Every fold found its own rhythm.
One Wave Together
Nia and Rae had not surfed together for a long time.
They met on the beach with their boards under their arms: Nia’s pink, Rae’s yellow. Beyond them, the waves rose in broad blue folds, their white edges breaking towards the shore.
“Before we go home,” Nia said, “let’s take one wave together.”
Rae looked out at the water.
“One we both like?”
“Of course.”
“And with enough room for both of us?”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
They carried their boards into the water and paddled out to a place where they could wait. The sea lifted them gently, then lowered them again.
A wave began to rise behind them. Nia turned towards Rae and pointed.
“That one?”
Rae raised a hand.
Nia smiled and started to turn her board. Then she saw that Rae was staying where she was.
The wave passed beneath them.
What the Hand Meant
“I thought you were ready,” Nia said.
“I meant wait.”
“You waved.”
“I held my hand up.”
“That looked like a wave.”
Rae looked towards the shore. “We may need a better word than wave.”
Another swell lifted their boards. They waited for it to pass before talking again.
“I couldn’t hear you,” Nia said. “And I didn’t want to shout over the water.”
“We could agree on a sign.”
Nia raised one hand and moved it from side to side.
“Ready?”
“That’s what I did when I meant wait.”
“Then not that one.”
Rae lifted the front of her board.
“How about this?”
Nia watched it rise, then disappear behind the next swell.
“I saw the beginning.”
“I saw all of it.”
“That’s because you were holding it.”
They laughed. Rae rested her hands on the board.
“I’d like to wait until I can see the shape of the wave,” she said. “And I want us to have enough space.”
“So do I,” Nia said. “I just got excited when I saw one.”
Ready When You Are
They moved to a calm place where they could sit on their boards and see each other.
“What if we each raise a hand once?” Rae suggested. “Only when we’re ready.”
“And if one of us doesn’t see?”
“We wait for another wave.”
Nia raised her hand. Rae raised hers.
“Now?”
“We’re practising,” Rae said.
“I was ready to practise.”
They lowered their hands and watched the water. Several swells passed. One looked promising to Nia, but Rae shook her head.
“What did you see?” Nia asked.
“It was closing too quickly near me.”
Nia turned to look. By then, the wave had already changed.
“You’ll have to show me the next one.”
“I’ll try.”
They waited again. When another swell rose, Rae pointed towards the space beside it.
“See how that side is opening?”
Nia watched the water lift. The wave was larger behind her, while the section near Rae formed more gently.
“I see it.”
Rae looked at Nia and raised her hand once.
Nia raised hers in reply. Then they turned their boards and began to paddle, each keeping to her own space.
The Same Wave
Nia felt the water lift the back of her board. She stood, bent her knees, and travelled along the higher part of the wave.
Farther across, Rae rose on her yellow board. She followed the gentler section, her arms stretched out as the white edge curled behind her.
For a moment, Nia could see her clearly. Then a fold of water rose between them.
By the time they reached calmer water, Rae was farther along the beach. They paddled towards each other, smiling.
“Did you see me?” Nia asked.
“At the beginning. Then the wave got in the way.”
“I saw you at the beginning too.”
“So we were together for that part.”
Nia looked back. A long line of white foam stretched across the water behind them.
“It was one wave,” she said.
“And two different rides.”
They carried their boards onto the sand and rested them beside each other. Nia walked towards their bags and lifted a hand.
Rae looked up.
“Are you ready already?”
Nia stopped. “For what?”
“Another wave.”
“I was telling you I’m getting some water.”
“Is that the sign for thirsty?”
“It is now.”
Rae reached into her bag and took out two bottles.
“Then I’m ready too,” she said.
Livora Gracely ♥
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