I darted upstairs to my room and threw myself on the bed.
Should I say something to my parents about Annie?
In those days, people didn’t get involved in other people’s business. I was a terrified child―an innocent bystander who had witnessed unspeakable cruelty. But back then, I knew nothing about child abuse or the laws that protected children.
What if no one believes me?
I convinced myself that Annie and her father would hunt me down and do horrible things to me if I told anyone what I’d seen. I was sure that people would think I’d made it up to get back at her.
So the only person I told was Goldie.
The following week, Annie was back in school. I caught myself staring at her often and worrying about her father. One time, I caught her glaring back at me. I spent that rest of that day looking over my shoulder. And I made sure that I never went into the washroom by myself.
During social studies, I scribbled a note to Goldie and slipped it to her. She unfolded it in her lap, read it and shook her head.
The note said, ‘Should I tell someone what I saw?’
In the end, I remained silent…and scared.
Before long, June was upon us and I was ecstatic because that year my birthday fell on a Saturday. Saturday, June 18, 1978. School rushed by in a blur of activities and exams. I couldn’t wait for it to be over and for summer holidays to begin.
One day, Mrs. Higginson made a surprise announcement.
“On the seventeenth we’re going on a field trip.”
Everyone cheered and she had to tap her yardstick on the blackboard to settle us down. “Sarah’s dad has graciously offered us their beach and raft.”
I blushed and shifted self-consciously in my seat. Most of the kids thanked me and gave me looks of approval―but one did not.
I felt hot breath on the nape of my neck.
“Sarah is so special,” Annie hissed in my ear.
On the morning of the field trip, everyone showed up carrying beach bags. Immediately following our morning math class, we hopped on the school bus and drove to my house.
“Where do we get changed?” Denise asked me as we walked inside.
I showed my classmates the downstairs bathroom. “There’s one upstairs too.”
Annie leaned against the wall by the bathroom door, a cocky smirk on her face. She was wearing a pair of denim shorts and a t-shirt. In one hand she carried an old, stained towel.
“Don’t you have a bathing suit?” Adam asked her.
She waved him off. “I don’t need one. I can swim in these.”
At the beach, Mrs. Higginson went over her long list of dos and don’ts while my father made everyone promise not to swim any farther than the raft. Then Denise, Goldie and I plunged into the water. We were halfway to the raft when Adam swam past us.
He turned his head and grinned. “Race ya to the raft, Sarah.”
“No thanks,” I said, swallowing a gulp of seawater.
He shrugged and swam off ahead.
Goldie snorted. “You could’ve beat him.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybes about it,” Denise quipped. “You passed Junior Lifeguarding. I’ve seen your medals.”
“I didn’t want to race him…but I’ll race you two.”
I kicked ahead and went from a relaxed breaststroke to a full speed front crawl. Goldie and Denise didn’t stand a chance.
Adam smiled at me as I reached the raft. “Maybe next time.”
Wiping the water from my eyes, I reached up to grab the metal stepladder. To my surprise, he leaned forward, grasped my hands and hauled me up. Heat rose in my cheeks and I self-consciously adjusted the top of my new bikini.
“Thank you,” I murmured, praying that my friends hadn’t seen what he’d done.
When Goldie and Denise reached the raft, they climbed up and flopped down beside me. Goldie glanced at Adam. Then she made a face at me. Her brow arched and wiggled devilishly and I heard the rumble of laughter deep in her throat.
I whacked her and hissed under my breath. “Stop it!”
I was fully aware of Adam. He sat a few feet away and glanced at me occasionally, a strange look in his eyes. I noticed his tanned skin and the muscles developing in his adolescent body. I even noticed a tiny, faint birthmark on the inside of his right ankle.
Denise let out a loud groan. “Oh darn it. Here comes trouble.”
I turned and my breath caught in my throat.
Annie was swimming toward us. She wasn’t a bad swimmer, but her progress was slowed down by the weight of her shorts and t-shirt.
“Shoot,” Goldie muttered. “I was hoping she’d stay on the shore. Maybe dig herself a sandcastle or something.”
“Come on,” I said, thinking of Annie’s father. “School’s almost out. Let’s just be nice to her for today.”
My friends turned and gaped at me.
“I can’t believe you just said be nice to her,” Goldie said. “Are you crazy?”
A few minutes later, Annie joined us. She wrung the water from her short black hair and sprawled in the center of the raft. She ignored everyone except Adam. She eyed him smugly, but he looked away and caught my eye.
“Ah-ha,” Annie said, her lip curling. “The white girl has a thing for you.”
“Oh shut up,” Adam snapped, his eyes glittering.
He stood up and looked at me. “Let’s head back, Sarah.”
I clenched my hands. I wasn’t going to let Annie scare me off my own raft. Was I?
“I’m not ready to go yet…sorry.”
Adam shrugged and dove into the water.
Denise gave me an apologetic look. “I’m heading back too. It’s too crowded out here.” She glared in Annie’s direction.
With an unfamiliar pang of discomfort, I watched her slip into the water and catch up to Adam. His laughter was carried in the wind as he teasingly dunked her underwater. When she came up sputtering and giggling, my heart lurched and I realized that it was the sharp tug of jealousy that gripped me. I tried to squelch it, but I couldn’t help thinking…
That could’ve been me he’s teasing. Idiot!
Goldie and I sat on the raft in complete silence, not knowing what to expect from Annie. Thankfully, she ignored us. After a while, we relaxed and stretched out on the sun-drenched raft. As we listened to the rhythmic motion of the waves, we were lulled into a quiet calm―just three girls sharing a peaceful afternoon.
I think all of us dozed off for a while.
Something jabbed me and I awoke, startled.
Goldie had rolled onto her side―facing me, her back to Annie.
“We should go.” Her voice was low, a bare whisper.
“What about Annie?” I asked.
She shrugged. “What about her? She can stay here or come back. I don’t care.” She paused. “Is she looking at us?”
I cautiously peered over her shoulder and studied the girl who had become my enemy. Annie was lying on her back, her dark arms folded across her chest. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was curved in contentment.
I was astounded. That was the first time I’d seen Annie smile.
Lowering my head, I said, “Nope. She’s just lying there.”
After a minute, I stole another peek. My eyes were drawn to Annie’s lower legs. They were covered with bruises. Her arms were dotted with small round scars―some faded, some raw and blistered.
Appalled, I dropped my head. “What’s on her arms?”
Goldie peeked at Annie. “Cigarette burns.”
I shuddered.
Unable to resist, I lifted my head again. But this time Annie’s eyes were open and staring directly at me. Her relaxed expression had vanished, replaced by a fierce look that left me rattled.
Mrs. Higginson’s whistle blew.
“We should go,” I said in a loud voice. “It’s lunch time.”
Annie scrabbled to her feet. Her t-shirt was damp and wrinkled, clinging to her like a second skin. S
he strode toward me and stopped a foot away.
“Hey, Goldie,” she said, flexing her toes and curling them over the edge.
“Yeah?”
“Race ya to Fallen Island.”
I was horrified by her tactless comment, but Goldie just shook her head calmly. “No, it’s too far.”
Annie’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe for Robert.”
Without thinking, I whirled around and my fist connected with her arm. I heard her gasp in pain as she toppled into the water. Remembering her bruised and burned body, I flinched. I felt guilty and ashamed that I had added to her agony.
She gripped the side of the raft and glared up at me. “How about you, whitey? Or are ya chicken?”
She didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, she started swimming in the direction of Fallen Island.
Goldie stood beside me, her mouth hanging open in shock.
“Annie, get back here!” I yelled.
But the girl ignored me.
“Come back!” Goldie hollered.
We screamed at her, begged her, but she kept going.
“I promised my dad I’d never swim past the raft,” I told Goldie as I paced the raft. “But…”
Should get my father or jump in after the girl?
Goldie’s fingers dug into my arm. “Where is she?”
Annie was gone.
“Annie…”
I saw a hand thrashing about in the waves.
“Goldie, go get my dad.”
My friend stared at me as if she hadn’t heard a word.
I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Get my dad now!”
Without waiting for an answer, I dove into the water and started the long swim toward Annie. By the time I reached her, she was closer to Fallen Island than to the raft. I was a few strokes from her when I realized that her shorts and t-shirt were pulling her under. A churning wave billowed and peaked, and suddenly she was sucked underwater.
I dove under, grabbed her and dragged her up for air.
“Take off your shorts!” I shouted.
“Wha―?”
“Just take them off. They’re too heavy.”
I watched as she choked on mouthfuls of salty water. With some awkward maneuvering, she was able to free herself from the waterlogged clothes and they quickly sank below, out of sight.
Treading water beside me, she said, “Now what do we do?”
“We swim to Fallen Island. It’s closer.”
She glanced apprehensively at the island.
“We’ll make it,” I said.
We swam hard, fighting the waves and the current. I pulled ahead of her and urged her to keep moving. Soon there were more than a few strokes that separated us, but I thought if I kept going, she’d follow me. Then I heard her cry out behind me. Without hesitation, I turned back.
I was too late. Annie’s head disappeared beneath the waves.
I swam back to her, but she was gone. I dove underwater and searched for her. My hands met only water and the odd piece of seaweed. I came up screaming. “Annie!”
I was terrified that she was drowning beneath me, so I dove again. Once more I surfaced for air empty-handed.
Where is she?
Something brushed against my legs.
“Annie?”
I took a huge breath, filled my lungs and pushed below the surface. I opened my eyes underwater, ignoring the sharp sting of saltwater. Driving my arms downward, I dove deeper.
Pretend you’re diving for rings.
The water was shadowed and murky. I couldn’t distinguish anything―just dim shapes and flashes of iridescent light.
Then I felt it. A gentle nudge on my back.
I turned my head. Oh God!
Water escaped from my lips as I gazed into the face of a killer whale. I was paralyzed. We stared at each other―nose-to-nose―and I sensed a kind of mutual communication, an understanding. Without thinking, I reached out my hand, unafraid of the huge mammal. As soon as I touched its slick skin, I recalled the dream I’d had the night after meeting Goldie―the dream where I had swam with the whales.
The whale turned, its sleek body rubbing across my legs.
Surprised, I released more bubbles of air. Then my chest began to burn. I looked up with wide eyes, realizing something with impending doom.
The surface was far above me. And I was running out of air.
I panicked. My hands flailed and I fought to get to the surface. It was just beyond my reach.
I’m not going to make it.
My heart strained against my chest. Puh-pum! Puh-pum!
Desperate for air, I clawed at the water.
My head felt like it was going to explode.
I pulled upward, reaching.
Toward the light…
Clawing…
But the light was too far away.
I’m drowning. Like Annie…and Robert.
twelve
All of a sudden, I felt myself miraculously lifted, propelled by the killer whale below me. I tightened my body, keeping it streamlined as water rushed past me in a blur.
My lungs strained for air.
Faster!
My head pounded, my heart raced.
Then I saw the light and I broke the surface, gulping in a burning lungful of air. Panting and coughing, I eyed the whale as it lolled next to me, its head above the water.
“Thank you,” I said hoarsely.
It stared at me before vanishing beneath the surface.
Then I remembered Annie.
A few feet away, I saw her head bobbing in the water. Determined strokes brought me to her side. I turned her over, grasping her across the chest like my lifeguard course had instructed. Then I swam for Fallen Island, towing her limp body beside me.
“Come on, Annie,” I pleaded.
I stumbled to shore and dragged her across the sand. My feet were scraped and bloody from sharp rocks and weather-beaten driftwood. I dropped to the ground beside her unconscious body.
“You’re gonna owe me big for this,” I muttered.
I tipped her head back, cleared her airway and began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
There was no response.
“Breathe.”
I filled her lungs again.
Nothing.
“You can’t die on me, Annie. Who’s gonna bully me around?”
Another breath.
This time Annie reacted.
With a violent shudder, she gagged and spewed up water. She made awful choking sounds while I sat behind her, rocking her in my arms and thanking God and the Great Spirit for saving her.
“That’s right,” I said, my eyes tearing. “Spit it all out.”
When she caught her breath, she realized that I had my arms around her. She jerked away and looked at me, confused.
“How’d we get here?”
“I dragged you. You know, you aren’t as light as you look.”
“You saved me?”
I shrugged. “I did what anyone would have done.”
She shook her head. “No, nobody else would’ve bothered.”
Rattled by her comment, I looked away. “My dad’ll be here soon.”
An unusual calm settled over us.
Until Annie realized that she was in her bra and panties.
“Where are my clothes?”
“You took them off. Remember?”
She folded her arms across her chest and shook her head.
“It was either that,” I said dryly. “Or drown.”
“I’ve been awful to you. Why’d you save me?”
The answer was simple. “Because you needed saving.”
Above our heads, a tempest was brewing. Menacing clouds blocked the sun and the temperature plunged. A northerly wind kicked up, blowing icy rain and sand in our faces.
We darted under a patch of trees where we shivered, teeth chattering, chilled to the bone. After a while, Annie shifted and rubbed her legs, flinching in agony when she touched a large, purplish bruise. She
looked down at her scarred arms.
“S-Sarah?” Her voice trembled. “My dad―”
“Yeah, I know.”
Her head darted up. “That was you the other day? Behind the bushes, I mean.”
I nodded.
Annie bit her lip. “Thought so. Saw you ridin’ away.”
There was a long pause.
“You’re right, Sarah. I am a bully.”
I wanted to say something, but I heard a sound half-hidden by the howling wind. An outboard engine.
Dad!
I jumped to my feet, ran toward the beach and waved my arms in the air―oblivious to the harsh gusts that assaulted me.
“Over here!” I yelled, drenched to the bone.
Annie joined me and we hollered together.
The small boat drew nearer and I recognized the one person onboard. My father. And he was more furious than the raging storm overhead.
“We are so in trouble,” I moaned.
Bundled up in warm thermal blankets, Annie and I waited, alone in my living room. My parents returned shortly after seeing off Mrs. Higginson and my classmates. With arms crossed, my mother stood near the rain-streaked window while my father paced angrily in front of us.
Neither of them said a word.
I swallowed hard and glanced at Annie. She appeared as nervous as I was, her bare leg jiggling in apprehension.
I cleared my throat. “Dad, I―”
“What the heck were you thinking?” my father roared. “You could’ve drowned out there. Didn’t I tell you never to swim past the―?”
“It’s not her fault, Mr. Richardson,” Annie interrupted. “It’s mine.”
My mother cringed and looked away.
“The doctor’s on his way,” my father said with a frustrated sigh. “And your dad too, Annie.”
He didn’t notice the shiver that racked her small frame.
But I did.
“You promised me, Sarah, that you would never swim past that raft,” my father continued, a harsh edge to his voice.
Annie folded her arms protectively against her chest. “I’m sorry, Mr. Richardson, really I am. It’s all my fault.” Her mouth trembled. “I was stupid.”
“Yes, you were. You both were.”
My father studied her for a moment. He picked up one of her arms and turned it slightly, his brow raised in concern. He pursed his lips and I knew that he suspected what I already knew.
Whale Song: A Novel Page 10