All At Sea Read online

  All At Sea

  by Pepper Ellison

  Copyright Pepper Ellison 2015.

  Published by Pepper Ellison through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

  Cover Image License purchased from Istockphoto.com

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or retransmitted without express permission from the author, with the exception of brief quotes for review purposes or critical articles.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblence to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

  Visit the author at www.pepperellison.com

  All At Sea

  Pepper Ellison

  a Muse Contemporary book

  Monday 6th Jan 3.10am

  —Waikiki Yacht Club—

  Hello, Mr. Murdock. My name is Amelia Beauchamp, and I’m sorry to be messaging you in the middle of the night, but if I wait until morning, I might lose my nerve. I would like to inquire about surfing lessons. I’ve not surfed before, but you come highly recommended according to my online research. Your advertisement guarantees clients will be “up on the board the first lesson.” I’m very uncoordinated and not a strong swimmer, so you might have your work cut out for you. I’m afraid of water in general and of the ocean in particular. Giant waves are pretty much fuel for my nightmares. I’m originally from Kansas City, which is about as far from the ocean as one can get, but as I’m going to be spending several months on Oahu living on a yacht and surrounded on all sides by water, I figured this would be the best time to rid myself of my phobia. How might I go about scheduling a lesson?

  Thank you,

  Amelia Beauchamp

  Wednesday 10th Jan 11.15am

  —North Shore, Oahu—

  Hi Amelia, sorry I took a while to get back to you! I get pretty busy with lessons during the day so can only check my phone sporadically. Anyway, I might be able to help you out. We can do one-on-one lessons, or if you want to bring a friend you can split the cost. Up to you. I am at North Shore on the beach most days, but I can come down to Waikiki. Let’s arrange to meet up.

  Ta, Kody

  Friday 10th Jan 11.35am

  —Waikiki Yacht Club —

  Hi Kody. Amelia Beauchamp again. Also, I should mention that I have a slight panic disorder. I just got here a few days ago and don’t know anyone else yet so it will just be me for the lesson.

  Amelia

  Friday 10th Jan 3.40pm

  ——North Shore, Oahu—

  Kansas is somewhere in the middle, right? I’m from an island, too. Australia. Anyway, I will be at Waikiki tomorrow. Look for the sandwich-board ‘Aussie Surf School’ (inspired, right?) I have curly blonde hair and a tan, so I pretty much look like everyone else hanging around there, except for the Aussie accent. My mate/colleague Lachlan will be there too. He is a big, buff dark-haired dude. He has scheduled a couple clients for that time. You can’t miss us.

  I don’t know if I can guarantee that you will be up in the first lesson if you are as scared as you are saying, but we’ll have a crack. Can you come Saturday at 2?

  Friday 10th Jan 9.46pm

  —Waikiki Yacht Club —

  Kansas City is in the very middle, yes. Technically, it’s in the state of Missouri, though, right on the border. Either way, corn on all sides.

  Two o’clock Saturday is great. I’ll be the pale, awkward brunette in the red bikini. The one who looks like she’s on the verge of tears or a heart attack. Skinnyish. Five-four. Amelia

  Saturday 11th Jan 5.25pm

  —North Shore Hostel—

  Wow. You really weren’t kidding about the water phobia.

  Ok, first I want to say that you shouldn’t feel embarrassed. I could tell you were pretty upset by the way you threw your money at me, sprinted two hundred metres, and then lay on the ground. I did try to come after you, but then you sprinted off again and vanished.

  It’s not the first time someone has lost their swimming top in a lesson. Lachie has a collection. And if you remember, I did suggest that you borrow my rashie.

  Anyway, I am not usually one for long emails, but I don’t feel comfortable taking your money since you were only there for about ten minutes, so you can either have another lesson for free, or you could give me your bank account details I will refund you, or I am happy to post you a cheque.

  But you should feel really proud of yourself for trying. You seem to have a really determined spirit and I admire that.

  Kody

  (If you come back, wear a rashie, or if it makes you feel safer, you can get these burqinis (for real!))

  (Just a note for if it should ever happen again, quite a lot of ladies sunbake topless on beaches. If you hadn’t been running and screaming nobody would have paid you any attention. You could try just walking back to your towel. I have lost my duds before. Believe me, it’s harder for a bloke to look casual walking up the beach with no pants.)

  (Also, what was the blue that happened just before you came down? I meant to ask you about it, but then so much happened in the next few minutes that I never got around to it. What were those guys saying? Sorry – ‘blue’ is Australian for fight.)

  Sunday 12th Jan 10.15am

  —Elements Spa & Salon—

  Thanks for the encouraging words but I’m not sure when I’ll be back for another lesson. Maybe when the cloud of mortification dissipates. Visions of me sprinting through a crowd of Waikiki tourists while trying to hold onto my jiggling parts are pretty much consuming my every waking thought.

  About the blue fighting thing. While I was waiting on the beach for you to finish up with that other client, this group of guys, about four or five of them, were taunting this girl about her weight. It was brutal. I exchanged words with them and it was really upsetting across the board. I was pretty shook up about it and should have just canceled the lesson and told you why but I wasn’t thinking straight. I don’t remember you offering the rashie. I don’t remember much of anything about the lesson. Well, until I waded a few feet in and that huge wave smashed me and ripped my top off. I remember that. Lol. Whatever. Game over. It’s fine.

  Just keep the lesson fee. Like I said, I watched you for a good while with that other client and you seem like a really kind and patient person. You’re good at what you do.

  Sunday 12th Jan 10.20am

  —North Shore Hostel—

  I’ve seen those guys before. They are some sort of boot camp group I think. Like, kill yourself getting fit. That kind of thing. All shouting and humiliation and roid abuse.

  Sunday 12th Jan 10.26am

  —Elements Spa & Salon—

  Yes! They were jogging down the beach chanting like soldiers, left-right-left, and then swooped in around the girl. They had this long stick and started belting out a song about whale hunting. Thar she blows, chubba-flubba, something about a harpoon. Then they pretended to stab the girl with the stick! I pointed to the one guy’s love handles and told him he should put down the Ring Dings and Yoo-hoo before he makes fun of someone else’s weight. He called me a skinny whore and told me to “grow some tits and eat a sandwich.” Then this older dad-guy stepped in and they all took off down the beach laughing. Off to find some other unsuspecting female to humiliate. The girl packed up her stuff and bolted, and I didn’t know what to do at that point so I just walked over to you for my lesson.

  Sunday 12th Jan 10.36am

  —North Shore Hostel—

  Yeah I saw that part. You were like a little fire cracker! Going totally sick! I thought wow what a cool, crazy chick. All squared up, even though that dick looked like he was going to slap you. I thought, man she has some serious sphere
s! I was ready to come and step in, but then it was over, and it turned out to be you!

  Are you coming back?

  Sunday 12th Jan 10.40am

  —Elements Spa & Salon—

  Maybe the swimsuit fail is a sign from the surf gods that I should keep it low key at the beach. I’ve come up with a list of how I might stay busy at the beach without actually entering the water:

  Design state-of-the-art sandcastles.

  Collect sharks’ teeth and sand dollars for customized jewelry.

  Build kites and rafts made of flotsam.

  Read, write, draw, nap.

  Sunday 12th Jan 1.16pm

  —Totally Brewed Café—

  Suit yourself.

  Can I just say, we wouldn’t have got very far as a species if we gave up the first time we tried something hard.

  You know where to find me if you change your mind.

  Sunday 12th Jan 1.25pm

  —Rubicon Ristorante at the Wyndham Hotel—

  Suit yourself.

  Ha. Aren’t you the clever one.

  And I didn’t say I was giving up, I just said I needed a little while for the embarrassment to wear off. I can come for a lesson tomorrow.

  Amelia

  P.S. I bought a rashie since they were fresh out of burqinis in my size.

  Monday 13th January 3.02pm

  —near Waikiki Beach, Oahu—

  I’m glad you came back. Like I said, I know that was hard to do.

  I’m really sorry about Lachie. He can be a real bastard. Our parents are good mates back home, and we’ve known each other since we were just little tackers, so I’m used to it. But Lachlan is right about your fitness though. Some of it is anxiety, but basically you have no fitness.

  As I said to you, fifty minutes out of every hour surfing is paddling and waiting, four minutes is riding a wave, and a minute is face-planting, or being biffed by a board. It’s the paddling part I’m worried about with you.

  Do you do any exercise at all? Anything cardio? Do you like to dance? That might help. I can send you a playlist if you like. You can bop around your yacht.

  I can’t believe your parents are making you live on a yacht when you’re so scared of water! (Let me know about the playlist, and I will see you tomorrow?)

  Monday 13th January 3.17pm

  —near Waikiki Beach, Oahu—

  Hi Kody. Don’t worry about it. I know a few football players back home who could give Mr. Fitness Freak a run for his money in the arrogant jock department. He really should worry more about his own clients’ well-being and less about yours. (Or how about not at all about yours.) He was supposed to be helping Newlywed Couple improve their technique, not looking for ways to further traumatize Awkward Girl while she’s in the water. Whatever. I’m over it.

  Re: my “fitness”....hrmmmm....well....I could lie, I suppose. Fudge it and say I prefer yoga. But I’ve never been one for sports or exercise of any kind. (Although I’ve read about it!) I do that a lot. Read. And paint and draw. I’m planning on majoring in art at UCLA in the fall—nerd, I know—so basically, you’re correct. I have no “fitness” as you say. But I do like all kinds of music so absolutely send along the playlist. Maybe your fitness soundtrack can get me athletically-inspired. I can bop around “burning some cals” and “strengthening my core” or whatever it is supremely fit people such as yourself do. *Cue the Rocky Theme Song.*

  See you tomorrow. Amelia

  P.S. “Do you dance?” Bah! Dancing in Public = Amelia June’s Second Biggest Fear in Life. No, I do not dance.

  Monday 13th January 11.45pm

  —Blue Volcano Tavern—

  OK, I have sent a playlist to you.

  I can dance. I have a friend back home who likes ballroom dancing, and I’ve been her partner a few times. You pick up things. But I do a lot of sport. I like martial arts, boxing, running. You were making jokes about my abs, but having a strong core equips you to do all kinds of activities. You can turn up and you’re good to go.

  The truth is I get depressed if I sit around too much. That’s kind of why I am here. Hiding from a sedentary career someone else has all planned out for me.

  Anyway, dancing is good because you increase your heart rate without thinking about it, you can involve all your muscle groups, and it’s fun. If you find a song you like, really go for it with big explosive movements. That’s called plyometrics.

  Next time we’re going all the way in the water! Are you ready? What do you think?

  Tuesday 14th January 12.15am

  —Waikiki Yacht Club —

  Thanks for the playlist. I’ve heard a couple of the songs before but most of them are new to me. I’m listening to them right now. So far so good!

  You seem to be about the least sedentary person I’ve ever met, so whatever job that is all planned out for you back home, I’m glad you’ve come to Hawaii to escape it. Everyone should be allowed to choose their own path in life, I think.

  I’m ready to get all the way in the water. I’ll be up all night worrying about it, but I’ll be there with bells on! Amelia

  P.S. Ballroom dancing, huh? I figured you more the reggae type. Interesting.

  Wednesday 15th January 3.01pm

  —near Waikiki Beach, HI—

  Hi, Kody. I’m writing from the marina shuttle before I lose my nerve. I want to let you know that I won’t be back to lessons. This third time was just too much. But I think having done three lessons, I can walk away knowing I gave it a solid go. I feel good about the experience overall. You got me up on the board and it was amazing. And even though it was only on a little wave and only lasted a few seconds and ultimately ended in disaster, I’ll remember those few seconds always. Especially your face and the way you laughed and cheered me on. I think you were happier than I was!

  But your friend is right. (It pains me to admit that because he’s so unnecessarily callous about the whole thing...) but he’s spot on about me. I’m a “giraffe trying to be a dolphin” a “hazard to myself and others” I need to “go back to the baby pool and start from scratch.” (UGH! JERK!) But it’s true. He’s right. When my head goes under, I lose all sense of myself and become a primal flailing mess. My heart goes into my ears, my brain shuts down, and I become 100% fear. All I can do is panic and flail and grab at nothing. I blackened your eye! You have a bruise on your face, and scratches down your neck, and for what? To pull the panicked, flailing Kansas giraffe out of the water AGAIN? No. I can’t keep doing that. It’s not fair.

  I do think however that I owe you a deeper explanation as to the problem.

  I went to this school where swimming is part of the weekly curriculum. You’d be skill tested over time and I never got beyond the beginner levels because I’m so petrified to put my head under the water. My classmates had a great time mocking me for it. Then I was pushed off a crowded pier into a lake last summer. It was at this popular girl’s house (who apparently hates me for reasons unknown). I went to the party with my family, otherwise I would never have been invited. Our families have business dealings with one another. My step-dad is co-owner of SPAM (they make canned meat?) and this girl’s dad owns a cattle ranch so they deal in meat by-products. People say I fell into the lake, but there was a push. I know it. I was fished out, and in the end it was all okay, but it only exacerbated my already deep aversion to water.

  I don’t like water. My experiences with water have all been bad. I won’t even go near the edges on the yacht. I grip the rails and walls when I walk around here, and I feel sick a lot of the time. Even when we’re not moving, I feel anxious. Just knowing there is water underneath me and around me makes me break into sweats. My mother is trying to help me. She wanted me to come to Hawaii and live on the yacht to face my fear. She’s the one who suggested surf lessons. I draw and paint water landscapes all the time but I don’t even like skipping over a rain puddle.

  So, that’s the whole story. I wanted you to know so that you don’t think I’m a quitter altogeth
er and for no real reason. I hope you understand and don’t think less of me for stopping lessons.

  Amelia

  Wednesday 15th January 4.16pm

  —Rub-a-Dub Pub Coin Laundry and Liquor—

  OK. That must have been really scary.

  But look how far you’ve come in a short time! You can get in the water now. Remember I said sometimes you need to go backwards to go forwards – or sidewards. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re going somewhere!

  Don’t worry, I’ve had a black eye before. It’s no big deal. In fact, Lachie told it really well, and everyone at the pub had a great laugh about how I was beaten up by a girl.

  Thursday 16th January 2.22pm

  —Hang Eleven Surf Shop—

  Missed you today.

  I’ve been thinking about the reasons that people are mean to other people.

  Sometimes it’s because they want attention. Have you ever noticed how, if a parent is ignoring a little kid, they will do something naughty? Then the parent will stop what they’re doing and pay attention to the kid. It might be to yell at them, but the kid is happy, because they got what they wanted. Maybe that’s what happened to you? Someone wanted to distract you. Someone wanted to alter your course, if that makes sense.

  Sometimes they are jealous. There is something intrinsic and natural to you that they can’t be, and it makes them mean and twisted and want to hurt you. I don’t know if you know this about yourself but you’re remarkable looking. I can’t think of anyone who has a face like yours. I can see how even some really pretty girls might feel ordinary next to you because your features are really interesting.