Chapter Three

Part One

1st edited draft of the third chapter. Just started Chapter Four in my notebook. 

Chapter Three

He didn’t know how people could have a good time on a pebble beach.   There was no fun to be had, every single step hurt his feet and made him mutter or curse under his breath.  They were both cold and uncomfortable at the same time.   A bit like the last twenty-three years he thought to himself. He would have laughed at that thought but his next step sent more pain through the soles of his feet and he cursed again. 

He had always loved the sea, ever since he was young he had found it fascinating, mystical and very calming.   He didn’t love going in it, a certain movie put paid to that.  He wouldn’t go further than ankle deep.  He would paddle about to get his feet wet, or simply just sit and watch the waves and listen to the sound of the water as it rushed over the sand.  He was in awe of the sea.  Of it’s power and strength, it’s magnitude, it’s depth, it’s ability to be calm and relaxing one minute and rough and destructive the next.  It had the ability to support some of the most delicate of creatures and the ability to wipe out thousands of people.  It contained a myriad of creatures from smaller than the eye can see to the largest mammal in the world.  And probably a lot more yet unknown to man.  In the way that some people were in awe of space and all the mysteries it holds, Phillip was in awe of the sea in the same way.  It was the most beautifully terrifying thing he knew.

As he stood looking out a small row boat came to shore a couple of hundred metres away and suddenly he was nine years old again.

It was one of the annual family British beach holidays and his father had booked a boating trip for them to go on.     The beach was full of vivid blue or vivid orange striped windbreakers and the occasional rogue inflatable being blown down the beach by the wind and being chased by an irritated, red-faced parent blaming the child for not holding on to it properly.  

His parents loved a boat trip, and though this was meant as a surprise for Phillip it really wasn’t that much of a shock to him as they did it every year. This year though he was dreading it.   In fact, dreading it really does how he felt in that moment no justice.   His heart started racing and he felt the fear rising within him.  Had his parents been looking at him they would have seen his colour changing. 

Two weeks prior to the holiday however, the movie Jaws had been shown on television and they had foolishly let him sit up and watch it with them.  What they hadn’t realised is the effect this movie had had on their son.  The problem right now is that the boat they needed to be on was anchored about 400 metres or so from shore and they needed to get on the small rowing boat that come ashore to collect them.   And what they didn’t know that Phillip did in that moment, was that between them and the boat was a twenty-five foot great white shark.  If that shark could sink The Orca then that little rowing boat stood no chance and right now he did not want to be devoured whole thank you very much,. 

Within a minute Phillips face was as red as, and tears were running down his cheeks.  He was making no sound.   His parents having finally realised something wasn’t right tried to ask him.  He tried to explain, but the more he tried the more hysterical he became.  All his parent could make out was the word “shark”.  And that’s when they realised what was going on, so they tried the thing that all parents try with a hysterical child.  They tried to rationalise.  All he could hear them say was “shark”, everything else was as if there was no noise coming from their mouths.  His screaming became worse.  People were looking. 

Phillips father did what he thought would be best.  Drag the little screaming banshee to the boat and get him on it, then he’ll have no choice.  But as he dragged him by the hand toward the little boat his sons screaming and hysteria became worse to the point where when they reached the poor man on the boat Phillip passed out.

The man took one look at the limp body hanging from his fathers hand and simply said.  “No. Not happening.  Maybe take him to the aquarium instead.”  Then he turned around and pushed off back towards the big boat with the other passengers onboard.

When Phillip came round his dad was nowhere to be seen.  His mum brought him an ice cream and did what the man advised, took him to an aquarium for the morning.  In later years he found out that his father was so embarrassed by his son that he had to go and walk off the shame on his own.  

As it turned out that wasn’t the last time that would happen.

Atleast he hadn’t been eaten.  Unlike that poor Kintner boy!

His mother had told that story many times in as he grew up.