Tidal Waves

One

There's something I haven't mentioned about my father. The week before he went missing, he says to me, "Bird, I think I found something. Your uncle T's gonna come stay for a while. I might have to vanish for a bit". So, he talks about vanishing, then he vanishes. Everyone says he was lost at sea, but...he's still out there, I know it

Sun shone across the ripples of the ocean on a brief angle as it sparkled into the bay. The sun's orange hue causing for dark shadows and bright faces. The waves crashed into the teddy soft sand, leaving shells and seaweed behind as it coursed back out. The wind blew lightly on the summer evening, pulling straw sun hats across the beach and into the brim of the water's edge. The air was cool, yet still warm against burnet skin and worn out faces.

Children ran around with their heads cut off, reckless as the end of the day had come to an end. Screams filled the air in an ear piercing tune and parents around stared at the tired children. Men picked up beach chairs and towels, hauling them in their arms with the massive over packed coolers that mothers packed. Women searched for their children in the ocean, for their teenagers who were still surfing on the delightful night and the odd dad soaking in a unicorn donut tube with a beer.

The water cooled at her hips, sending her into a cold coma for minimal seconds before her body grew warm below the blazing sun. Legs kicked in the deep blue as she felt the water force between her toes and vanish as she pulled back. Finger tips knocked on the surface of her pink board in ponder. Sitting on her surfboard, Lou's brown hair dripped down her drenched back, sticking to her hot and tanned skin. Skin peeled off her shoulders like a snake and she watched as fellow teens surfed the massive wave she'd missed. A pesky Touron boy had taken it from her.

It wasn't anything new, the girl was a pathetic surfer, but at least liked the thought of attempting something new. It was rather weird if you asked her. A girl who'd grown up her entire life in marsh and ocean, yet couldn't surf like ninety-nine percent of the people could. She spent so much time in the water that she knew how to swim like an expert lifeguard and she could hold her breath longer than most.

With many failed surf attempts, holding one's breaths was much needed. Especially when it came to getting sucked in below the waves and barreling for the reefs below. She'd been lucky if she resurfaced without any bumps or scratches from hitting her head.

Whipping her head back, she watched as a few Kook girls paddled out near her, slowing their pace several feet from. She remained quiet, turning her head to stare at the beach where several of her other friends were. With her feet still kicking the water, she gripped the edge of her board with a ponder. A thought that lulled her forward and propelled her back just as fast. She couldn't decide if she wanted to try and catch one more wave before heading in or simply swimming the rest of the way back with her board.

On the beach, waving their hands to signal her, she narrowed her brows at the Pogues. The fellow Kooks had noticed and seen her, taking a small liking to her. Though, they really did not care for the way she surfed, it was for her looks, but even then, they wouldn't pay any attention to her. It was something she hated.

Glancing behind her, she gazed at the wave coming on and began to paddle forward in order to catch it. Two more girls began to paddle quickly once they saw her paddling and she kept to herself, being ahead of them. Tallulah wasn't going to let those girls catch her wave, she'd just seen it from behind as no one had been paying attention.

As the wave began to rise and pull everyone backward, she quickly felt her board being propelled back. In a hurry, yet with steady feet, she pushed herself up from the flat board. On her wobbly feet, she felt the tension in her ankles as she didn't spread her feet far enough. Her arms outstretched to ease the balance, her board dunked forward to match the wave and she rode above the water.