Free Me...

Spectacular

Sitting on the bench, his suit jacket discarded, his tie skew and a beer next to him, he looked no better than another drunk on the beach. But something drew her eyes to him. She didn't stop her cycle, she knew it wouldn't be safe to. It would be dark soon. This was South Africa. A woman alone at this time of evening, even on a semi-populated beach front, did not get off her bike. But still, even as she flashed by speeding along the sea front drive, she couldn't help slowing a bit, looking his way again. He was a well built man, despite his appearance. Maybe he wasn't a drunk she thought. She wondered what a person must be going through to be like that.

Sophia was on her cycle around the Gonubie point. A little beach village you could say, tucked away on the bottom end of the continent. It only mattered to those who had been there, December visitors or residents. The most beautiful coastline in the country she thought. Leaving Gonubie bay, the road traced the outline of the shore to the Point. Beyond the Point was Black Rocks. A section of coastline that had a row of massive, jutting rocks about one hundred meters from shore. The waves were spectacular here most of the time, but were exceptional during a spring tide. She could sit for ages just watching the various formations of spray crash up high into the air, as if the foam was trying to break free from it's bond to the water.

Almost every weekday evening, it was her habit to take a cycle on her mountain bike around the point. This area was blessed with so many sunshine days that it wasn't often that she had to go to a spinning class at the gym instead. She enjoyed those, but there was nothing better than getting out towards the shore. She would always live by the shore if she could. The water called her, she would say.

She loved to swim out deep beyond the breakers if she could. She knew the coastline well, and knew where the currents would take her. The lifeguards were all on speaking acquaintance with her. She even thought of being a Christmas season volunteer with the lifeguards at one point, but decided against it. It would be an awful thing if someone died on her watch. Some may say she was a coward, others would say she felt the responsibility too much.

She loved her job. Music teacher at the local school. She taught primary school, grade 4 - 6. The kids were a scream, even if they were difficult often enough. There was enough reward in what she did to keep her at it wholeheartedly. It was a mixed blessing teaching in a small town. Everyone knew her, but that meant she couldn't even go to the mall without meeting half her students. She liked to get away sometimes during vacations, just to feel less like a celebrity.

As she neared the lifeguard hut and slowed for a quick break to watch the sea, in a relatively safe spot, she could see they were just starting to pack up. One of the guys, Jason, called out to her. "Hey Soph? How ya going?"

"Good thanks Jase. And you?" she waved back at him, breathing heavily.

"All good. You coming to the bonfire tonight?"

"Yup. I'd like to check it out, if Emily is in."

"Cool." He hesitated, his eyes fixed on her. He blinked. "Uh, I gotta go help pack up but I'll check ya later," he waved the rescue buoy at her as he turned to run up the beach with the flag pole in the other hand. She could appreciate how Jason was cut. She didn't ogle him. But she could appreciate how athletic a lifeguard had to be.

Looking out at the ocean just letting her thoughts wonder, she marvelled at the scene. "Every evening You paint a new picture for me Lord. Thank you," she smiled. She loved to watch the way the clouds would blaze with fire as the sun ignited them in the evenings. Like it was fighting for it's last gasp by incinerating every cloud it touched! The illusion was spectacular.

As the lifeguards finished packing up she knew it was time to go. She couldn't hang around this part of the beach with no life guards around. The sun was almost down. She had to hurry home. She threw her silver helmet back on her head, changing gears to head up the hill through the parking lot. The way via Main Road wasn't as beautiful as the beachfront road, but it would definitely get her home faster.

She needed to check if Emily was in for the Bonfire tonight and get washed up and ready. With her long brown hair, it would easily take an hour to get showered and blowdry her hair and do her makeup, even if she hurried.

The bonfire was something the locals would do from time to time, just to get out onto the beach at night together and have fun. Often someone would swing in with a guitar, and songs would be sung, sometimes not so sober, but hey, it was fun watching those guys when they did it!

The thought of Jason being there wasn't unattractive either. "Emily better be in," she thought to herself as she crested the hill, speeding home.