Great White Summer

Spring had past and I was ready for summer. This time I was on my way to my relatives house near Orca Bay. My mom was a little concerned about me going to Orca Bay. She said she had heard about some incidents of people getting attacked at the bay. I wasn’t going to allow old tales to stop me from enjoying this summer vacation. I was able catch a flight early next morning and was In Lorena city. The city was known for a few tourists but since the virus they have limited visitors. The shops weren’t as full either. As my Uber arrived at my Aunt Sheila house my heart was filled with excitement I could not wait to see her.

There she was in her blonde dreads down her shoulder blades. She was wearing a jungle themed dress with heels. Her hooped earrings went perfect with her personality. “Girl! I know you didn’t show up to my house with no press and curl.” She said as she threw open her arms to greet me with a hug. I smiled “Hi auntie”. I embraced her hug. She wrapped her arms around me very tight swaying me back and forth. Her house was amazing.She had a coffee table with a glass dolphin underneath it. The sun peaked through her bamboo windows to further illuminate the living room. “You can put your things up in the the second room”she said. “Thank you”,I said. I was walking down the hall I noticed a picture hanging on her wall. It was aunt Sheila in a very cute bathing suit next to a strange man and a huge shark on shore. “Auntie is this you at Orca bay?”She walked closer to the picture. “Yes ma’am!she said as she smiled. It was the summer of 83 and I was dating a hot marine biologist. He had called me to come with him to check out this amazing creature that had some how gotten washed up on the shore I pulled up my hair and jumped in my jeep and headed out to meet him.” She started. “I pulled up and I was wearing shades that day but I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was huge and it was a Great White shark! Peter my marine biologist boyfriend hadn’t seen anything like it in this condition before. He told me that there had been a surge of seals on the bay and might have drawn the big animal there. He had no idea though how it would have ended up so close to the shore” I gasped “Poor thing”. She finished. “After that Peter spent most of his time researching and developing organizations that protected sharks”. “That sounds awesome, I wish I was there to see it.” She looked, “You mean you wish you were there to smell it? Girl ain’t no smell awful as the smell of a dead shark!”We both laughed. “Must’ve been cool dating a marine biologist what happened to you guys?”She blew a huge sigh. “People just grow apart. He was always traveling and I couldn’t keep up.” I could see the regret in her eyes. “Oh I see. So have there been any spotting since that time?” “You mean of the Great White?”I nodded. “Naw, not that close to shore in awhile. They never did find out how it got sick either.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Go ahead and get some rest you might want to check out Orca bay tomorrow it’s beautiful.”

“Okay sounds good.”

I went in the room which was jut as nice as her living room. The bed was very comfortable I threw my exhausted body onto it. I fell asleep thinking about how fun it must’ve been to date a marine biologist and see all those animals. It was something about that shark that intrigued me. I caught a Uber to the beach. Orca bay was beautiful and the smell of the ocean was crisp and clean. The weather was not too either. I ran down close to the shore like a little kid. My feet kicking up sand as I am running . I set up my umbrella and towel front seat to the waves crashing on to the shore. The sound is rushing and smooth. It’s very relaxing. I decide to feel the water too. I splashed into the water. It felt so good as it hit my face. I went under and as I came back up I noticed a guy staring at me. I looked and smiled. Awkward I thought what’s his problem. I waved my legs a few in the water and turned around again to see if he was still there he wasn’t. I just kept on enjoying the water and how it made me feel. I got of the water to go grab something to eat and drink. Wrapping the towel around my lower body I walked over to one open stand. I sat at one of the benches.

“Hi miss what can I get for you?”

“ I’ll just take a hotdog small fries and a lemonade please thanks.”

“Would you like a large lemonade or small?”

“I’ll take a large.”

“Okay.”

I handed him the server the change. I saw the guy agin he was seating across from me I looked.

“Hey!” I said with a shy wave.

“Hey! How are you? Haven’t seen you before around here.”

“I’m Charity I’m only visiting. Nice day huh?”

“Yeah as long as your hair doesn’t get wet.”

I looked annoyed that’s what he must’ve been gazing at on the shore me trying to get wet without actually wetting my hair. I rolled my eyes. Just then a truck rolled up with a life guard and ranger.

“We are expecting close range of the the Great White sharks so be careful out in the water guys.” They handed us a piece of paper explaining that there has been a surge of great whites and hammer heads and how to be water safe. They just drove away. The server starting laughing out loud.

“Huh funny?” I question as I sipped my drink.

“Yeah I haven’t seen any sharks and the last incident was more than 10 years ago when I was five.” The guy on the bench started walking over to me.

“My name is Rodney. Later tonight I’m going out in my boat wanna join me it’ll be fun.”

“What about the warning?”

“ It’s nothing we’ll be safe plus it’s summer you really should relax and get your hair wet.” He smirked. “6:30pm okay meet me near the boats are parked over there.” He pointed to a real nice boat.

“That’s yours? It’s very nice.” He smiled “Wait till you get on.” “Cool” I said as we parted. I went back home and aunt Sheila was playing loud music and siping tea. She gave me some it was sweet and cold. I loved it. I told her about the warning. She said as long as you are careful baby there ain’t nothing to be worried about. Peter said if we nice to them they’ll be nice to us. She smiled carefree at me dancing and shaking her hips. I thought to myself well if she isn’t worried I shouldn’t be worried. Later that evening I caught another ride to Orca Bay. The sun had set late so I was able to catch the ray of color over the water. I saw Rodger standing next to his boat. My uncle gave it to me. Fun fun. I was a little nervous. He noticed. Don’t tell me you never been on a boat. Well no. Don’t worry I promise to keep you dry. He stretched out his arm and helps me get on. I haven’t, how do I know that you know what your doing? Very funny smocking from a person who has never been on a boat. The engine started and we started to sail off. I held on like I was holding on for dear life. He grab my hand I smiled trying to play my fear off. I love this part. What part? Being free out here in the water. You see great whites aren’t anything to be afraid off they are just misunderstood. Like me and you. I didn’t see his hand sneaking up a cup of ocean water until he tossed it in my hair. Hey! I stood up. It wasn’t all that bad but the nerves. I told you I’ll keep you dry. He was bent over laughing I surprised him with a cup full of ocean full for his face. Awww! Oh no you…! He grab me around my waist and spend me around very fast. We were so busy laughing with each other when all of a sudden a hard thud hit the side of boat. What the heck was that? We both looked but saw nothing. Again another thud hit the boat. Then out of the shallow darkness we saw it. Is that what I think it is? We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. Why is it doing that to the boat? I said. I don’t know it isn’t normal. He looked around and grab a stick he had on board. Get! He swung at the air. As he was standing the large animal revealed itself and slammed into the boat again and this time knocked Rodger off. Rodger! Oh God! He plunged into the water I heard the water bubbling up on the other side. Rodger resurfaced. He yelled get the ice box dump it over. Ice box I thought then in the corner of the boat I saw a red box. I hurried and dumped it over. It smelled strong and foul. I looked to see if Rodger was okay. I saw him swimming fast and grabbed into the edge of the boat I leaned over to give him a hand. He climbed the rest of himself inside. Just then we heard water splash the side of the boat. What was that in the box. Meat that’s similar to seal. It smells awful. Yeah it’s raw animal meat. Come on let’s get out of here before it comes back. He went to start up the boat it just made a loud sound. We both gave a panic look at each other. The one thing I dreaded at this point was my aunt to discover me as shark meat the next morning. I thought you knew what you were doing? Not the time to start that okay! He started pressing buttons and things. He kicked the side of the boat. I’m outta gas. Gas?! Are you serious? You have to be joking? I wish I was. The water started up bubbles again. I hope you got another ice box! The large misunderstood creature ran into the other side of the boat it halfway tilted. I screamed. He grabbed me so I wouldn’t slide off. Stay down low. He said. Just then we heard a large sound of another boat with a horn. A light came on it was huge and bright. Hello anyone there? It’s the life guard and Ranger. Thank goodness! We both stood up waving our arms. The two people grabbed us from over the boat then proceeded to connect our boat to theirs. We each was handed a towel. Lord what happened to you? She stared in disgust at how soaked Rodger was. And what is that smell? The great white attacked the boat. It nearly killed me. Rodger said now shivering. You kids shouldn’t have been out this far I gave you both warnings. She started up the boat and sailed us both back to the shore. All I could think about was what a story I got to tell Aunt Sheila.