ Pink slumped down into the pillows, pouting.

  Christie’s thin lips forced a smile. ‘This is a business decision and I need to think about it. Have you discussed it with Marlee?’

  Pink shook her head. ‘No,’ she lied.

  ‘Okay, we’ll check her out at the club competition.’ She kissed Pink again. ‘I have to go. Call my mobile if you need me.’

  Pink punched the pillow. If it was up to her, Marlee would already be decked out in their gear. She got out of bed, rummaged through her cupboard and found an Island Breeze rashie. At least Marlee could have that.

  Pink ran out to the balcony, scanning the beach, carpark and road. Christie blew a kiss from her car and Pink waved, watching as she drove along the road, looking again for the cartoon kombi.

  10 DECEMBER

  I caught every wave on the beach within paddling range today. I surfed big ones, small ones, loopy ones, tubey ones, dumpy ones and all the ones in between until I crawled out of the water and practically dropped onto the beach. There’s almost as much salt water inside me as there is in the ocean and if you look into my eyes you’ll see two blue portholes with the water level sloshing from side to side.

  The big yellow splotch on the page is some of the nice oily pizza topping that Sam and I just demolished and seeing you were too busy snoring, we ate your bit as well.