Clouded Waters

Chapter Five

I watched as people swarmed the beach. I only heard about twenty percent of them speak English and even less knew a word of Hawaiian. I groaned. Why did this have to happen to me? I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for an entire lifetime and once one finally arrives I miss it!

Aly was sitting with me on the shore I had been forced to come out and cheer on the surfers. Alohani had been out there with them and I have to support my brother. Chris had joined use but he and Aly were too busy flirting to notice anything I was doing. Actually nobody at all was paying attention to me.

“Ladies and gentlemen we will be starting in exactly five minutes. Five minutes,” one of the announcers boomed. I had five minutes to do something about this. I grabbed my board from the sand and sprinted to the water.

“Look who showed up,” snickered the Australian girl who I had met only yesterday.  We were paddling ourselves to the ocean by now.

“Well I am the princess and these are my waves.  Just see how I earned my crown,” I responded waiting for the waves. She looked at me skeptically and then to the shore. Her eyes traveled back to me.

“You’re not supposed. You missed tryouts and therefore are illegible to participate,” she called to me.

“You’re not supposed to be here. This is my beach and I don’t plan on sharing,” I snapped in return. Alohani appeared on my right poking my lower back. He gave me a stern looking telling me to go back but I simple wouldn’t. I’ve come too far to give up now. Finally a wave appeared. It was rather small and I felt like I could do better. A Puerto Rican looking girl was there before anyone else.

 “And Krista Vidal has taken the first wave competition,” an announcer boomed. They haven’t noticed me yet…well that was good.  I watched that Krista girl. She had a pretty good connection with her board but not with the water. That could be used to my advantage. She got in a few good moves before she wiped out. When she returned to the shore there was still no mention of me being in the water. One by one the surfers had found their wave and gave it their all. Now the Australian girl who I had met was going for her perfect wave.  She gave me a smirk before heading for one.

“Watch and learn!” she shouted to me. I rolled my eyes and watched her claim the wave. It only took her a second to spring into action. The wave was in her complete control. She shredded it perfect. She was on her hands in seconds, a perfect handstand. She kicked her legs leisurely before bringing them down into a bridge position. The crowd had gone wild. She stood again normally and never even wobbled! That’s impossible! Nobody in the entire world could do something like that! She did a few more tricks before wiping out. She returned to the shore. This was my chance.

It was high tide and the very next wave to come had to be perfect. I grabbed a fish from the water and called out in my best dolphin impression. Sure enough a dolphin came swimming toward me and with it the attention of the islanders.

“Hold on everyone! There’s another surfer out there!” I heard the message being announced. I gave the crowd a wave and went to do the best surfing of my entire life.

The ocean spray was usually so relaxing to me but now it only made me more nervous. Everything. I would have to show these judges everything I have. I took a deep breath and surfed. My normal tricks were pretty good but not enough. I launched myself off the wave and landed easily. I had to win this. I gathered my strength and leapt off my feet. My hands were the only thing keeping me to the board. I’ve never even attempted a trick like this but I just had to nail it. I walked a bit forward sweat beading down my face. My arms felt weak trying to keep me up. I had great upper body strength but the waves added a bigger challenge to the equation.

With light steps I eased back onto my feet where I felt comfortable. I’m sure that move earned me something. I just needed better though.  I got to my stomach and lay flat on the board. My hands gripped it firmly. I took in a large amount of air and began to roll. The Barrel Roll wasn’t my all-time favorite move but it was a crowd pleaser.  I got back up with a smile. The board had slipped from under me and I felt the water surround my body. Swiftly I swam to the shore and examined each stunned judge with a grin.

“I am Melody Akmana and I am the Princess of the Sea!” I proclaimed. The island natives shouted and each one came in with their own rushed hug. The judges took a few minutes to deliberate and then turned to face all of the surfers.

“Melody Akmana will be allowed to participate in the International Surfing Competition.” I don’t think that I’ve ever smiled more in my entire life. I would be able to compete! I continued listening as the names of the ten surfers who would move on was read aloud, “Jasmine Tolei, Cole Setari, Jacqueline Jefrets,” at the name the girl from the luau beamed brightly and smiled hearing that she had placed third. I rolled my eyes at her unnecessary cheering. The name reading continued, “Anna Westland, Alohani Akmana, Genevieve Tyler, Belle Gabriel, Eleanor Henderson, and Melody Akmana!”

I had placed! I was in the top 10! Sure I was number ten but I still ranked! This was the most amazing feeling!