Leap of Faith

Prologue

"Why can't I come with you?" I question. I'm a better surfer than mom is, it's not fair!"

This earns a hearty chuckle from my father and a warning look from my mother.

"You may win more competitions than me, but I am still far more experienced than you are young lady," my mom adopts her stern I'm being serious tone. She pats my head as she passes me to grab her waterproof camera from the bedroom.

"Please dad, I don't want to stay with Cheryl!" I whine, "She makes me watch Keeping up with the Kardashians!"

Joe Galloway lets out a bark of laughter before pulling a disgusted face. "Exactly, it's basically child abuse," I argue. "Do you want your only child to be tortured like that?"

Dad sends me a pointed look. "I'm sorry kiddo, but the Honeypot is no place for a thirteen-year-old".

I open my mouth to argue with him, but he cuts me off.

"No matter how skilled. And that's the end of this discussion"

In true teenager fashion I can't help but fold my arms and pull my most impressive you're ruining my life face. "Fine, but if you come back to find everyone is calling me Kaith and my vocabulary consists only of the word 'Bible', you have nobody but yourselves to blame!"

This earns an eye roll from my father. "Maybe you and Cheryl can bond over your shared dramatics?" my dad suggests. He's packing up his and my mother's wetsuits.

Great, rub it in my face Joe!

"If the Honeypot is so dangerous then why are you two going?" I question, "Isn't the weather supposed to be bad today?"

"The weather is less than favourable yes, but we're taking the jet ski and we'll come back immediately if we think it's too dangerous." My mother packs board wax and water bottles into her carry-on bag.

I flop onto the sofa of our campervan. "Why don't you go next month? I'll be fourteen then so I can come with you!" We are driving up north tomorrow for a competition my dad has entered, but we are coming back to Clearwater at the end of next month for Cheryl's birthday.

Joe and Lilly exchange a cautious glance at each other, silently communicating. I look between the two and an uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. "What's going on?" I venture, sitting up straight.

We never keep secrets from one another.

"Well, there is a reason your father and I want to go today rather than next month" my mother says, sitting down next to me and taking my hand.

My father places a hand on my mother's shoulder. "But it's something we want to talk to you about over dinner, okay?" Joe adds. He sends me a reassuring smile before ruffling my hair. "Tonight, all will be revealed!" he promises, waving his hands in front of my face in attempted mysteriousness. 

Well, Joe, it's evident where I get my dramatics from!

Mom's phone chimes and she informs me that Cheryl will be here in five minutes.

Great. Let the babysitting of the 24 year old commence.

My mother leans down and kisses my forehead. "Okay honey, we have to leave if we want to get there before the other daring surfers arrive." She hugs me tightly, poking my nose as she pulls away.

"Be careful, mom." I've heard about the Honeypot enough on TV to know that yes, it is every surfers dream to face the waves there; but that it is also very dangerous if attempting it in poor weather conditions. I'm nervous for what my parents will have to contend with this morning.

"We always are kiddo," dad says from the doorway.

I watch them pack up their boards and ensure the jet ski is secured to the trailer. "Hey, fancy giving me some good luck?" my dad says, walking back over to the camper.

"It's not a competition?"

"Having a little Faith today can't hurt, can it?" He holds out his hand and I can't help but complete our signature 'good luck' handshake we give each other before every competition. I giggle as he picks me up from the step and swings me around in a tight hug.

"We'll be back for dinner, OK?" he says placing me back onto the step of the camper. I nod my head and smile up at him - my real-life superhero. "I love you, daddy."

"I love you too, Faith" he squeezes my cheek, before walking to the van. My mom leans out of the passenger window.

"Good luck, Mom!" I call, giving her a big wave.

"Thanks honey, love you" she calls back to me, returning my wave. "See you later."

The engine starts and my parents begin to pull out of our plot. The horn beeps twice as they drive through the gate and head for the surf that will inevitably end their lives.

I catch a glimpse of them through the van window as they drive past the camper. Both of them smiling widely and singing along to my mom's Beatles CD. Both of them looking happy. Both of them looking beautiful.

Then their van disappears into the distance, and with it, so do my parents.  

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Welcome to Leap of Faith! 

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