21/15/1998
Sup Journal
Hi, it’s been a very long night, and let’s just say
surprising night too. The second day at camp started out fine, a clear blue sky
greeting me as I climbed out of the tent. Fresh smells of grass and wild
flowers accompanied by the aroma of breakfast cooking on the fire place. I
walked out and the noise of students telling friends stories of how their
restless night had been. My friend, Ben sat next to me on the log. We chatted
for a bit about how the owls and noises of insects awakening in the night
disturbed our beauty sleep. But as we were talking the scramble of students
getting into a line for breakfast quickly broke the conversation. My stomach
was growling and I needed a good kiwi breakfast fast! As we cut through the
line as boys usually do, we grabbed our breakfast and headed back for our seat
on the log. The frost still on the grass, like a clear blanket of snow and
droplets of water dripping off branches fall on the ground making the faintest
sound only a butterfly can hear. I turned my head to gaze at everyone by the
fire, then my eyes fell onto this girl, she had dark curly hair up to her waist
and hazelnut brown eyes completed her complexion. Her tan skin and slim body
proportioned exactly right. Her white smile, matching her pearls wrapped around
her neck. Probably anyone would want to have this chick as their girlfriend. I
didn’t recognize her from out school, so I assumed she was new. She noticed me
looking at her so I smiled and she smiled back. I quickly turned away so I
didn’t look like a weirdo, Ben on the other hand saw that I was staring at her
and had to start to laugh and nudge me which made me look bad. He soon stopped
after I gave him evils and I returned to what I was doing which was checking
her out. The sound of the horn awakened me from my trance and our teacher made
announcements of what we were doing. Today was water sports and he also
announced the new girl, he said her name was Pearl and she was a new student
and would be in our class for the rest of the year. The teacher said some more
stuff but I wasn’t really paying much attention he then handed her over to one
of the girls to be her buddy for the day. Soon after everyone was running
around getting ready for the day. I jogged over to my tent and found Ben inside
already in his board shorts. “Luke, man you were hard out checking that girl
back there?” he chuckled. “Well yeah, she is pretty good looking” I replied
casually. “Do you reckon you’ve got a chance with her?” he asked again a smirk
forming on his face. “If that’s a challenge you’re saying I’m willing to
accept” I said while changing into my board shorts and singlet. “You’re on, if
you haven’t hooked up with her by the end of the camp you owe me 10 bucks” he
said while exiting out of the tent and a hint of excitement in his voice.
“Bring it on!” I replied while following him out.
Everyone was lined up boys on one side and girls on
the other, quickly the teachers split everyone into groups and fortunately I
got put in the same group as Pearl. I said hi to her and she said hi back but
she didn’t seem that interested in talking to me, it looked like something was
on her mind. Her face was creased with frown lines like she was scared or
worried about something; I asked “What’s wrong?” “Oh, nothing I just don’t
think I’ll be able to swim today” she replied a bit panicky. “Why’s that?” I
asked again. “Um, I think I have a bit of a cold” she answered a bit awkwardly.
I think I made things worse and this was the first conversation I had with her
and this is how it turned out? All I said back was “Oh…..I’m sure the teacher
will understand.” The teachers huddled everyone and we set off down the track
towards the river. It was a short five minutes’ walk and soon everyone was in
their groups ready for the challenges we would be facing. I scanned the area
with my eyes looking if Pearl would still be playing, and I found her leaning
against the tree smiling at me with such innocent I forgot what to do. So I
just waved back like a dork. She giggled then turned away, her face still
looked worried and frightened but she was doing a good job trying to hide it.
Ben yelled at me “LUKE, stop looking at the new girl and focus on the game!!!!”
Then everyone started cracking up laughing and all I could feel was my cheeks
burning hot with embarrassment and anger. I ignored everything around me and
put my head in the game. Soon it all started; let’s just say our class is
pretty competitive so it was full on. But throughout the whole game I couldn’t
stop thinking about her. I don’t know why everywhere I looked there she was
smiling at me. It was great for me but I don’t think my team enjoyed it very
much, we can put it like this, I was day dreaming half the time and the other
half, a ball was getting thrown at my face. After two hours of games we headed
back to the camp for lunch. While I was drying off a teacher asked me to help
put a tent up for Pearl. Of course I accepted this would be a great opportunity
to get to know her. After everyone had eaten lunch and separated off to their
groups to hang out. Pearl stood up and walked over to where I was sitting and
asked “Are you helping me put up my tent?” “Yeah I actually am” I answered
back. “Well, com’n” she said while grabbing my hand to drag me over to her
tent. We were fast at putting up the tent and soon found ourselves with nothing
to do. We started to talk, “So are you feeling better?” I asked. “Oh
yeah…um, I think I’ll be better by tomorrow” she replied. “Do you like to
swim?” I asked trying to get to know her. “Yes of course, I love it. Swimming
is my element, I always look forward to when I’m about to swim. The water is
the only place where I belong” she replied comfortably. “So where did you get
your necklace from?” I asked trying to get the conversation to move. “Oh, it
was passed down through my family it started off with my
great-great-great-great grandmother” she answered smiling. “That’s a lot of
greats” I replied laughing. The conversation continued till dinner. And I
thought I really did get to know her. Soon I would be getting my 10 bucks. Soon
the sunset was setting behind us and it looked like different angles and lines
painted delicately on to a canvas with such perfection that every time you
opened your eyes, you saw something new. Pearls element was the water and I
soon realized mine was outdoors. This was what I wanted to see every day.
Dinner was over and everyone was having dessert, which
were roasted marshmallows. People were singing and others were just chatting
with the person next to them. At that time I was talking to Ben then I glanced
over to where Pearl was sitting and I saw her get up and leave. At first I
thought she was going to her tent to put on a jacket because all she was
wearing was her togs and it was freezing out her. Then when I came to think f
it she didn’t even swim. But instead of walking to her tent she was walking the
opposite way. She was walking into the bush, heading on the trail to the river.
I stood up and made an excuse to Ben so I could stop talking to him and then I
followed Pearl. I stood a fair way back following her. I thought to myself why
does she want to walk in the bush by herself, its dark and cold. The sounds of
leaves rustling in the night made things a whole lot spookier. I got to the
river and I was hiding in the bush, there were sounds everywhere. The night was
a whole new different perspective, the wind biting against my face sending
goose bumps all over my body. I see her, just the glimpse of her taking off her
clothes and going into the water. I moved forward egger in wonder to find out
what she was doing. Curiosity over ruled and I stepped out into the open. Her
face blank in shock when she saw me, I didn’t know what to say. All I saw was
Pearl on the sand her long hair wet, her skin shiny from the moonlight and a
tail replacing her legs. She soon realized what I was starring at and dived
into the water with such elegance I wanted to jump in with her. I didn’t see
her for awhile; I couldn’t believe what I just saw. My legs wouldn’t move and
if felt like my legs were frozen. But then, Pearl’s face appeared on the
rippling surface and all I saw in her eyes was the look of apology and a tear
rolling down her cheek.
