Holding Out

“BECAUSE I SAID SO! THAT’S WHY!” Her voice was high and shrill. It always seemed to be like this.

“WELL, FUCK YOU THEN!” He flipped her the bird before slamming the door. Jumping into the jeep, jamming the key in the ignition, he revved the engine. Pressing his foot to the floor, the wheels smoked a bit as he backed out of the driveway into the street.

Walking out of the house angrily, she glared at him before yelling, “WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING!”

“ANYWHERE THAT’S AWAY FROM YOU BITCH!” Flipping her off again, he stuck his tongue out at her before racing down the street. Figuring that she knew he’d be headed to the beach, he decided to go to his secret location this time around. “Who the hell does SHE think she IS?!”

The arguments with his mother have been ramping up lately the closer the days got to his graduation. He knew that he wasn’t doing that well in pre-calculus and European history, but math and history weren’t his dream goals. His dream was to be one of the world’s best surfers. Sure, he always skateboarded on his way to and from school, but there was something about the ocean propelling him that he just couldn’t get enough of. The sea, the salt, the waves, even the goosebumps from a cold day on his body all made him thirst for being one with nature.

Exiting the freeway, Jason looked at his phone as his mother had been trying to reach him the entire time. Putting it on mute, he turned up the volume, blasting the music through the stereo. There was nothing he loved more than listening to “Miserlou” from Dick Dale – Topic then by following it up by playing “Pump It” by The Black Eyed Peas. He could already imagine himself shredding the waves, and how awesome he’d look. Sad thing was his secret location was deserted of admirers. There’s be no showboating today in front of bikini-clad babes.

Once he pulled up to the beach, he parked the jeep and proceeded to unstrap his surfboard from the roof. Even though he wasn’t wearing his wet suit or swimming trunks, he thought that his cargo shorts would do just fine. Looking out at the waves today, he saw that like him they were severely agitated. He’s only surfed in this weather before with his friends at the main beach. His main concern with this one would the small rocky outcropping within the center. He’s gone past it before, even had a close call once, but nothing that’s ultimately shook him to his core.

Thinking about keeping his t-shirt on, he ran out into the waves, and started paddling out to catch as many waves to his heart’s content.

“Come on, Jason,” he thought, “even the best of surfers had to train on the worst of days. If you want to be a champion, let alone a has been teacher, you need to stay on your A-game.”

Diving under the waves, he opened his eyes to see all that lie concealed beneath the surface. “Huh, rather barren today. Why’s that?” His secret spot was always known to have an abundance of life, even on the coldest days. Today was cold, but not absurdly so. Yet, something just didn’t sit right with him. “Maybe I’m sending out some bad vibes or something. That argument must’ve really thrown off my mojo.”

Turning around, he caught his first wave of the day. Sailing past the outcropping with success like he’s done before, he caught wave after wave. Working his way up to fatigue, he’d knew that’s what really separated the pro surfers from amateurs. “Anybody can board in warm waters on calm days, but only a real surfer can board no matter what state the ocean or their body is in.” Thinking back to that video about the one man that outran a hurricane in Florida on his surfboard brought a smile to his face, but it removed his attention from his current place.

Standing up on his board again, he noticed something dark in the waters in front of him. Thinking it was a dolphin, he paid it no mind, as he’s surfed alongside them before. He always enjoyed their playfulness. As the figure got closer however, he noticed the way that the tail moved. It didn’t undulate… it moved side to side.

“SHARK!” His heart began to race. The fin of the fish surfaced, piercing the water like a blade. Slowing down, its massive tail flipped Jason’s board sending him flying. Tumbling through the air, his last thought before impact was “rock.”

Landing on the rocky outcropping, his board shattered in half, splinters flying everywhere. The pain from his back went throughout his entire body. He screamed out in pain. He felt like he just shattered several vertebrae. Bleeding out, a trail of blood went into the water.

Opening his eyes, the shark fin showed itself, patrolling the area. Ears ringing, he heard, “Now, now, you mustn’t be afraid little one. Death doesn’t always have to be painful.” His heart almost lurched out of his chest. Could he really be hearing it talk, or was he hallucinating, from the amount of blood he was losing?

“Fear not child,” its eyes rose from out of the water, “I can make it end as quickly as possible for you. I promise to make it painless. Instead of succumbing to the cold or lack of blood, why not just hop in my warm mouth?”

“So-o-o-o cold.” Jason’s teeth chattered.

“Let me Fix That FOR YOU!” The shark charged at him. Freaking out, Jason rolled over quickly, avoiding death… for now.

Crawling to face the beach, he started to cry. “I can’t believe those are the last things I said to her.” He broke down, “She’s going to think I died hating her!”

“JASON!” A voice cried out, “I’M HERE!”

“Mom?”