Starfish Sisters

by J. C. Burke

  Georgie gave me a gentle shove and started to flick through the selection of birthday cards.

  'Georgie?' I pressed.

  'Huh?'

  'What do you think the scout was saying to Jake?'

  'Probably that I'm a big, fat loser,' she replied.

  'I think they reserved that line for me.'

  'What?' Georgie barked. 'You're sick in the head, Kia.'

  I made my throat gurgle a sound that resembled a laugh. Then, like Georgie, I picked a card off the shelf and buried my head in it.

  'Look at this!' Trust Georgie to be reading the rude ones. She held one up that was like a 'Where's Wally?' but said 'Where's Dildo?'

  'That is off!'

  'What about "I've asked this naked guy to give you a kiss"?'

  'I don't think that's Micki somehow.'

  Georgie started laughing as she passed me one that had a ginormous naked man on it wearing a hat. It said "Does this hat make me look fat?"

  'Stop it.' Now I had the giggles. 'You're grossing me out!'

  'Maybe she'd like this?' Georgie chuckled. 'Didn't Micki say she used to have guinea pigs?'

  'Georgina Elwood Ross!' I wrestled that one out of her hand and shoved it back into the stand. 'You are the one who is sick in the head.'

  Now we were killing ourselves. An old lady stacking up the magazines gave us a greasy.

  'Agghh!' I squealed as Georgie shoved another guinea pig card in my face.

  'Girls,' the old bag said, 'if you're not buying one please move away from the display.'

  'Hey, Kia?' Georgie's big wide eyes told me she was up to something. 'Let's get a chocolate thickshake.'

  'With double – no, triple ice-cream!' I schemed.

  'Yeah!'

  We settled for a really cute birthday card that had a little cut-out crown and said 'Queen for a day'. We agreed it was very Micki.

  We sat outside the Coolina ice-cream parlour and shared a double chocolate thickshake and an ice-cream sundae with caramel sauce and nuts. It was awesome!

  We didn't speak, apart from the odd grunt or one of us mumbling through a mouthful, 'Swap,' then passing the straw or the spoon, depending on whose turn it was.

  'Sorry I said that stuff to you last night, about Micki,' Georgie began. 'But you must admit you haven't been very . . . warm to her.'

  'I know,' I admitted. 'I do feel bad about it. Honest.'

  'So you're friends now?'

  'Hey! Look.' I pointed to the back of a girl who was running across the road with a guy. 'Is that Ace?'

  'No,' Georgie replied, not even lifting her head from the thickshake.

  'I swear it is,' I said. 'Wasn't she wearing those shorts?'

  'No.'

  'Stop feeding your face and have a look.'

  Only Georgie's eyes moved. 'Ace's hair is longer.'

  'Yeah, maybe.' I went back to the ice-cream. 'And that girl's with a guy.'

  MICKI

  Today I turned thirteen. It was exactly two weeks since we'd arrived at camp. Only one week left and the days seemed to be going faster and faster.

  I lay in bed wondering if Dad remembered it was my birthday. I'd only spoken to him once since he'd been in hospital and he was pretty quiet. Not that I'd expected him to be anything else. He was always quiet after he'd busted.

  When I was little and didn't really understand what was going on with Dad, I used to think I'd made him sad. I used to think that's why he'd stopped talking and playing with me and went away to hospital or the clinic, and I had to go to the neighbours.

  Rosie, my counsellor, was the one who helped me understand that it had nothing to do with me, that Dad had an illness just like any other illness. It took me a while to believe her but eventually I realised that what she was saying was true. Also, it's what Reg used to say and I knew he wouldn't lie to me.

  There was another thing Rosie told me: 'When your dad says that's the last time, that he's never going to do it again, he does mean it at that moment. He really does.'

  'So why does he always do it again?' I asked.

  'He can't help it,' Rosie answered.

  'I won't do it again,' Kia whispered to me that night. 'I promise.'

  But I knew better, and that was making it hard to sleep at night.

  Friday 19 January: My birfday!!! 13 – hip hip hooray.

  2.21 am (so it's really Saturday the 20th) but who cares!!!

  Today was the best birthday eva, eva, eva. I remember word for word what Georgie and Ace said.

  'Happy birthday Micki,' Georgie waved from her bed. 'Welcome to teenage–dom.'

  'Yeah, happy birthday,' Ace said to o. 'Fasten your seatbelt, baby. Life begins at thirteen.'

  'Good times,' Georgie sang.

  'Good times,' Ace echoed.

  Kia was off having a surf and the girls started saying how she was disappointed with what the scouts said about her performance. I wasn't really listening coz I was wondering if Dad'd ring me today but then I heard Georgie say 'I can tell when Kia's upset. She goes . . .' Georgie looked like she was thinking for the right word. 'Strange.'

  'How do you mean, strange?' I made it sound like I was just curious.

  But then Georgie did a HUGE fart and we all burst out laughing and Georgie started doing the worm on the floor and acting like an idiot and I knew then that Georgie definitely DIDN'T know about Kia.

  The next thing that happened had to be the BIGGEST HUGEST shock I've eva had. Ha ha!

  Kia walked in with a pressie for meeeeeee.

  'Happy birthday, Micki.' She actually smiled at me, like genuinely smiled at me for the first time in fourteen days.

  I could see a tiny bit of black peeking out as I unwrapped my present. What? My fingers felt rubbery material. No, it couldn't be. Could it?

  It was a FULLY SEALED WETSUIT.

  AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH.

  The second most wanted thing on my savings list.

  I screamed sooooooo loud!

  Then Kia said, 'I wanted you to have it. It's yours now.'

  I hugged Kia. I just had to. Her back went all stiff but that was okay.

  When I walked into yoga all the girls started singing 'Happy birthday to you.' Megan was the only one to continue with the 'Why was she born so ugly, why was she born at all?' song. That got Georgie calling, 'Hey, who's calling who ugly?' Megan yelled back, 'You can talk, Princess Fiona!'

  It went on and on until we were in stitches on the floor and Shyan decided to make it a stretch class as we were too 'excitable' for yoga.

  I found myself sitting on the floor of the bathroom, hugging my diary, laughing like it was all still happening.

  But how that mood changed at breakfast-time when the scouts walked into the dining room. I even forgot about my birthday.

  'What do you think they've got planned for us today?' Kia whispered over the table.

  'Yeah, white shorts has already got an evil look on her face,' Megan spat.

  'I bet I know what it'll be,' Ace told us. 'Tag teams.'

  'But the surf 's crap,' Kia whined. 'As my dad'd say, it's like my grandma's washing machine.'

  I laughed 'cause that's what Reg said to me too. Kia looked at me and smiled. She looked quite pretty when she did that.

  'So, Micki, did your oldies give you anything?' Megan asked.

  I was about to pipe up and say 'No' when Ace came in with, 'She got a sealed wettie.'

  'Good work,' Megan said. 'I surf in mine almost all year round but then that's Tassie for you.'

  'Kia gave it to me.'

  'Are you kidding!' Megan bellowed. 'Do you know how much they cost?'

  The colour started rising in my cheeks. I was still in shock that Kia had given it to me, though I was almost sure I understood why.

  But now something else was bothering me. Did Reg know she'd given it to me? When he asked her to be nice to me I don't think he meant to go that far.

  'That is awesome, Kia. Wow! I think I'll work on being better friends with you.' Megan
was still raving. 'I wouldn't mind one of those boards Ace has got. How much do they set you back, Ace, or does Ocean Pearl just give them to you 'cause you flutter your eyelashes?'

  There was a touch of silence around the table and I noticed Ace give Megan one of her 'drop dead' freeze-out looks.

  Ace ignored the comment and said, 'Actually, Megan, Kia gave Micki her own wettie. Off her own back.'

  'Cool!' Megan bellowed again. 'But you're not going out there in one of those trashy bikinis now, are you, Kia? The real surfers don't do that, just the show ponies.'

  Now there was thunder-cracking silence at the table.

  Ace stood up, collected her bowl and plate, and walked away. A second later, Kia followed.

  When I got back to the bungalow after breakfast there seemed to be a bit of a commotion going on. Ace's hands were flying all over the place as she spoke. Georgie was half-dressed, sitting on her bed listening, and Kia was standing there rocking back and forth on the soles of her feet.

  'It's the only way to get her back,' Ace was saying. 'Solidarity. The Starfish Sisters, hey?'

  'I don't want to.' Kia's voice was soft. Probably because her head was hanging so low it was almost tucked up under her chin. 'I'm sorry, Ace.'

  'Why don't you want to?' Ace replied. 'I mean, you can't just say "I don't want to" without giving a reason.'

  'I said I'd wear one, and no one wants to see my tree trunks,' Georgie piped up. 'C'mon, Kia. It's for Ace.'

  'I mean, Micki'll wear one.' Ace turned to me. 'Won't you, Micki?'

  I wasn't quite sure what they were on about. 'Wear what?'

  'A bikini,' Ace said. 'For the tag team this morning.'

  'Ace wants to shove it up Megan's you know what,' Georgie told me.

  'She deserves it too!' Ace spat. 'So will you wear one, Micki?'

  'Sure,' I replied.

  Now Ace spun around to face Kia, who hadn't moved. 'You have to wear one, Kia, or you'll let the side down.'

  Suddenly the picture was clear.

  'Micki will be picked as team captain for sure, 'cause she's the birthday girl and it's probably her turn anyway. So Micki' – Ace was directing us like we were about to go out and perform in the school play – 'you say, "As it's my birthday could I pick the Starfish girls for my team?" Then we'll all step up in bikinis, give Megan the biggest greasy and go out there and turn it up!'

  'Go the Starfish Sisters!' Georgie whistled.

  'Please, Kia?' Ace whined. 'Please say you'll do it. Just for me. Pretty please? I'll give you my photo of Tim. You know, the one I have in my wallet that you really like.'

  With each of Ace's words Kia's body seemed to freeze even more, like a rabbit caught by its hunter. It was horrible to watch and I knew I was the only one who could see it.

  'She can't,' I heard myself say. Kia's face jerked up to look at mine. 'She can't wear a bikini today, Ace. Kia has to wear her sealed wetsuit 'cause Reg, her dad, is coming up this morning to wish me a happy birthday.' The lie was spilling through my teeth faster than I could control it. 'And he'll spew if he knows she's given it to me and Megan's probably already blabbed to everyone that she has. So, so – that's why Kia can't do the bikini thing today.'

  'Hey, I've got the best idea.' Thank goodness for Georgie. 'Why doesn't Kia wear a bikini over her wetsuit! That's really taking the piss out of Megan.'

  'You must be really scared of your dad,' Ace said, taking a photo of the three of us in bikinis and Kia wearing one over the top of her wettie, 'because I cannot believe you're doing this.'

  'Well, there we go, Ace,' Georgie said. 'Kia has put her reputation on the line. All for the sake of the Starfish Sisters.'

  Kia didn't say a thing. She'd hardly uttered a word since she'd agreed to do it. She hadn't even mentioned Ace's promise of giving her the photo of Tim from her wallet.

  I think what just happened had totally freaked Kia out.

  Apart from Megan, everyone started hooting and whistling when they saw us coming down the beach. Obviously, it was Kia who was the amusement.

  'Good look, Kia,' Natasha called.

  'What the hell, Kia?' Jaime clapped. 'Are you due for a Brazilian?'

  Kia laughed – we all laughed – but I couldn't help notice Kia twist and bend her fingers as though they weren't actually attached to her body.

  'Do you like the tree trunks?' Georgie's hands rubbed up and down her thighs. 'Who wants a feel?'

  'Your psych-out trick's not working!' Megan bellowed.

  'You're brave girls wearing bikinis,' Taylor said. 'There's a big chance you'll lose your bottoms out there today.'

  'Oh, didn't you know, Taylor, we're just a dumb bunch of show ponies?' Ace smirked in Megan's direction. 'Girls who wear bikinis can't actually surf.'

  'I see.' Taylor nodded. 'Obviously there's a bit of something going down here. If it makes you hungry, go for it, Ace. You'll need all the help you can get out there.'

  'Girls, it's serious now. This is your last chance to show the scouts what you can do. Focus, please,' Jake told us. 'Our birthday girl has asked if she can captain her Starfish team. So to make it easy I think you can surf in your bungalow groups for this contest.'

  'Great!' Ace jumped up and down. 'Go Team Starfish!'

  'Ace, I said focus, please.'

  Ace rolled her eyes.

  'Thank you,' Jake continued. 'You'll all be surfing two twenty-minute heats. If you want to free surf in between, that's fine but surfing near the competition area will be instant disqualification, like in a real contest.'

  'Is it individual or team scores?' Megan barked.

  'I'm getting to that, Megan.' Jake was watching the scouts come down the beach with Shyan. 'The scouts will be concerned with your individual scores but Shyan, Taylor and myself will be looking at teamwork today. And by the way, we realised we haven't told you yet that on the last day there's a trophy for the highest-scoring team.'

  I put up my hand. 'Will the points we get now as a team count towards the trophy?'

  'No, that's a completely separate competition on the last day.'

  'But our individual scores count today?'

  'Yes,' answered Jake. 'Everything you do here counts, Micki. Everything.'

  The strange thing was, Jake didn't look at me when he answered. He looked at Ace.

  I was the captain so I was up first for Team Starfish. It was shifty and bumpy and the take-off point was full of seaweed. Paddling out was hard as it was closing out top to bottom and I had to keep duck-diving. Each time I emerged there was another piece of seaweed wrapped around my leg-rope or sticking out of my bikini bottoms. Taylor was right. Today, a bikini was only going to add to the challenge.

  Two high-scoring waves were what I needed in the twenty minutes I was out here. The only problem was that there wasn't a lot of choice.

  Find the sucky wave, I told myself. That's your best chance.

  There wasn't much time to collect my breath. A set came rolling in that had the best shape I was likely to see.

  I began paddling, but not hard enough, and blew my take-off. Natasha was up, made a turn then was face first into the mush and trapped on the inside.

  Second attempt at the take-off and I was up. It was a fun drop 'cause it really was like falling into the soapy, churning suds of a washing machine.

  I executed a bottom turn and even managed to get back up near the lip, if that's what you'd call it, although it looked more like a moustache today. Five seconds later I was head first into the mush too.

  Georgie did better than most of us. Patiently, she waited for the right waves even if they did come at the very last minute, which made the rest of Team Starfish very jumpy.

  'Go, Georgie!' Kia shouted.

  'It's okay,' Ace said, even though she was pacing the sand, 'she's being patient.'

  'It's already past ten minutes into the heat,' Kia said, and groaned. 'C'mon!'

  'Hey, where's your dad?' Ace asked Kia. 'I haven't spotted him yet.'

  Again Georgie
saved the day. At that exact second she started paddling and was up.

  'Yeah!' Ace jumped up and down. 'Show them what you can do, Georgie! Go Team Starfish!'

  The last few minutes of Georgie's session, Kia shook her legs and arms then began to roll back and forth, back and forth on the soles of her feet. She was next.

  Georgie came charging out of the surf. One arm carried her board while the other held on to the bikini top that was only just hanging in there.

  'You owe us, Ace,' she panted, tipping Kia's hand for the changeover. In return, Ace grabbed Georgie in a hug. 'You did it!'

  'Paddle out where Tahlia is,' Georgie called from the headlock Ace had her in.

  Kia was off. We watched her paddle out like a girl on a mission.

  'She's super-fit,' Ace said.

  'Out of all of us, I think Kia's taken this camp the most serious,' Georgie told us. 'I'm not dissing her, either. I mean that in a good way.'

  'And Micki.' Ace put her arm around my shoulder. 'You've worked hard too.'

  'Oh no!' Georgie's hands covered her face.

  Ace and I looked over to where Kia was paddling for some close-out wave.

  'What's she doing?' Georgie groaned.

  'What an idiot,' Ace squealed, as we watched Kia nosedive on the take-off.

  When Kia surfaced, peering over to where we were, Georgie gave her a thumbs up.

  'Come on, team.' She gestured to us to do the same. 'You know Kia takes it really bad when she stuffs up. Believe me, she doesn't need her team mates making her feel any worse.'

  'Why's she trying to paddle out that way?' Ace turned her back on the ocean. 'She's going to waste so much time and energy. Why doesn't she go the other way? Christ!'

  'It's tough out there, Ace,' Georgie said. 'It's holding us down like mad. Look at it. You try and get through that. It's your go next. You'll be exactly the same.'

  *

  By lunchtime we were stuffed. Most of us sat there in silence, all our energy taken on feeding our faces. We were starving!

  'Do you reckon Brian will flip out if I go into the kitchen and ask for more?' Georgie mumbled through her last mouthful. 'Like one of the kids from Oliver Twist.'

  'Hey, Kia,' Ace began, 'your dad didn't show up?'

  'No.' Kia shrugged.

  'You could've worn a bikini after all.'