CHAPTER 2
Ruby
A wave slaps me right in the face and I laugh hysterically.
I should be feeling anxiety or like I’m about to drown but I’m not.
It’s definitely a combination of improving my self-confidence by coming down here to Australia and showing myself I can do whatever I set my mind too. That and right now I’m still in shock about what happened less than an hour ago. I guess my body is coping with it by just not caring about anything.
The water is exhilarating. I’ve never felt a workout that makes your entire body feel so good. And hopefully this sun will do something to even out my tan. I can’t imagine my white rash guard is cutting the rays that much.
I continue paddling just like the instructor showed us on shore. The board is really long which makes it a bit hard to maneuver, but that’s a good thing. Slow and steady wins the race for me today. I just want to stand one time and catch a wave. If I can do that I’ll be ecstatic.
I hear a strange noise and look up.
What in the world? A drone? Way out here?
I wave and the drone hovers in position.
That’s nice. Whoever’s guiding it must think I’m at least cute enough get some pictures or a video of.
I move my hair out of my face and wave a second time.
The drone starts moving in a weird pattern. What in the world is it doing?
I laugh.
Suddenly I hear a bunch of commotion from the shore.
I turn and see people pointing towards me.
I wave at them too. Wow. This is fun!
I turn back around and see a small wave starting to form and it’s coming right at me.
Oh!
I start to maneuver the board around so I can try and catch it, but instead I wind up just sliding off the side.
Whoops.
The salt water feels great against my skin. It stung when I first got in, thanks to all the cuts from the fieldwork all over my body, but now I don’t even notice. I’m at the beach in Australia and this is heaven.
I pull myself back up on the board and get ready for the next wave.
I hear people whistling and shouting.
I look further out, but don’t see anything.
Am I being blinded by the reflection? There’s no wave there.
I hear something over one of those bullhorn things, but can’t make out what they’re saying. It’s just a loud mumble.
I better be prepared.
I keep watching but see nothing. That darn bullhorn thing won’t quit, but now it’s getting even louder and more annoying.
I turn back around to see what all the fuss is about.
It’s a long way to the shore and I can’t make out who has that bullhorn or what they want.
Everybody is waving or pointing or something.
Suddenly he gets to his feet and yells, “croc.”
His voice is even louder and clearer than the bullhorn. Talk about having a set of pipes. And his voice carries off the water. It’s deep and strong and hits me right in a place I wasn’t expecting.
But he doesn’t have to yell at me because of my choice of footwear. Jeez! I know they’re a fashion faux pas, but give me a break. I’ll remove them from your sight when I’m finished. Can’t a girl have any fun today.
Wait a second. That makes no sense. I didn’t wear my Crocs today. I wore my flip flops, or thongs as they say down under.
“Croc-o-dile!” the man yells again as he’s sprinting toward the water.
Crocodile?
Impossible. This is the ocean. There’s no wa—
Suddenly I hear a loud snapping sound behind me and my balance feels off.
I turn around and see a giant crocodile clamped down on the back of my board!
He releases and clamps down on it again! This time even closer!
Suddenly he disappears under the surface of the water.
I immediately paddle like a wild woman but then stop.
If I stick my hands in the water he’ll easily chomp them…and I’ll look more like a seal to a shark!
Oh my god! I’m trapped!
I’m a goner whether I stay or whether I go.
I hear another noise.
“Uh!”
My head darts to both sides and then looks up.
That damn drone is filming me!
“Help me you asshole!”
I feel a bump on the bottom of the board.
“Nooooo!”