Rips In The Fabric

Rachel and Julia have reached the bottom of the garden.

But there is no way through to the sea.

Damn! says Rachel. Does that mean I have to go all the way up again?

'Fraid so, says Julia. Unless you want to keep looking for an easy way through.

You look, says Rachel. I'm going to sit down on this boulder.

She plops herself down on the boulder. Luckily she has adequate padding. The coral is razor sharp.

Julia goes off, to look for an outlet.

Rachel leans back, smelling the sea.

Julia comes back.

I found a way through, says Julia. If you want to risk it, come with me.

Rachel stands up. Woo! Now there are rips in the back of her parrot green outfit.

......

Up top, in the Hibiscus Café, Griff and Gaius are waiting, with four cherry juices, and a plate of coconut biscuits.

Julia comes in.

Where's Rachel, cries Griff. Has she had an accident?

No, says Julia. She stayed down there. She's forging on through to the beach.

Gaius and Griff exchange glances.

What do the exchanged glances say?

Hard to tell really. There are several possibilities.

a) A dangerous escapade for such a large woman, in pink fluffy slippers!

b) What about the fourth glass of cherry juice which we've already paid for?

c) That means more room for Griff in the back of the Mini, and no more shenanigans.

Or maybe all three.

........

Rachel squirms her way through the moist undergrowth and under a fence which is partially broken.

She stands up, and checks if her turban is crooked. No, it isn't.

She should feel the back of her skirt. Her fingers would go through it in places. But she doesn't.

She hears the breaking of waves, and forges ahead in the pink fluffy slippers.

.......

On the beach, surfers gaze disconsolately at the small waves.

Rachel breaks through behind them.

Ahoo! whoops Rachel. I knew it! This beach is perfect for swimming.

The surfers turn their heads round, one by one.

The first one looks like someone we know.

There are only a few looks for surfers.

Yeah, says the surfer. All right for you, lady.

Well, I'm going in, says Rachel. Look after my slippers.

She kicks off her slippers. And peels off her parrot green dress, to reveal brightly striped bloomers.

The surfers watch her receding towards the disappointing surf, which now seems less disappointing.

.......

Gaius, Griff and Julia arrive only ten minutes later.

They plod down to the beach, with one cherry juice in a bottle and three coconut biscuits in a plastic container.

Not much surf today, says Julia. But wow! look at all those guys in the water!