Silly Games

Groaning Laura sat up, she had an hour before her second dog walking stint, fortunately her afternoon walk was half a dozen small dogs. A much easier option. Pulling her boots back on she sighed, it had been her best idea, dog walking. She lived in an idyllic area, a maze of coastal villages over an hour from the nearest city, it was an attractive area for rich up and coming wannabees, but they all had to commute. So poor puppy spent the day at home - alone, and because of the commute, they were long days alone. Up step Laura, in her most shrewd moment, she’d spotted an untapped market. Within weeks she was busier than she could ever imagine.

Two to three walks a day, six dogs at a time was a very profitable industry for Laura. She wasn’t going to make a million, but it allowed her to live the life she wanted. Then it was supplemented with surf lessons, or shifts in the cafe. She loved her life; she just wished that she wasn’t made to feel so guilty for it.

Her afternoon pampered pooches were a funny bunch, and her mood was a lot lighter when she returned for the evening session at the cafe.  As she walked in Ben smiled to see her looking happier, it made her laugh, he was a typical man, hating dealing with emotional women.

                “So where are you taking Alana?” She asked reaching for an apron and tying it around her waist.

                “Cinema. New Bond film.” He turned to her, “action for me, hot man for her. Everyone’s a winner hey?”

Laura laughed, knowing that Alana would realistically go anywhere with him, she was devoted. She had to be to have given up her home in Hawaii to follow Ben here. They were the perfect couple, but she knew that Alana was waiting desperately hoping for something more. Ben was the most laidback man she knew, and she feared that Alana might leave him if he didn’t do something soon.

With a smile and a wave he left the building. Laura looked around, as usual the cafe was immaculately clean, there were only eight small tables scattered around half of the room, and a few outside the building overlooking the lush but exposed beach, the other half of the room was the ‘SurfShack’, board and wet suit rental, along with a range of surf style clothing. In the height of summer they were run as two separate businesses, there was always a glut of students looking for summer work, but today, it was just Laura.

Looking to her left, Laura studied the surf forecast board. Early the following morning six foot waves were predicted. That meant that they’d open early, offer a place for the surfers who flocked to the beach a place to leave belongings, and then to offer breakfast and hot drinks to those coming out of the sea. It meant they had to rota who actually surfed and who worked from the staff, Laura smiled when she saw the initials L and A next to the date, she had done her turn the previous week, her and Alana were free to play!

She wished she could bottle the feeling that realisation brought. She lived to surf, that moment when she fought the strength of nature, trying to ride an out of control wave. It was the greatest feeling, and made all this worthwhile.

Once again her father came back to the forefront of her mind, and she sighed.  This was a no win thought process, so she shook her head to clear it. The phone ringing was a welcome diversion, and she was pleased for Ben that she’d secured a booking for three days of surf lessons the following week. Six business men were on a stag weekend, and they wanted to learn to surf. Ben was the perfect man for the job.

Securing the details in the diary, she was still smiling as she locked up two hours later.  A hammering at the door as she was just switching off the lights delayed her, but Laura was full of smiles when she turned to see Michaela at the door.

                “You look excited!” Laura offered pulling back the door.

The other woman smiled, Michaela Dawson worked in the local Tourism office. They’d become firm friends over the last few years, and most of the trade directed to Ben’s businesses were via Michaela.

                “Just heard!” She gasped, obviously having run to catch her before closing. “Daniel Martin is back tonight! Playing at the Sheep’s Head! We HAVE to go!”

Laura groaned, Dan Martin was a very fit and quite talented singer who circulated around the pub circuit playing to usually sell out crowds. He was well worth a trip to the pub ten miles away, but Laura was shattered, she’d envisaged a night in front of the TV, but that was looking like a distant fantasy.

                “You look undecided!” Michaela looked shocked, “he is clearly the hottest man this side of the Severn Bridge! What are you waiting for?”

Michaela was right, Daniel Martin was worth making the effort for, and she knew her friend wouldn’t travel to the pub without her, so she knew she could not say no. Breaking into a beaming smile she offered, “just wondering who we can con into giving us a lift there!”

Michaela met her with an equally devastating smile, “already dealt with. My little bro has a hot date, needs to borrow a car for it...We’ll pick you up at eight?”

                “Awesome!”

Laura watched her friend disappear back in the direction of town. A night out it was!

Upstairs she surveyed her bedroom, she needed a sort out, it was a small room and the double bed, wardrobe and large chest of drawers took up all the reasonable floor space. There was no room for slovenly behaviour in a room this size. The other bedroom was bigger, but with both Ben and Alana rammed into, they hardly had much more room. But the flat did have a huge lounge, which was great as they all had bikes, more than one board each, wetsuits...the list was endless. And the whole of the home was a precarious equilibrium.

After a quick shower, she stood in her room and tried to decide what to wear, the pub wasn’t a high spot, but it would be full, she couldn’t cope with standing in heels all night, and with Michaela only being five foot one to her five foot nine, any increase made it impossible to converse over loud music.

Pulling out a pair of skinny jeans and a fitted black ‘Surf’s Up’ t-shirt, she slid them on, then added red converse and some chunky jewellery. Her long blonde hair took ages to dry; it was so thick, so she twirled it up into a scruffy bun. 

Glancing at her reflection she shrugged, she was too tall really, though there was nothing she could do about that, and she was athletic in build - too muscular to be either feminine or fashionable. She looked at her chest, her small high breasts were her biggest disappointment, Michaela, dark and petite was the complete opposite to her, and she was so jealous of her curves. But then she also knew her friend was very envious of her height.

Never happy with what we’ve got!

A honk outside told her that Michaela and her brother Dominic had arrived, so she grabbed her bag and rushed down the stairs.