Music and Love

Chapter Three

      As soon as Melba and Mary were inside their room, Mary immediately changed to her one-piece black bathing suit in the bathroom.

      “I already told you, Melba.” Mary's voice echoed through the bathroom. I’m gonna swim tonight, and nobody's gonna hold me down!”

      “Chillax, Mary.” Melba laughed a little bit. She was unpacking her stuff. “I’m not even holding you.”

      Mary laughed sarcastically. “Ha. Ha. Very funny, Melba.”

      While Mary was changing, Melba also changed from her school uniform to something casual. She slipped on a pair of khaki board shorts and a blue shirt.

      Arriving at the pool, Mary and Melba saw members of ‘The Flock’ swimming in the pool, diving and running around.

      “Are you sure you don’t wanna swim tonight, Melba?” Mary asked as she scanned the pool.

      “No, thanks.” Melba replied. “I’ll just... uhh... walk around while eating your present.” She held up her chocolate bar for Mary to see.

      “Okay... suit yourself, then. I’m going to the ‘cocktail shoppe’ first.” Mary pointed towards a shack by the pool.

      “Sure thing. We’ll just see each other around.”

      “See you later, Melba.”

      “You too, Mary.”

      With that, the two parted ways.

      Mary sat down by the long oval table where the bartenders were doing stunts with the cocktails and bottles. Looking around, she saw a lot of middle-aged male foreigners with their young and barely-dressed wives.

      Eek, I’d never be one of them, she thought to herself.

      “May I take your order, ma’am?” A cocktail bartender approached and asked her.

      “Oh, yes.” Mary looked up to the list of non-alcoholic beverages available on the menu. “I’d like a ‘Four Seasons Creamy Smoothie, please.”

      “One ‘Four Seasons Creamy Smoothie’ coming right up!” The bartender exclaimed as he moved away from Mary and concocted her drink.

      A teenage ‘Flock’ member entered the shoppe. Everybody seemed to look at him with his lean body as he made his way to the order table. He wore tight black swimming shorts. Mary was not able to notice him since she was fascinated looking at another bartender igniting a drink.

      He looked at the different colourful pictures overhead.

      “Excuse me,” He asked a bartender who wasn’t doing anything. “Could I order one ‘Four Seasons Creamy Smoothie’, please? And thank you.”

      Mary heard the voice the spoke beside her and remembered the ‘chap’ right across her back at the restaurant. She turned her head towards the direction where his voice came from. It was him, indeed.

      The boy recognised Mary. “Hallo! It’s you again!” He spoke with a jolly tone in his voice, as if he was glad to see Mary.

      “Yep, it’s me!” Mary decided to be friendly since he recognised her. “And it’s you too!”

      They both laughed while looking at each other’s faces.

      “Och, my apologies for not introducing myself to ye. I’m Alex Cameroon, the oldest member of ‘The Flock’.” He held out his left hand for Mary to shake.