The Siren's Code

More of a dog person

Five am was becoming normal, just before sunrise there is enough light coming in through the skylight to see but not to blind. Cassie would stretch, feel for the edge of the bed, slowly drag her legs round to sit up, feet on the floor and when ready crawl around collecting up her surf kit, the roof of the broom cupboard so pitched standing up was only possible in the middle, even for her.

This process varied in length depending on how deeply she had been asleep, how hard it was to find the right clothes, or how late she had been the night before, but party nights were more of a rarity now, due to the surf challenge and she didn't miss them. Yes, there was the night they kissed, but there's always an exception to the rule right?

Once downstairs, she would push open the door to let in the still grey day break, splash her face, put coffee on, check what clothes she had actually gathered in the semi dark... go back up the ladder to re-adjust, grab a sip of coffee, grab her stuff and head out, nature's saturation levels nicely sliding up to colour the day.

But today, today was almost better than Christmas in all its promise. She felt for the edge of the bed, swung her legs round, bounced up, had a cold shower to contain her excitement. Maybe he hadn't had a lobotomy about that night after all. Maybe this was the weekend, maybe they will, shit it's been so long maybe I've forgotten how to do it, or am rubbish at it.

As Cassie had sat behind the breakers yesterday watching pelicans skim the crest of the waves Jay had suggested a mini break!

"How about we cross to the other coast for a couple of days? Into the National Park and find the best breaks, be good for you to try something different. There's nothing there except nature, we'd sleep in the jeep and cook on a fire, but it's worth it for the waves." He paused, and then added "and we could stop in with my folks as I haven't seen them for a while."

Calm she told herself as she got out of the shower, this is not a romantic getaway, he is not introducing you to his parents, this is Drill Sergeant Jay, it will be hard graft and... hard graft.

One can always dream she said to the face staring back at her in the mirror as she cleaned her teeth before dressing in the clothes she got ready the night before; some shorts and her new favourite t-shirt. Then final check of passport, head torch, mosi-spray, hair bands, running shoes, slips her Ugg boots on and heads out, the broom cupboard locking as her key fob moves out of range.

As she headed up to Jay's the cockerels were crowing, as joyous as she was about the prospect of this new day with all to play for. Along the dirt road, past the opening Soda shop and up the steep shortcut where the Jeep was parked and packed, organised! Tentatively she went to knock on the glass doors.

"It's open, you really don't need to knock. Coffee?"

"Yes, great thank you," she dropped her bag and turned to look out to sea above the jungle foliage, a cool breeze greeting her as she sat on the steps staring at the lightshow unfolding in front of her, the fiery streaks of orange heralding the rising sun. Jay handed her a cup and sat down beside her.

"Quite something isn't it?"

She sipped the caffeine, enhancing the moment's glory, and today was only going to get better.

Jay flicked his roll up into the undergrowth, "ready?"

"Don't you worry that your rollie will ignite the whole jungle when you flick it out, and you will get back one time after your mysterious disappearances and there will be no terrace, no house, maybe even no Paradise."

"Well, yes if you threw a cigarette into the jungle with the embers still hot it would not be good. But as I flick mine out I make sure between my finger and thumb that there is absolutely no heat left, so no harm... And as they are roll ups, there is no damage to the environment either. Unlike the many fag butts I find on the beach not to mention vape pens – the plastic bags of our day" he added as he drained his cup. "And don't get me started on REE's."