Tides

Chapter 2 - Grommet

"Yup... That one... In size large... I know they run small. Otherwise, it would have been a medium... Add the black and white one too... When can you deliver them? Great! I will let our customer know. Thanks," I hear her saying while I look around the store. "Hello! Good morning. How can I help you?" she smiles brightly.

"I'm here for a surfing lesson. My name is Dylan Harris," I say, and she looks at the screen.

"Yup, got you here. I see you pre-paid already. Skye will end soon with the previous lesson. You can change into your swimsuit in the dressing room here next to the store. Here is the key for room number two. Inside is a small safe for valuables. Just pick your own four-digit code after you close it. Don't forget to lock the room and tie the key to your wrist."

"Oh... I-I'm sorry. I didn't know I had to bring a swimsuit," I feel embarrassed.

"It isn't a problem," she waves her hand as if the issue doesn't matter. "I have spares. You must be about a medium, right?"

The girl takes a bin out with folded swimsuits. She hands me a pair of blue shorts with white and orange flowers on them. Different to what I would pick for myself, but I'm willing to try new stuff.

"Remember to take off your underwear. I assume you didn't bring a spare of that one either," she teases.

"And you probably don't have extras, right?" I laugh.

"You are right, Dylan. Hey, I'm Joan," she offers a hand, and I shake it.

"Nice to meet you, Joan. Well, I will put this on," I gesture with the shorts.

I get in the changing room and put on the swim shorts. They are not half bad. I place all my valuables in the safe and lock the room. As I walk back to the store, I hear a deep male voice ranting and what almost sounds like growls.

"Some people are unskilled, but she was just fucking dumb!" I hear him say. "That is what she was, Joan. I hate it when Luna books people like them for me. Why didn't she give her to Kay?"

"Come on, Skye. It probably wasn't that bad," I hear Joan say. "Plus, it's not like Luna knows in advance how the person will behave. You can't blame your sister for this."

"You should have seen her. That woman giggled at everything I asked her to do and couldn't follow instructions. She behaved like a teen in front of her kids and turned everything I said into some sexual remark. Not an attractive behavior at all. She became a hazard to the other surfers. She wiped out so many times, even sitting! How on earth is that possible?" the man says with a lot of frustration in his voice.

I enter the store and find him with his head on his arms resting on the counter. Joan caresses his hair and smiles when she sees me.

"Skye, your eleven o'clock is here."

The man turns to look at me. His eyes are bright green. He lets out a big sigh.

"Joan, give me a rash guard for him and a 50, no make it 70," he says after taking a second look at me.

I don't know what the 50 or the 70 means, but at least I can guess what a rash guard is. I see Joan take a shirt with long sleeves from behind the counter and a bottle. He takes the shirt and throws it at me.

"Put that on, and smear this on your face, neck and legs," he hands me the bottle. I see now it's sunscreen with SPF 70.

I do as I'm told and walk behind him towards a shed in the beach area.

"What's your name?" he blurts.

"Dylan."

"Nice to meet you, Dylan. I'm Skye. I think we are off to a good start as most people whine, complain and ask why I make them wear a rash guard and sunscreen."

"Well, I'm pale. I guess that is the reason," I say almost to myself, but he smiles.

"I take skin cancer risk seriously as I'm the whole day under the sun. You have pale skin, so you have a higher risk. Have you ever done this? Surfing, I mean."

"Joan had to give me this swimsuit. What do you think?" I point at my shorts while grimacing.

"We call them baggies. I thought I recognized them. Do you live around here?"

"I moved here about two weeks ago. I live on the west side of the village."

"Welcome to Sea Glass Beach then! The most beautiful beach cottages are in that area. I hope it means we will see you around here often."

"That is if I don't drown or do something stupid today," I say while he hands me a surfboard. "I'm a decent swimmer, but I hope I don't disappoint you. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard about your previous student."

"Yeah, it was a disaster," he chuckles. "You have the right attitude already. We will begin with some safety instructions and basic movements in the sand. Then we will move to the water. Before we start, do you have any medical conditions?"

"I had cancer, leukemia, but according to the doctors I'm in remission."

Skye's hand freezes while grabbing another board and looks at me with compassion.

"Is everything all right?" I ask, feeling nervous.

"I know what you are going through. I got leukemia when I was 18 years old. I'm also a survivor."

I feel surprised at his words. He looks healthy and vigorous. His back is wide and his arms muscled. Even though we are about the same height, I look small next to him. I lost a lot of weight during my treatment, and I have gained plenty back, but I'm not at my original weight yet.

"I don't know what to say, Skye," I stare at the sand.

"Well, I'd say let's enjoy our time and feel happy we are alive."