SWNOVELS Chapter one on one
Jackson three rings didn’t even hit the marker. Emily was up and wouldn’t you know it she hooked all three of her rings. “I told you” I just had to say it. As my brother took his turn he hit just one. My dad stood for his turn and the first two hit both sides of the stick while the last one hooked. My mother had good throwing arm and she hit two the last one bounds back out. Auntie Joy took her turn and she hooked one while her first one was thrown too far. Her second one was too soft which all was the case every year someone always happened to them. Nigel hooked two and missing by good five cm. Uncle Brian hooked two of his with the last one too far. Alec was next and he too hooked two of his rings the last one hit the second ring and bounds out. Unlucky poor Alec missed out by faith. Alec and Emily both inherited a good arm from their great grandfather on their fathers’ side. As for me I only got one hooked making Emily the winner for the fifth year in a row in this event.
We all sat down for drinks break Alec and I were sharing an ice tea was sitting on his lap to give my sit up for Liz who had just joined us. My mother was telling us about her first game of net pin balling and how it was played with coconuts when she was a little girl. Liz set up the game off, ten pin balling. Everyone had a go to see how many pins they could knock down.
Jackson only two pins down and Emily got eight pins. Nila got seven pines and my mother and Auntie Joy did well both of them got eight pins. Uncle Brian got five he pushed his too far left. Alec got eight pins which were little shocking as he was in the local balling team with me. I got nine pins and Liz only got six pins making me the winner the ten pin balling game for the day.
The weather was really hot today. We took shatter under the tree again. Have a breather and again there was story been told only this only this time the story was about Alec and it was Liz who told the story. I was sitting on a blanket with Alec just behind me and Emily beside me on my right and Liz on the front of me. My brothers were sitting on another blanket that was laid on another side of finger foods. Our parents were sitting on the folding chairs with their back to the water.
After a good hour, we start the last game which was around cricket. Every year we are the only one on the beach at this time of the morning there for the lifeguards would join in the around cricket game and this year was not different. As there were no others on the beach the lifeguards would join us this morning for our game of cricket as they have done for the last four years. Because of this, we have come to know the lifeguards by name.
Max was second in command and Gus was the new to this beach he has come from Bondi Beach in New South Wales. Tim was a Trainee lifeguard and Nelly was the chief lifeguard on this beach.
No one really kept scores as everyone was too busy having fun. There for no one knew who had won nor did they care. It was a good game even the lifeguards enjoyed themselves. But if had to say someone won it had to be Nelly the chief lifeguard as he was smart to hit over the keepers head every time until he was caught behind when he gave Nigel a lolly pop catch.
All in all, it was a good morning where we had a good laugh at one another. After while we all headed back home so that the mothers could go over the last mint things for tomorrow.
Alec, Emily Liz and I were sitting up in the sitting area of playing 304. Tell you the truth I didn’t really know what to say to anyone. I wasn’t in any mood to talk about anything I ever felt this much anger towards one person before. It didn’t help that Alec was sitting on another side of the coffee table giving me that look that say ‘are you ok’. I was consumed by anger that I couldn’t even help ease his mind. I took two deep breaths and count up to ten in my head which use to help but not this time. I want Lisa Turners head on a stick. I manage to month the word ‘late’ to Alec and gave him a sorrowful smile.
We played until it was time for lunch. As all sat around the table for the first time there was no conversation. After the parents left as we all cleaning up I told Emily and Liz “listen about tomorrow part of me is scared that the spotlight will be taken away from Nigel and Clare tomorrow night and another part of me want to kill Turner”. When I was told that how the two of them left about tomorrow too I found I wasn’t alone in this which lifted me up a little.
Late Alec and I head into town to pick up the gift I had ordered back in July the last time we were here for the snow season. The local shop keepers knew Alec and me well as we had been seeing around town shopping every time we were here for the past eight years.
The Bulla gift shop owner Ms. Sanchez knew both of us by name as we always go to the gift shop every time we are here to buy gifts for our family and friends. We walked into a gift shop as Alec opened the door for me. “Thank you,” I tell him as I walk past him.
“Alec, Lynn my guess you here to pick up the gift you ordered back in July,” Ms. Sanchez said.
“Yes, ma’am,” I tell her.
We both look around the shop while waited for Ms. Sanchez to come back with our order from the back of the shop. I notice an old run down keyboard I just couldn’t help myself I had to run my fingers over the keys once and soon my finger found myself playing a well-loved song by Bill Joel call ‘Uptown Girl’ the song was redone in 2000 by Westlife for the kids on the street in the UK. Alec started to sing the song.
Oh hoo hoo ho, ho, ho, ho
Uptown girl
She’s been living in her uptown world
I bet she never had a backstreet guy
I met her mama never told her why
I’m gonna try for an uptown girl
She’s been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she’s looking for a downtown man
That’s what I am
And when she knows what
She wants from her time
And when she wakes up
And makes up her mind
She’ll see I’m not so tough
Just because
I’m in love with an uptown girl
You know I’ve seen her in her uptown world
She’s getting tired of her high class toys
And all her presents from her uptown boys
She’s got a choice
Ho hoo hoo ho, ho, ho, ho
Uptown girl
You know I can’t afford to buy her pearls
But maybe someday when my ship comes in
She’ll understand what kind of guy I’ve been
And then I’ll win
And when she’s walking
She’s looking so fine
And when she’s talking
She’ll say that she’s mine
When the doorbell ringlet everyone knows some had walked into the shop. I notice from the corner of my eyes that it was a group of guys with two girls. I didn’t really take notice of who the group was not then. Alec and I kept on sing and playing the song.
She’ll say I’m not so tough
Just because
I’m in love
With an uptown girl
She’s been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now she’s looking for a downtown man
That’s what I am
Uptown girl
She’s my uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
You know I’m in love
With an uptown girl
My uptown girl
At the end of the song, one of the guys into group came over to where we were and told Alec “hi my name is Scott I am a manager at Universal studies. Have you ever dreamed of been a singer”?
he handed Alec a business card? I could not help myself it made me laugh out. It not what he said but how he said it but of course I would ever tell him that. I was surprised at what was asked of me “What so funny, you don’t think that that your friend can sing” Scott asked me.
“Oh no, you misunderstood my mean. It just that If you knew anything about Alec you would know that you are wasting your breath and time asking him if He wanted to be a singer” I tell him
Alec handed the business card back to Scott saying “She right, sing that mean jack to me it is not what I want to do for the rest of my life”.