Twelve-year-old Peyton has always dreamed of Bondi Beach, but a recent eye injury makes every wave a challenge. When a shark circles and her vision suddenly fails, she must rely on her older brother Maxi and the lifeguards to stay safe. Bondi Shadow...
"Peyton! Time to get up!" Maxi's voice echoed from the hallway.
"I don't want to get up," I groaned back.
"You have to, otherwise we can't surf before my shift starts!"
"Fine, I'm coming," I mumbled, dragging myself out of bed. I shuffled over to my closet, fumbling with my bikini before grabing my board off the wall.
Alamak! Gambar ini tidak mengikut garis panduan kandungan kami. Untuk meneruskan penerbitan, sila buang atau muat naik gambar lain.
Alamak! Gambar ini tidak mengikut garis panduan kandungan kami. Untuk meneruskan penerbitan, sila buang atau muat naik gambar lain.
My right eye was still blurry after a board collision at Bronte last month, and mornings like this always made it feel worse. Maxi didn't seem to notice—or maybe he just didn't care.
By 5:45am, we were on the sand. Maxi carried my board for me since my depth perception was off, and I stumbled slightly over the uneven ground. "Careful, sis," he said, giving me a sidelong grin.
We paddled out for a short surf from 6 to 7. The waves were gentle, the perfect size for a quick morning ride, but I kept my focus tight. One good look with my clear eye, one cautious feel with my blurry one, and somehow I managed to stay upright. Maxi gave me a thumbs-up from the shore.
"Alright, that's enough for you, little sis," he called, glancing at his watch. "I gotta start my shift."
I waved as he sprinted off toward the tower. With Maxi gone, I trudged back up to the tower myself. Chappo was already on duty, perched in his usual spot with binoculars slung around his neck.
"Morning, Peyton," he said, smiling. "How's the eye?"
"Still blurry," I admitted, rubbing it lightly. "Feels weird seeing out of just one eye."
Chappo nodded knowingly. "Yeah, I remember that from when I hurt mine. You get used to it. Just takes time."
I settled in next to him, keeping an eye on the beach and the water. It was strange being up here instead of out in the waves with Maxi, but I liked being part of things. Chappo explained what we were watching for—swimmers too far out, rips forming, surfers who might need help—and I tried to memorize everything.
