The fishing line dips and twitches, harder to see as light fades out across the steely sea.
I notice his new reel. “Nice reel, Dad. Where’s mine?” I ask with a jealous grin.
He laughs, taking a quick peek at it. “Down at the hardware store, I expect. That’s where I got mine,” he says proudly, wiping over it with his hand.
I chuckle. “Nothing like an Alvey, eh Dad?”
“Let’s just hope we catch ourselves a decent meal.” His face is alight in the elements. The sea-wind has blown through him, lifting hard-set worries away.
He breathes deeply, before changing the subject. “It’s been great having Ben visit. It might be a while before he makes it up here again.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Dad. I get the impression he wants to spend more time here. Now that it’s just him. No Lily...”
“It’s been a blow for him, that’s for sure. He’s really got to get home and sort through things. Their house at Narrabeen – I s’pose he’ll stay on there?”
“He won’t move unless he has to. That old place is right on the beach. It’s perfect for him.”
He shakes his head. “I’m surprised Lily moved out. Do you have any idea where she went? I’m going to miss that girl.”
I sigh, because I will too. “Ben didn’t say. He doesn’t seem to want to talk about it. Not yet, anyway.”
Dad sits silently, until the tip of his rod spasms sharply toward the sand, shuddering with weight. Dad jerks the rod from the sand and is on his feet in one swift movement, reeling in the line through luminescent waves. He pulls at the fish, releasing it, guiding it until it reaches the shore. He guffaws rowdily as he lands the fish on the waterline, grabbing it firmly with one hand to extricate the hook with the other. When he holds it up I can’t help but giggle. It’s a big shiny bream, flashing silver as he throws it into the bucket.
“Breakfast tomorrow, Sammy!” he cries over the roar of the waves. “And we’re not leaving till you’ve caught one too!”
I chuckle at his positivity. “We might be here all night then, Dad,” I call back, but it’s not long before I feel the familiar pull on my line, challenging me to a tug o’war. The fish makes a mockery of my strength, but I beat it in the end.
***
Eight a.m. Monday. Ben pulls open the boot of the Subaru and throws in his duffel amongst the surfboard and wet tub. A decaying straw hat lies crumpled and out of shape, fraying. Kind of how he must be feeling about going home.
“It’s gonna be lonely,” he says, hugging me.
I pull away to look at his anguished face. “You’ll be all right,” I encourage. “You’ll have so much to do when you get back you won’t have any time to think about Lily at all. Assignments, essays, exams. Focus on those.”
He scans me as if I’m mad. “If I can concentrate at all it’ll be a miracle.”
“Now darling, you’ll be fine,” Mum interjects. “Don’t let it get you down. We’ll see you in a few weeks?” She reaches across to kiss him on the cheek, patting his arm repetitively.
“I’ll try to visit again soon.”
Mum nods approvingly. “Yes, do darling. You know I don’t like too long between visits.”
“See ya, mate. Don’t work too hard. Life’s about living,” Dad says, pulling Ben into a manly bear hug and giving him a few thumps across his back.
Ben sniggers. “That’s rich coming from you, Dad.” He slides into the seat and cranks the engine over, revving until the stutters have smoothed. Reversing out the driveway with a high pitched whine, he gives us a wave and disappears into the milky-lit morning.
***
I’m almost ready for work and notice a missed call. Seeing Jack’s number, I dial message bank, surprised at how super happy I am to hear from him.
Hey Sam, it’s Jack. I’m uh ... just ringing to let you know I’ve spoken with Matt about your car. He can start it today, if you can drop it off. You may have found someone else to fix it,
I notice his new reel. “Nice reel, Dad. Where’s mine?” I ask with a jealous grin.
He laughs, taking a quick peek at it. “Down at the hardware store, I expect. That’s where I got mine,” he says proudly, wiping over it with his hand.
I chuckle. “Nothing like an Alvey, eh Dad?”
“Let’s just hope we catch ourselves a decent meal.” His face is alight in the elements. The sea-wind has blown through him, lifting hard-set worries away.
He breathes deeply, before changing the subject. “It’s been great having Ben visit. It might be a while before he makes it up here again.”
“Oh, I don’t know, Dad. I get the impression he wants to spend more time here. Now that it’s just him. No Lily...”
“It’s been a blow for him, that’s for sure. He’s really got to get home and sort through things. Their house at Narrabeen – I s’pose he’ll stay on there?”
“He won’t move unless he has to. That old place is right on the beach. It’s perfect for him.”
He shakes his head. “I’m surprised Lily moved out. Do you have any idea where she went? I’m going to miss that girl.”
I sigh, because I will too. “Ben didn’t say. He doesn’t seem to want to talk about it. Not yet, anyway.”
Dad sits silently, until the tip of his rod spasms sharply toward the sand, shuddering with weight. Dad jerks the rod from the sand and is on his feet in one swift movement, reeling in the line through luminescent waves. He pulls at the fish, releasing it, guiding it until it reaches the shore. He guffaws rowdily as he lands the fish on the waterline, grabbing it firmly with one hand to extricate the hook with the other. When he holds it up I can’t help but giggle. It’s a big shiny bream, flashing silver as he throws it into the bucket.
“Breakfast tomorrow, Sammy!” he cries over the roar of the waves. “And we’re not leaving till you’ve caught one too!”
I chuckle at his positivity. “We might be here all night then, Dad,” I call back, but it’s not long before I feel the familiar pull on my line, challenging me to a tug o’war. The fish makes a mockery of my strength, but I beat it in the end.
***
Eight a.m. Monday. Ben pulls open the boot of the Subaru and throws in his duffel amongst the surfboard and wet tub. A decaying straw hat lies crumpled and out of shape, fraying. Kind of how he must be feeling about going home.
“It’s gonna be lonely,” he says, hugging me.
I pull away to look at his anguished face. “You’ll be all right,” I encourage. “You’ll have so much to do when you get back you won’t have any time to think about Lily at all. Assignments, essays, exams. Focus on those.”
He scans me as if I’m mad. “If I can concentrate at all it’ll be a miracle.”
“Now darling, you’ll be fine,” Mum interjects. “Don’t let it get you down. We’ll see you in a few weeks?” She reaches across to kiss him on the cheek, patting his arm repetitively.
“I’ll try to visit again soon.”
Mum nods approvingly. “Yes, do darling. You know I don’t like too long between visits.”
“See ya, mate. Don’t work too hard. Life’s about living,” Dad says, pulling Ben into a manly bear hug and giving him a few thumps across his back.
Ben sniggers. “That’s rich coming from you, Dad.” He slides into the seat and cranks the engine over, revving until the stutters have smoothed. Reversing out the driveway with a high pitched whine, he gives us a wave and disappears into the milky-lit morning.
***
I’m almost ready for work and notice a missed call. Seeing Jack’s number, I dial message bank, surprised at how super happy I am to hear from him.
Hey Sam, it’s Jack. I’m uh ... just ringing to let you know I’ve spoken with Matt about your car. He can start it today, if you can drop it off. You may have found someone else to fix it,
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