Starfish Sisters

by J. C. Burke

  'Come on, Kia, choose wisely.' Georgie and I were pacing the sand, which was what we tended to do when Kia was out there. 'That's my girl,' Georgie coaxed. 'Paddle! Paddle!'

  Like Micki, Kia looked so small out there, but also like Micki, Kia was strong.

  Snap! Snap! She blitzed a series of quick backhand snaps, skated across a section, then started again. Kia was dominating.

  'Go Starfish Sister!' Micki and I screamed.

  Georgie had gone down to the water to stretch. I left her to it. She was in the zone. I'd guess at this very moment she was giving herself a big Georgie 'team' talk.

  'It's getting bumpy out there,' I said to Micki. 'The wind's picking up.'

  'Georgie's got the power,' Micki answered.

  The siren blew. Heat three was over.

  As soon as Kia was off the board Micki hugged her. They both fell, screaming and laughing, into the white wash.

  I'm not even sure Georgie saw them. She was on the job. That's all that was in her sights.

  'Get 'em, Georgie!' Kia shouted, while Georgie's strong arms dug through the water.

  'That was unbelievable.' Kia was pumped. Her eyes were almost wider than her smile. 'At first I thought Jaime was smashing me but then I got that wave. Did you see it? Did you see it?'

  'You were unreeeeal!' Micki hooted. 'Jaime had to play catch up.'

  'Your board, Micki,' Kia said, 'what are we going to do about your board?'

  Kia shot me a look and mouthed 'fashion parade'? But it was too late to organise it now.

  Anyway, Micki didn't seem too upset about her board. All she could do was laugh.

  The swell was picking up. The freak seven-foot sets that had been rolling in every fifteen or so minutes were becoming more frequent.

  Georgie picked off a medium-size-set wave, although you wouldn't normally call six foot medium.

  Like a rubber band stretching, the wave grew as Georgie got smaller and smaller, skating down its leering face.

  'Shit!' I gasped. 'Be careful.'

  Megan came running over. 'They're calling off the heat,' she shouted to us as the siren blew. 'Tahlia got a big whack on the head when her board flipped.'

  'Are they getting out the boat?' I asked.

  'Carla didn't say,' Megan puffed. 'I just heard her tell Jake she wants everyone out of the water now.'

  Two out of three girls were on their way in. Georgie wasn't one of them. She was there, in the moment, totally absorbed. I knew, 'cause I could've been watching myself out there.

  Jake was on the loudspeaker calling, 'Georgie, come in now. Come in now.'

  Georgie made a precise turn on the inside. There was so much speed behind her she was almost flying. Then she was – driving off the bottom, digging in her rails, carving up to the top, up, up, hitting the lip, launching into the air and then . . . she landed! She landed. Just a little wobble but she quickly recovered, then stood upright in the foamball, her arms upstretched in the air. She was stoked!

  'Yeeeessss!' Kia, Micki and me – her Starfish Sisters, grabbed one another screaming and shrieking. 'Number one! Number one!'

  The four of us found a quiet spot near the tennis courts. We sat in a circle and began to sign one another's blue booklets. I wrote the same thing in all three of them: 'Starfish who surf together stick together.' I'd made it up last night as I was falling asleep.

  Micki was virtually writing an essay in each one. Kia was leaning over, snooping at her words.

  'This is a bit stupid, doing this, don't you think? I do.' Kia was still big-eyed and talking fast.

  'What else are we going to do?' Georgie said. 'The parents aren't due to arrive till an hour and it's not like we can have a surf.'

  Then, with the widest mouth I'd ever seen, Kia stretched out her lips and mouthed two words. 'Fashion' and 'parade'.

  Just like that, Kia got up and walked away. I knew what she was doing. She'd gone to find Carla. The fashion parade had just been reborn. My heart started pumping and my skin prickled all the way up to my scalp. It was showtime.

  Within fifteen minutes we were in the rec room bathroom with Kia, Georgie, Natasha, Jaime, two hair dryers, a straightening iron, all of my make-up – well, what was left of it – and a bag full of bikinis.

  Out of all of us, Kia was peaking the most. 'I just saw my dad,' she was saying. 'Micki's going to stay for the Easter holidays. Ace, you don't live that far away, you should try and come down for a few days too. Dad said that'd be fine. How cool would that be?'

  Georgie and I exchanged a little smile as she raved on.

  'No offence to the others,' Kia continued, while sorting the bikinis into piles, 'but there's no way we haven't won the trophy. None of us got caught in the inside like the other teams did. I bet we all get an eight-scoring wave – and Georgie got air! Hello?'

  'A teeny, weeny bit of air,' she corrected Kia.

  But Kia wasn't listening. 'Okay,' she said. 'This is how the order goes. Who's wearing what and who comes out when.' She began to read from a list, 'Ace, you're out first, followed by Jaime, then Natasha.'

  A second later a handful of bikinis were thrust at us and we were ushered away to try them on, listen to the music Kia had chosen, and get 'our walks right', which were her exact words.

  Georgie was the compere. We'd gathered that fact but we still weren't sure if Kia's role came further than backstage. To be honest, it was making Georgie and me nervous. Let alone Micki, who'd been ordered by Kia to hang out with Reg and not come near the rec room bathroom.

  'Micki knows what's going on,' Georgie told me. 'Which is lucky, because I don't.'

  'How does Micki know about the fashion parade?'

  'She said she sussed it out a while ago.'

  'Does she know it's for her?' I asked.

  Georgie shrugged. 'That's not what I'm worried about.'

  'Are you thinking about Kia?'

  'She's not going in it, is she?'

  Georgie looked the way I felt. Kia couldn't, not with those marks all over her thighs.

  A couple of timid knocks rattled the bathroom door. 'Hello?' A lady's head appeared into the chaos. 'Excuse me?'

  'Mum!'

  I couldn't remember the last time I'd been so happy to see my mother.

  'Everyone, this is my mum.'

  'I hear there's a fashion parade,' she said to me. 'Was this your doing?'

  'It's kind of a group effort,' I explained. 'There's a young girl out there who needs a new board. Badly.'

  'Yeah,' answered Mum, 'that nice gentleman told us that when we arrived. Do you remember?'

  I felt my body shrink into itself. I wanted to tell my mother that I was a different girl to the one who'd arrived here three weeks ago.

  'Five minutes,' announced Kia. 'Carla said we have to start at a quarter past.'

  The parents had arrived. From the door that led into the rec room, I could hear them greeting their daughters and finding their seats. This obviously wasn't what they were expecting but there was a buzz amongst them.

  'Parents, girls and special friends,' Georgie announced over the pumping beat, 'welcome to a parade of Bikina's bikinis. We decided at the last minute to put this on today not because the beach was closed but because one of the girls lost their surfboard today and we reckon we should all help her to get a new one. With every costume purchased, Bikina will donate fifty per cent towards the cost of a new surfboard. So, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Bikina!'

  Up the volume went and out I came in the peacock-blue bikini. My hair was dead straight, my foundation was flawless. Whistles and cheers erupted. I could see Mum in the crowd clapping and smiling. A row in front of her was Kia's dad and Micki. I strutted through the room, stopped where she was sitting and gave her a wink.

  Finally I'd got it. This fashion parade had never been about me. It'd always been about Micki. It was more than her needing a new board. It was because it was Micki who'd found Kia first and kept her secret; who'd nursed her through the night even though she coul
dn't stand the sight of blood; who'd put up with Kia being such a bitch. It was because her dad had gone to hospital, because she was the youngest and because she'd surfed those monsters today, got mashed and went back in so she didn't let the Starfish team down.

  Jaime and Natasha were next, while I ran back to the bathroom to Georgie, who held up the next cossie for me to change into.

  I was struggling into the top and Georgie was untangling the strings when we saw Kia standing there in the black-and-silver-striped bikini top and a tightfitting pair of shorts.

  'Wow.' Georgie froze. 'You look amazing.'

  Kia was rocking back and forth on the soles of her feet.

  'You look amazing,' I said.

  'I'm on next.' Kia's palms were rubbing across her thighs. '"Suddenly I See", that's the song I'm modelling to. I picked it especially 'cos it's about being strong and that's how Micki makes me feel.'

  Georgie took a step towards Kia and hugged her. 'It couldn't be more perfect.'

  I wish it could have ended at the fashion parade but announcement time was to follow. Every muscle in my jaw froze and the panic began to tingle in my toes when Carla said it was time.

  Suddenly I wanted to shout and wail and throw myself around. 'I want to go back to day one. I want to do it all again. I'll do it different this time. I promise!'

  As we walked in, Mum gave me a wink. Was it a wink that said 'I know you'll be selected' or was it one that said 'loved the parade'? Either way, it didn't help. I was totally on my own now. No Starfish Sisters, no Mum, no Tim or Jules to make it better.

  'There are big huge flapping butterflies doing an aerobics class in my tummy,' Georgie told me as we took our places up the front. 'Do you think Carla will mind if I do diarrhoea on the floor?'

  'You do diarrhoea and I'll vomit,' I answered.

  At least that gave us a giggle. Then Georgie did one of her famous bush-pig laughing snorts and we were in stitches.

  Carla started the proceedings with a speech about how great the three weeks had been; the friendships formed, which were evident, she said, in the parade that just fell together in an hour; the commitment that had been shown; the stylish surfing; and the gruelling timetable. She even included a word on Brian's cooking.

  'Girls, it doesn't matter what happens in the next ten minutes. Who gets selected, who receives an award, what team wins,' she told us. 'You have all achieved something great here and you know deep in your hearts what that is.

  'I would like to congratulate you all because every single one of you deserves it. And I won't say any more because I always get teary in this ceremony,' she sniffed. 'But I wish you all the very, very best.'

  Jake adjusted the microphone and began. 'There will be two awards presented today. Then the trophy for the winning team, and last but not least the training team will be announced.'

  Shyan held a white envelope. She looked out at us and smiled.

  'The rising star award of five hundred dollars,' she said, 'goes to Micki Elvich.'

  Eleven girls broke into a massive cheer. Micki's face looked like she'd just surfed one of those semitrailers out there today and couldn't quite believe she'd lived. She could almost afford two boards now.

  Next, Taylor handed over a small box.

  'The award, which is an iPod nano by the way,' Shyan said, 'for the most dynamic surfer goes to . . .'

  Once it would've been me, but not today. Anyway, I already had two iPod nanos.

  'Georgina Elwood Ross,' she announced.

  Before Georgie got up I gave her a hug. 'You deserve it,' I said.

  I meant it too. Everything I'd heard about Georgina Elwood Ross was true. She was powerful, she was dynamic and she could surf like a boy.

  'Mums and dads, as you know, it was a massive swell out there today. All three teams handled the conditions with maturity beyond their years. You should be very proud of them,' Shyan said. 'But, in the most outstanding team effort we've ever witnessed at this camp, I am thrilled to present the Chelsea Hedges tag team trophy to the Starfish.'

  Kia and I leapt off our seats and onto the stage.

  The four of us embraced. Micki's arms were wrapped tightly around ours like she never wanted to ever let go. I think that was her way of saying thank you.

  Micki and Kia gripped one handle and Georgie and I the other. We held the trophy high above our heads and in unison, almost like we'd rehearsed, we shouted, 'The Starfish Sisters!'

  We jumped around and for a moment I forgot there was still one more announcement to come. The big one. The one that mattered.

  But when Taylor told us to take our seats and Jake started fiddling with the microphone again, I remembered.

  Georgie held my hand, I held Micki's and Micki held Kia's. I was sure I could feel our heartbeats pulsating through the floor, united in one massive throb.

  'There will be five girls named today in these selections. The first four go to the Australian Junior Team Training Camp, which will be held here, in June, along with four other girls who were picked last month.' Jake was smiling but he looked nervous. 'The fifth girl takes the reserve position and must agree to prepare both mentally and physically as she could be called up as a replacement at any time.'

  Georgie squeezed my hand. I couldn't look at her. I couldn't look up. My neck felt locked and if I didn't swallow soon I'd start choking on my own spit.

  'The first name is Kia Braidwood.'

  Kia screamed. It was one loud, long solitary shriek. Then she was up the front waving at her dad, who had jumped out of his seat and rushed up the front with his video camera. Kia was grinning so hard it looked like her cheeks would split.

  'Georgina Elwood Ross.'

  Georgie's sweaty palm broke our grip. Micki squeezed my other hand tighter.

  'Megan de Raile.'

  I closed my eyes and felt my heart shrivel up into a little ball. It was over. It didn't matter who was called out next. The Starfish sisters had ended before we'd really had a chance to begin. Thanks to me.

  'The fourth name is Micki Elvich,' my head announced in time to Jake's voice.

  Micki buried her head into my shoulder and began to cry.

  'Hey, little one, you made it.' My voice was trembling. 'Go on. Up you go.'

  Here was I, Courtney McFarlane, the Ocean Pearl girl, one hundred per cent OP-sponsored, crossing my fingers and hoping beyond all hope that I would hear my name called for the reserve position.

  I wanted it. I wanted it so badly.

  There was a journey to go on with three other girls. Didn't Jake and Carla understand that?

  I smiled at Kia, Georgie and Micki. It was only a little smile and it hurt so much. But when they smiled back my heart unravelled, just the tiniest bit.

  'And the reserve position goes to . . .'

  I held my breath.

  'Courtney McFarlane.'

  A tear swelled in the very corner of my eye and slipped down my face. Those who didn't know me probably thought it was a tear of sadness or anger.

  But it wasn't.

  Ocean Pearl

  STARFISH

  SISTERS

  Starfish who surf together stick together . . .

  Ace was the one who wrote that in Kia, Micki and Georgie's blue booklets, on the last day of camp. Yet it's Ace who's ended up ruining everything – ending the Starfish Sisters before they've even begun.

  How are they ever going to get back together?

  Follow Kia, Micki, Georgie and Ace as the pressure builds in the sequel to Starfish Sisters – coming soon!

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  The author would like to thank Carlie Thornton from Surfing NSW for her expertise and generosity with her time and knowledge; Victoria Shehadie for giving it the first 'test' read; Tara Wynne from Curtis Brown, who does the tough stuff; and last but not least, Zoe Walton, editor extraordinaire!

  Reading Guides with more information on Starfish Sisters and other J.C. Burke books are available on the Random House Australia website.

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p; Random House Australia Reading Guides are designed to facilitate reading group or classroom discussion and further exploration of the themes and issues, writing style, characterisation and plot of the book, as well as providing further information on the author's inspiration and the writing process.

  Please visit our website for more information.

  www.randomhouse.com.au/readingguides

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  J.C. Burke was born in Sydney in 1965, the fourth of five daughters. With writers for parents, she grew up in a world full of noise, drama and books, and the many colourful characters who came to visit provided her with an endless supply of stories and impersonations.

  Burke decided to become a nurse after her mother lost a long battle with cancer. She specialised in the field of Oncology, working in Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Units in Australia and the UK.

  A creative writing course at Sydney University led to an ASA mentorship with Gary Crew and the publication of Children's Book Council Notable book White Lies (Lothian) in 2002. Burke has since written The Red Cardigan, also a CBC Notable Book, and its sequel Nine Letters Long. The Story of Tom Brennan won the 2006 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year: Older Readers award and also the Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature 2006. J.C. Burke's latest book is Faking Sweet.

  J.C. Burke lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Her teenage daughter now provides her with an endless supply of stories and impersonations! J.C. Burke loves writing for young adults, as they still have an optimistic eye on the world.

  Visit www.jcburke.com.au for more information about J.C. Burke and her books.

  ABOUT SELF-HARM

  In Starfish Sisters it is frightening for Micki, Georgie and Ace to discover that Kia has been cutting herself in secret. Self-harm is a difficult subject to talk about, but it's important to know that if you are harming yourself or you're worried about a friend, there is help available.

  The information below is a shorter version of a Reach Out! Fact Sheet called 'Worried about a friend who is self-harming', and is provided with the permission of www.reachout.com.au.