Anecdotes about Aubrey
Aubrey swam slowing on her body board, lapping the water over her head, as she paddled out on the bay. It was the first day of the school holidays and she knew it would be a day to remember. She could hear the cantankerous yelling from the life-guard on the beach and she ignored it happily. She was not swimming outside the red and yellow flags, which are used to signal where it is safe to swim under the supervision of life guards – for swimmers and not boarders. She didn’t care that she might collide someone, nor did she want to play it safe today. She wanted the water - all of it. It was not the type day she wanted to forget easily.
As she began to dip into each passing wave and the surf began to swell. Gracefully, she slid off her board taking in the moment. She realized that she was far from the bay now and that it had been a whole term since she had actually dared to go in the water - not from fear of failure or anything – she hadn’t found time to have fun like she used to. Fun by her definition was rock jumping in the estuary or having a solo dance party in her room, anything where she could switch the world off for a second and listen to her own heartbeat. This was no exception.
After a second of looking around, she realized the surf had died down around her. Somewhat confused, she tried to get her bearings. The hills were to her left, running down onto the rocks where the waves crashed majestically and the golden beach was behind her, the people were minute at this point – she could hardly make them out. She turned around, tired, and she knew something was amiss. She looked for waves, none came, they were behind her and she was hopelessly too far out to catch any. The water began to feel jelly-like, as her legs thrashed against it now, as she starting toward the beach.
Aubrey had always had a very real sense her own mortality and she knew the faces of death and danger even at her young age. She had seen what fear can do to others and she prayed under her breath that it would not over take her now. Not now. She began to temper her efforts at getting on dry land. She knew if she didn’t, she stood no hope against hell of making it back. She closed her eyes momentarily, and it seemed like every second was drawn out. She felt her breathing quicken, inhaling the salty vapour of the water as the sun beat down on it. She knew that this was fast turning into a game of patience and she knew that what she had to do.
She pulled herself onto her board once again and was defiantly going to beat the odds. Telling herself that she would not be lost at sea, no, not today.
….
For what seemed to be most of the afternoon Tracey watched the bay, as the sun launched its rays in every imaginable direction. She was the resident life guard. Well, her and Brent. He was her male counterpart and they had both gotten life guard certification together. They were brilliant and had worked together on Garden beach for what felt like ages.
They saw the adolescent Aubrey and knew her well. Better than most of the riff raff that visited the bay, since she lived up the hill and she frequently visited the surf shack for snacks after most school days. They screamed to her to no avail. Hoping she would hear them. Hoping she would turn back. They were the cries of desperation, drowning out the sound of the waves as they crashed on the shore. Tracey sensed that something had gone wrong and began to panic further. The crowd on the beach seemed to join her. They started waving their hands wildly… even the children knew what was going on but were too young to understand the graveness of the situation.
Along with Tracey and Brent, the crowd began to shout her name, in unison it appeared - “Aubrey!” One by one the people seemed to look to someone to be a hero and do something, anything, but no one dared to step out boldly and claim responsibility. It was down to Aubrey to save herself.
As the chilling echo’s rang though the bay, Aubrey’s Father, who was not far away, dropped what he was doing and as ran down the hill as if the crowd was screaming his own name. It might as well have been his name, Aubrey was his life.
Panting, he pushed through the enmeshed crowd, only able to say two words repeatedly – “My child, my child!” There was a silence that fell on them, as they realized who he was. Their hearts were wrenched by the gravity of the situation; minds wondering how they could possibly help without putting themselves on the line. Tracey gently touched Norton’s shoulder, as he reached the edge of the water, she didn’t know Aubrey’s father, but she knew the shattered expression on his face.
As the mass of people started mumbling behind them, Norton’s memory fell to the days when Aubrey was only learning how to swim. He remembered his arm cradling her as she floundered in the warm water of their hillside house. He remembered her voice as if it were for the last time and saw the smile on her charming face. For him, Aubrey was a vision of her mother. He could not bear to lose her to the boundless ocean. They had shared this memory and their home for what seemed to be a life time. Yet, it was not enough for him. It could not possibly be enough for any devoted parent.
His thought’s started to race... He pressed his eyes to the palm of his hand and began to weep silently. This was their home. How could it all end here, so bitterly, when it began here, in such delightful memories?
….
By some indiscriminate act of beautiful grace, Aubrey had managed to edge her way closer to the beach. It emerged on the horizon and figures began to take shape. Against all odds she had managed to get near enough to see Brent and Tracey screaming and also noticed the crowd swelling. At this fortuitous time, she welcomed their cries as it gave her the will to carry on. She swam now with renewed vigor and sense of purpose, reveling in her astounding accomplishment.
Suddenly, she felt the first ripple’s hit the side of her board. Soon after that she noticed a wave, a hospitable body of water, arching, seeming to crash gently over her head. This was the stuff only fantasy and dreams were made of. She could not believe her this windfall of luck. After that, the second wave and third came. She was positively elated and nothing, not even eternal oblivion, could stop her reaching the bay front now. She would fight to have her life, she would fight to postpone eternal rest and not heed this harrowing experience as a death knell.
She thought to herself and smiled happily - “Why not make a grand entrance?” She knew that this was an experience that she would never again be able to relish. Her mere existence felt surreal to her. Thankful for every breath, Aubrey looked up to the clear sky, as her heart seemed to flutter. Remembering her last thoughts, she commenced her great escape from the deep.
She waded in the cool water, and although she heard the crowd on the beach loudly, Aubrey wanted to give them a show - a great day to remember. She hoped that she would not ‘wipe out’, as she caught the next big wave. She road it with such sweet prowess that everyone on the beach watched in awe of her amazing feat. They were stunned and utterly shocked by what they were witnessing, such hopeless circumstances, burgeoning into this powerful instance of courage and determination. Momentum alone was driving her and before they knew it, she had hit the golden shore and plumes of the sea foam covered her board. Lying down, she leaned over into the grainy beach sand and clutched it. Immediately, she broke out into laughter and tears because she had made it. Norton fell to knees to meet his daughter, once adrift, and swept her up into his arms. The big man he was, he seemed to envelope her - this time unable to utter a single word.
Again, as one, the beach crowd drew breathes and this time they broke into a joyful clamour. Aubrey had prevailed.
Comments