surfer girl

omgs and orange juice

6:47 AM, May 14th- East Coast. One year prior. 

I stumbled out of bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and slowly make my way to the kitchen. As I start to turn the corner, I see them. Mom and Dad. Mom is humming along to the tune of "Surfer Girl" on the stereo, and Dad is hugging her from behind as they sway in time to the music while she waits to flip the eggs she is frying. I want a love like that.

I walk up behind them and pile onto the hug until we break apart in laughter. Dad kisses the top of my head, "Good morning sleepyhead," and then ruffles my hair, to which my mom smoothes it down and pulls me into a hug.

"Hey my little waterbug, can you grab the oranges from the fridge and juice them?" she says in her sweet mom voice like always, acting as if fresh squeezed orange juice is a normal thing around here. Sure we're vegetarian health nuts but we're not crazy.

Dad looks at her, "Love what on earth is so important you want Delta to make hand squeezed orange juice? I know this isn't just one of 'those things,'"to which she nods and strides over to the basket in the sunroom where we keep our mail.

Triumphantly she holds up a folded piece of paper, with a fluorescent blue sticky note attached. That means it must be important, to be blue sticky worthy. 

She tosses it like a frisbee, where it lands in my hands, and she goes back to plating up the toast and eggs. My dad hovers over my shoulder as I peel open the folds.

To: Delta Lynch

From: The United States Women's Surf Comp Committee

Dear Ms. Lynch,

It is with our warmest regards that we have noticed your top ranks across your regional committee boards. Due to this high standard of accomplishment, we would like to invite you to compete on June 7th at the National Women's Surf Competition against 9 other outstanding candidates in hopes of representing the United States in the Global Competition this upcoming year. I hope you will accept this offer, as I am sure the title would suit you well. I hope you and yours are well, and if you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.

I hope to see you soon, 

Adam Wells

Women's Surf Comp Committee, President Chair, United States

I look at Dad with a smile plastered across my face, still in shock from what I just read, "They're kidding right? Pinch me if this is a dream."

"If you want it, it's all yours. We'd have less than a month to prep, but I know you can do it. I'm so proud of you, my little surfer girl," he grins at me with a thousand watt smile. 

I beam at him and mom, and throw my hands in the air, "WE'RE GOING TO NATIONALS!"