A Walk On The Beach

Chapter 16

Boy

EVELYN IS SPINNING wildly around, looking for the girl ‘that was supposed to be sitting right there’. “Jordan, she’s gone! I told you to walk faster!” she says to me, folding her arms cross her chest.

I look around. The park is empty; no one, but us. I can’t help but feel disappointed.

“Hey! I’m trying to help you here. She seems the perfect girl for you,” Evelyn says. “Why are you not trying?”

I look at her. “Evelyn, you haven’t spoken to her. How do you know she’s so perfect?” My little sister gapes at me, speechless. “C’mon, Evelyn, don’t kid yourself. You don’t even know her name. This is just one of your pet projects. Let’s go.” I started to walk away. She’ll follow.

But she doesn’t. “Jordan, she’s here. Of all places! She was on the Island, and now she’s here.” Evelyn runs to me and grabs my wrist. “Isn’t it fate?”

I laugh, because for a moment there I actually believed her. The words actually made some sense in my head...but fate? Really. “Evelyn, you’re eight years old. What do you know about fate?”

Evelyn looks hurt. “Jordan! What more do you want? I mean, I hated Amber. I really, really detest Stephanie. This girl – whatever her name may be – is the only one I know is right for you.” She stares into my eyes. “This isn’t for me. I know you want her, too.”

I hold her gaze for a moment, but then detach her hand from my wrist. “C’mon, Evelyn, let’s go back.”

Another week goes by. Evelyn’s been giving me the silent treatment. Caitlyn’s been shopping with Mum and Zoe, leaving Stephanie with me. Whenever I get the chance, I'd go with Dad to anywhere and just dump Stephanie with whomever else there is. Dad had made it clear that he is not going to be the one babysitting Stephanie.

“Dad! Let’s check out that gym,” I say one day.

Dad, who is still asleep, murmurs, “Whatever, Jordan.”

“Can I go by myself then?” I ask, noticing an opportunity.

He opens one eye and glances at his alarm clock and then waves me away. “It is 5 a.m. Jordan. Just go away. The money is on the dresser.”

I quickly get changed and then grab a bunch of grapes in the fruit bowl. I go to the gym. It’s early so there aren’t many people around.

“Holiday-maker, right?” the receptionist asks, glancing at me.

I nod. “Right, and I'd like to join your gym for 2 weeks, please.” I place the cash on the desk.

She takes it and then gives me a card. “The card is to indicate you’re a member of our gym. Would you like to rent a locker?” she asks.

“Yeah.”

“That’ll be another $50 on top,” she says. I dish out the money. “Here’s the key. I hope you enjoy our full range of exercising equipment. Thank you. Next!”

I go in. I hadn’t known what to expect from the outside, but now that I’m inside, all I can say is wow.   

Next morning, 5 a.m. I am getting out the door. Dad comes out of his bedroom, stops and looks at me.

“Where are you going, Jordan?” he asks.

“The gym,” I tell him simply.

He frowns. “What?”

“You said I could go to the gym,” I say slowly. “Don’t you remember?”

“Erm, not really.”

“Yesterday?”

“This is meant to be a family holiday, Jordan,” he says, combing his hair with his fingers and speaking in the way that says, sigh, I don’t know what to do with you, you difficult growing child/boy/teenager/young man/ monster.

I shrug. “I know. I’ll be in the gym for an hour. I’ll be home with plenty of time to spend time with the family.” I head for the door. “See ya, Dad.”

“Wait, I’ll go with you,” he says quickly.

“No, it’s okay, Dad. It’s just downstairs,” I tell him.

He looks at me unsurely. “Well...”

“It’s fine,” I say more forcefully. “Just...go back to sleep. I’ll be back before breakfast.”

My parents are such hypocrites. This holiday is just like all of our other holidays. It’s all about how we should spend time together as a family. It was like that...until I turned ten years old. Then things started to change. Zoe grew up, and the babies became toddlers. Dad’s business slowly took up his life, so now he’s all weary now. He tries to spend time with me whenever he can, I know that, but I’m a teenager now. I don’t need my dad as much as I did. Even though they don’t mean to, my parents can never stay true to their word. They always say one thing and then do another. But I’m just repeating myself now.

I close the door behind me and jog down the steps and spend an hour, like I said to Dad, in the gym. I shower and return to the apartment flat that is our holiday home. Everyone is still sleeping soundly.

Deciding to be kind and not to disturb their peaceful slumber, I switch on our television in the living room. I glance out the huge window to admire the beautiful building that is the hotel opposite our holiday home. Something catches my eye. Someone is pacing outside their room, near the stairs that are exposed to the outside world through glass. It’s a tall boy. I squint and step closer to the window. It’s the boy from the Island...the Island girl’s brother.

Island girl is staying opposite me.