CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3 - The Day Trip

The following morning after my good nights sleep I got myself a routine. Get up, toast in toaster and sit and watch the news for a bit.

My new toaster was a bit fancy...and let's just say my toast was more like charcoal...heart attack food my mum calls it. After catching up on the news learning who'd murdered who, all the news was fairly depressive...as usual. I decided enough was enough and put my bondi rescue DVD on, season one, episode one. They all looked so young. So cute. Then I got the sudden urge of 'I need to go there!' But this time, instead of sitting and thinking 'damn I can't!' And sitting and sulking for a while.. (admit it at some stage we've all done it) This time I could, the beach was literally on my doorstep. Bondi rescue in real life! I chuckled to myself, that's my day sorted then. I got up stopped the DVD and packed my beach bag. However I did have to look my best just in case I met a lifeguard...or two...

I walked down to the beach and I was stood next to the Icebergs I noticed they'd put a sign up asking for anyone with a few hours to spare...they were hiring...perfect, a job that's a five minute walk and that's right on the beach...but I wasn't going to go in my beach stuff that's for sure.

As I scanned the beach the morning sun sat in the blue sky not a cloud in site, I looked for a space to place my towel, from the DVD I knew the beach was busy but I didn't think THIS busy. Then I found the perfect spot just near the lifeguard tower but not too close to be in the way. As i walked down the prom I could see the lifeguard tower getting bigger and I could just about make out some of the guys. Well the outline of them still couldn't tell who was under the lifeguard hats.

As I stepped foot on the sand it took me a while to realise something was hurting 'OMGGG OW OW OW OW!!!!' I yelled as I hopped from one foot to the other. The sand was unbearably hot, I used to laugh at those on screen who ran as quickly as possible thinking that if the lifeguards could walk on it why couldn't they....I experienced first hand why they couldn't and I sure as hell didn't have a clue how the guys walked on it. I quickly reached my spot placed my towel on the floor and jumped on it as soon as possible. As I let out a sigh of relief I sat myself down and applied the sun lotion...I didn't burn easily but English sun isn't exactly the greatest at tanning...so I was taking no chances.

I got out my book *the cupcake cafe* and began reading, time was flying by it was already mid day by the time i reached the middle of my book, I was aware something was happening further down the beach as rhino had sped past, I tried not to be nosy so I carried on reading. Suddenly a shadow appeared over my body I looked up from my book and there stood whippet smiling down at me. 'Hey' he chirped 'I don't want a whippet outline on my body thankyou' I joked he moved away pretty quickly and came and sat down beside me, 'shouldn't you be helping with the rescue?' I asked confused normally most of the guys go and help a large rescue, 'I'm on lunch and it isn't a major we've sent Maxi down' I nodded. 'You didn't call' he suddenly said, as calm as a cucumber 'I didn't think you'd want to know after my little fiasco in the airport' I smiled biting my lip. He still had an eye in the water, even though it was his lunch break, what a guy, a brilliant lifeguard. 'No that's why I remembered you, it showed you could have a laugh' I smiled he smiled my stomach did its regular somersault tricks, 'and your gorgeous' well this stopped me in my tracks...HE....just called ME gorgeous... *swoon*. I didn't know what to say, just then he came out with 'hate it when people do that, make a circle round to watch' he pointed over to a big group of people who had now gathered round what I assumed was Maxi.

Back in England I was a teacher, and things like that annoyed me, I felt the teacher inside me begin to grow...

'Where are you going?!' He said as I got up and began walking over to the big crowd, rather quickly as the sand was still so bloody hot 'I can't take it anymore the poor person who is in the middle of that will not be happy, I wouldn't be too pleased if it was me!' I replied 'what are you going to do?' He laughed nervously, by now we were at the group I pushed my way into the middle of the circle where Maxi was holding a mans neck. Spinal. 'Right! Everyone BACK NOW!' I shouted enough so everyone could hear me, Maxi Jumped, Whippet just stood and stared in amazement. The circle had quietened now and I didn't need to shout. 'Everyone please go back to your spots in the beach there is nothing to see here, I'm sure this poor man does not want you all gawping at him, as I'm sure none of you would if you were in his position!' A few nodded and eventually they began to wonder back to their towels until there was only us three left. 'We need you more often' Maxi laughed looking up at me in complete shock, 'sorry it was annoying me the poor guy here I'm sure didn't need that' the man now smiling at me let out a small laugh 'too right' I smiled back 'where'd that come from?' Whippet managed to squeeze out 'I don't know really' I lugged nervously now wondering if I'd done the right thing. Just then another buggy came down this time Kerrbox and H were in with a spinal board. I watched as they placed this man with precision onto the board and packed him up. They drove off into the direction of the tower.

Me, Maxi and whippet were left to walk, me back to my towel and the guys back to the tower. As we got to my spot they both told me I 'HAD to go upto the tower, the guys were bound to want to see me after that performance' great I thought...hardly any makeup on, my beach stuff, beach hair an I'm going to meet the lifeguards I've wanted to meet for several years.

As I walked up the stairs the man on the spinal board was being carted off into an ambulance. As I walked into the tower there was a ripple of applause from the guys there. I blushed 'what's that for?' I asked nervously, a tall man with brown hair and perfect white teeth replied 'for what you did down there just then!' Harries, one of the funniest of the guys. Complete nutter but everyone loved him. 'Ah it was nothing, it was just getting out of hand and the teacher in me got the better of me' I laughed just then I heard another voice this time behind me, but it was whispering 'is this the granny pants girly?' I didn't recognise the voice at first but all I was thinking of was A) whippet had been talking about me and B) I'd been here two days and I already had a reputation. Great.

As I walked back down the stair whippet grabbed my arm, 'date, tomorrow night, 7.00' he smiled but this time he was nervous, like he was scared of refusal, 'sure' I blushed this time my stomach was doing full on cartwheels. He smiled gave me a peck on my cheek and ran back to the tower, safe house.

I went back to my towel to carry on reading my book. Taking notes of all the recipes, what I wanted most was my own little cake shop, something fancy but not too pricey. I made a MEAN triple layered chocolate cake....if I couldn't impress the world with my granny pants I could impress them with my cakes...

**

As I watched the guys pack up their boards and take down the flags it was like watching bondi rescue, this time experiencing it for real. As the last few beach goers were packing up their things I began to do the same, the sand had cooled so no more grasshopper action. I shook the sand off my towel, collected my sun cream, book and recipes and began to walk home, thinking about my date the following night...At least I had a base tan and wouldn't look like a complete milk bottle stood next to him...I hoped...