The Bright Side

Chapter 8 - Part 2

TRISTAN

"Have a nice day, Mrs. Holzbrecher," I call out after the German lady that huffs her way past the counter and looks like she had one too many bratwursts.

The name sticks to my throat like a crumb that I need to clear out. I fold my cheeks into a polite smile and hint a nod at Sky who theatrically presses himself against the wall after she's cleared out.

"I don't mean to sound condescending, but yuck."

"You feel me, mate."

"Busy day?" Sky asks, leaning over the counter to catch a glimpse at the computer screen. "You ready?"

"Yeah, just a sec." I force another booking into the computer and when I'm done, poke my head around the corner into Mum's office.

"We're off, Mum."

"See you later, pumpkin." She doesn't even look up from her desk. "Stay sober."

Why on earth would she start with that now? Does she know? I haven't smoked since... well, last week. Did she smell it on my clothes? I have to admit though, that even if she suspects, she's doing a fine job at staying calm. Thinking of the major bollocking she gave me after the accident I still shudder. She probably doesn't know. She's just toying with me.

"And what am I supposed to do with the stack of blunts in my backpack?" I ask cheekily.

"Sell them to some kids. But make sure that you get your money's worth." The corners of her mouth pucker. Crazy woman. Can't resist to tease me sometimes. Well, it seems to be hereditary.

"Alright. Later, Mum."

Sky and I hit the esplanade today. There aren't many tourists around anymore this time of year, so it's actually possible to find a place to sit without being overheard. We rest our boards against the concrete wall that separates the beach from the esplanade and sit down on it, leaning against each other's backs. Sky has his notebook with him and I can hear his pencil scratching over the paper behind me. The sea is beautiful today. Dark grey water turns into white foam where it crashes against the pier and the sun is right behind the light house, illuminating the top as if it was night already. Some seagulls found some fish and chips in the trash and tore it out, fighting over it in the middle of the sidewalk absolutely unbothered by the passers-by. To me Seaford is my favourite place on earth. It's not that the architecture of our town is so particularly pretty. Outside the town centre most of the buildings are ugly concrete blocks and even their bright colours can't hide that, but Seaford is well taken care of. The streets are clean and the town pours a lot of money into gardening so there are well kept flowerbeds everywhere. And the sea. Different every day, but always beautiful. A few years ago my family and I went on a hiking trip – I must've been twelve I think – and we sort of hiked from shieling to shieling for two weeks. Don't get me wrong, the mountains were impressive and it was one hell of a trip, but when I came home, first thing I did was tear my clothes off and jump into the water to embrace it. That's how much I missed it. I have no idea how Sky stands it when he's in Oxford. I couldn't. I would've made my parents send me somewhere else. But I guess that Sky didn't really have that option not knowing his father.

"Can I ask you something?" I blurt out and Sky's back twitches as he starts.

"Now, thank you very much." Sky holds his notebook out to me and his sketch of the lighthouse illuminated by the sun shows a fat line right through the centre that probably doesn't belong there.

"I'm sorry. It's still awesome." I hand the notebook back. "So, can I? Ask you something about the father?"

"Sure." There's caution in his voice and I do hope that I won't say anything that will make him shut down.