Cry shark

My first day as a lifeguard started with a crowded beach, a rip current, and then someone yelled, “Shark!”

There were three of us on duty that day, as the tides were at their worst and we had a red flag flying. No swimming, no sailboarding, nothing afloat in the water until the current subsided. Typically, there was one Guy who just had to ignore the warnings and, from where I was standing, appeared to be flapping around in the water, possibly in trouble. Not only that, I was also the only guard near the waterline. Cassie was at the observation platform and Brad, my minder for the day, had just gone off to the restroom.

Shielding my eyes with my hands I could see not one, but two, dorsal fins and both were headed for the lone swimmer. Without thinking, I leapt for the paddleboard and launched it into the surf. Though just a beginner as a lifeguard I was, fortunately, an expert with the board, having won several trophies for my paddleboarding club.

Looking over my shoulder at the platform, I could just see Cassie bursting through the door, gesturing at me. I could guess why but, by then, I was well away from the beach. The outgoing tide was almost at an end and the current was manageable, if I kept the board pointing in the direction of the biggest waves. I had one eye on the swimmer, and one on the fins cutting through the blue waves before me. The shark must have been a good 20 feet in length.

Though you might think it rash of me to take such a risk, I was certain that Cassie would by then have put in a call to the Dorset Coast Guard, who would have immediately scrambled the lifeboat. As if to confirm my thoughts, I could see the wake of a fast-moving boat head out from behind the habor wall. There was still no time to waste as I could now see that the swimmer was indeed in trouble. Not only that, but the current had knocked my heading off to the right, directly into the path of the shark, with the swimmer now about 200 feet further out and to the left.

It was then that the shark changed direction, heading directly for me. I quit paddling and directed the front of the board so that it was pointing directly at the shark. It was the first time that I had seen one. Possibly the most beautiful creature I had ever encountered. As it approached at a glide, I saw the huge jaw open, and my heart almost stopped. Just below the surface, the shark continued at a glide, scooping up its harvest of plankton, its whole body and tail in rhythmic and majestic motion. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine seeing a basking shark so close. Not two dorsal fins but one dorsal fin and the tip of its tail showing behind, as if two sharks swimming in tandem. By that time, the swimmer’s head had started to bob under the waves. He must have been at the point of exhaustion, and I was in serious fear that I might lose him.

Then the shark turned away again, and the broad sweep of its tail pushed me around on the board and propelled me further toward the swimmer. A few more pulls on the paddle and I was up to him.

“Can you grab the front of the board?” I yelled as I reached down, straddling the board with my legs, sitting, to prevent him catapulting me into the water. By then, I could hear the lifeboat’s screeching outboard motor fast approaching, and was mightily relieved when I heard someone call out

“Hold tight, we’re going to throw a line!”

When I felt the line hit my shoulder, I made a grab for it with one hand, trying to grip under the arm of the swimmer with the other, my legs dangling in the water, trying to hold onto the board. I managed to loop the line under both his arms and tied off the end. The side of the rib boat knocked the board a little as the line was pulled in and two of the crew members scooped the man up, taking an arm each. As they tended to the casualty, the boat’s helmsman stretched out an arm towards me.

“You’d better jump in too…” I heard a female voice shout. Following my gaze down to the board, she smiled. “Don’t worry, we’ll tow the board in too.”

Once on board, I was given a shiny blanket to wrap around my shoulders and the helmsman, or rather helmswoman, asked me if I was okay. Before I could reply, she gave a sudden start.

“It’s a basking shark, wow!” The first time I have ever seen one.

All eyes in the boat were now on the two fins cutting through the water, as the basking shark swam away, toward the horizon.

“Me too,” I said, as we exchanged glances. Beneath the helmet and visor I could just see the smile broaden, a lock of auburn hair half covering one of her deep hazel eyes, and wondered whether the short ride back to harbor would be enough time for me to pluck up sufficient courage to ask for a date.

Written for the Writers Unite! Facebook group. Which gave the following writing prompt and first line: My first day as a lifeguard started with a crowded beach, a rip current, and then someone yelled, “Shark!”

Why not give it a go?

Thanks for reading