The Ebb Read online

  “Do you speak English?” he asked, tilting his head playfully. The joyous smile all over his face hadn’t faded yet in the slightest. Sofia was amazed at how carefree he looked and found herself envying him again for that.

  “Um, yes! I do,” she managed finally.

  “Are you the lady of the pier?”

  Sofia frowned. “Excuse me?”

  He gave a confident smirk. “I said, are you the lady of the pier?” He moved a bit closer as he continued to float and grabbed onto the edge of the pier with both hands.

  “I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you mean,” she responded with an awkward smile, squatting before him in order to get closer. She was sure she couldn’t hear him clearly.

  “Allow me to explain what I mean, my good lady, if I may,” he said coughing once, playfully, just for show. He arched his eyebrows. “You work here, right?”

  “Yes I do.” She gave an easy smile, relieved to be able to answer confidently an enquiry of his for a change. He was being very entertaining, and it tickled deliciously her funny bone.

  “Well, this is a pier, isn’t it?”

  “It sure is,” she answered, humouring him eagerly.

  “Well, that makes you the lady of the pier then, doesn’t it? You seem to be the boss around here,” he said with a wicked grin.

  “Oh! Now, this is where you’re wrong, you see. I’m just an employee here. The boss… that would be the man over there,” she answered breezily, pointing to Jimmy in the far distance. At the time, he was busy helping the German onto the boat after his smooth descent into the water.

  “I beg to differ, my lady! He’s over there and you, well, you’re here. That makes you the boss on this fine pier, as far as I’m concerned.”

  Sofia rolled her eyes. “Right, right.” She couldn’t believe how crazy he was but dared admit to herself that she found him now even more charming than before. She took a few moments to gaze at him and, once again, his eyes felt like magnets drawing her to him. She felt disoriented, as if she had been lost inside a thick fog, and as she was still squatting, she put a hand on the deck to steady herself. It was a prudent thing to do as in reality she had started to slowly tilt forward without even realizing it.

  “So, how can I help you? Can I interest you in any of the water activities?” she asked confidently, just doing her job.

  “I don’t know… maybe I came here just to talk to you.”

  “Oh! If that’s the case, then I guess I’m busy. Excuse me,” she answered sternly, standing up like a coiled spring. It was her instinctive reaction to avoid a presumptuous flirt. She turned to go as she always did in these cases but was surprised when she realised she found it hard to do this time.

  “Okay, wait a minute! Forget what I said!” He raised an open hand, palm exposed towards her.

  “You shouldn’t be doing that to the Greeks! It’s rather vulgar!” She pointed at his hand, but her faint smile revealed that she wasn’t offended. Surprising herself, she squatted before him again even though she was uncertain if it was advisable to keep talking to him at all. An obscure inclination had risen inside her, coaxing her to stay in his company although another, a rather familiar one, kept calling to her to run away. But he was irresistible, and she couldn’t help smiling at him again.

  Attracted to this crystal clear signal and encouraged anew, the boy suddenly leapt forward, resting his elbows on the deck while raising a noisy splash from under him. Now half his body was out of the water, and his face had approached hers too close for comfort. Sofia retracted herself somewhat in order to protect her private space and scowled at him.

  “So, what did I do back then and how vulgar was it?” he asked playfully, ignoring her annoyed expression. If he had gone too far, he was used to getting his way with pretty young girls, so he decided to ignore it.

  “You splayed out the fingers of your hand and showed me the palm, thus!” she answered in an exasperated tone, displaying for him a Greek moutza; the number one offensive gesture of the Greeks, who relish making it when anyone or anything makes them angry or annoyed. It felt good to show it to him, right before his face, thinking that it served him right for his infuriating smugness.

  “Like that?” he asked, repeating the gesture.

  “Don’t you do that to me!” She pushed back his hand and shook a sharp finger at him. It was a universal gesture that didn’t need explaining.

  “Okay, I’m sorry! Can we try again?” he asked, frowning a little. He had finally realised he was treading carelessly on dangerous ground.

  “Fine. How can I help you, sir?” she asked, giving emphasis to the last word, rather mockingly.

  “Well my lady,” he answered with similar emphasis for the sake of playfulness, “Actually, I’m rather interested to try one of your fine pedaloes over there!” he said, putting on a hoity-toity accent to sound extra prim and proper.

  Sofia thought it was hilarious but didn’t show it. The last thing she wanted was to encourage him again. “A pedalo, sir?” she asked carrying on with the mockery, feeling increasingly amused with every comeback.

  “That’s right, my fair lady, if that’s all right with you. If you deem your humble servant as worthy enough to rent one, that is!” he answered with the same ridiculous posh accent that she found hysterical. By now, she was trying really hard not to dissolve into laughter.

  “You’re mad!” she responded with an exasperated huff, her face deadpan, but only she knew how hard it was by then to look so serious. Feeling herself unable to keep up the pretence any longer, she decided to turn and go before her amusement started to show.

  “No, please don’t go, I mean it!” he protested, and she turned to fix him with a look of sheer disbelief.

  “No, honestly, I’d really like to rent a pedalo! That is, as soon as I manage to get that lazy friend of mine to stop reading his book and come with me,” he said, pointing to Blond Boy. He was sitting under one of the thatched umbrellas outside Karavi, looking engrossed in a particularly thick volume.

  Sofia chuckled. “I see.”

  “Well, do you think it’s possible to get him to stop reading that? Any ideas?”

  “You could try to get on his good side for starters. He’s highly unlikely to do as you please if you keep embarrassing him. Say, by singing and dancing like a silly-billy in public.”

  “Oh! You were watching us yesterday!” he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. “I was strutting my funky stuff,” he added with a lopsided grin that she found irresistible.

  She tilted her head and frowned. “Is that what you call it?”

  “Yes,” he answered with a slow smile, tilting his head too, playfully.

  “Well, why don’t you strut your funky stuff back to your friend now? Try grovelling to him, it might work,” she said, turning to go. It was the perfect timing to get to Karavi for a snack. She was walking away when she heard him giggle, and she turned around again.

  “Here’s an idea for you. You could try to find him a nice girl. That might distract him from reading. Perhaps he’ll get on the pedalo with better company than you,” she teased from across the distance.

  “Ouch!” he replied, pretending with a theatrical gesture that he was removing an arrow from his heart. “That hurt! Do you think I could find a pretty girl to keep me company on that pedalo while they’re smooching?” he asked, smiling naughtily.

  Sofia twisted her lips. “Who knows? Someone might notice you if you really try. You’re not that bad-looking.”

  “Is that right?” He smirked, and with a big splash he let himself fall into the water.

  His hat fell off his head, and he picked it up swiftly from the water’s surface. He put it back on rather crookedly, and stood with his feet planted firmly on the seabed, as the water dripped from the straw hat all over him.

  Sofia tried desperately not to break into hysterics. She brought a hand before her mouth and stifled a snigger just in time. “And you might want to lose the hat too if you want to get a gir
l. You look silly.”

  Totally unaffected, he looked up slowly, hat still dripping, to find her standing on the pier head, smiling pleasantly down at him.

  “I couldn’t! My mummy gave it to me!” he answered in a toddler-like manner, and Sofia dissolved into laughter. Just at that moment, Jimmy arrived in the boat, and the boy swam away to give him room to manoeuvre. As he swam past Sofia, he gave her a little wave, and came out to shore with a wide grin across his face.

  ***

  “Remember Crazy Boy?” Sofia asked Loula as soon as she took a seat at the bar.

  “Of course! He and his cute friend came earlier for a refreshment,” announced Loula with a wink.

  “Don’t tell me! Beer, right?” asked Sofia with a knowing smile.

  “No, actually, they had orange juice.”

  “That’s a first.” Sofia looked impressed. Past experience had made both girls think that British youngsters on holiday practically lived on beer alone.

  “Yes, and they were very nice as well, very polite! The blond one smiled at me so sweetly! He just said ‘hi’, ‘bye’, and ‘thank you’ and not much else, but he said it so nicely,” said Loula with dreamy eyes.

  “Oh never mind him!” Sofia gave a dismissive wave and leaned forward. “What about Crazy Boy? What did he say?”

  Loula chortled. “He’s a chatterbox, that one! He was so busy talking that it took him ages to work out I couldn’t understand a word of what he was saying. You should have seen his face when the penny dropped. It was a picture! After that, he spoke more slowly to me and turned his attention to his friend.”

  “Didn’t the blond talk to you?”

  Loula shrugged. “How? He couldn’t have put a single word in edgeways with Crazy Boy nattering like that!”

  Sofia gave a frown. “What were they talking about? Did you catch anything?”

  “Oh, I don’t know! About the weather maybe? Or girls?”

  “Girls? Why do you say that?” Sofia asked, wide-eyed.

  “I was joking Sofia! How would I know? But why so interested?” Loula examined her friend’s face with a cunning glint in her eye.

  “I’m not! It’s just that…” She bit her lower lip and looked away.

  “What?”

  “Well, he came over to the pier and flirted with me just now!”

  “Really?” came Loula’s goggle-eyed response. “Do tell!”

  Sofia carried on with telling her what happened in every detail while Loula listened with undivided attention, seeing that she was idle at the time.

  Loula chuckled. “Oh, what a naughty boy he is.”

  “Yeah, he’s quite full of himself, isn’t he?”

  “He winked at me when they left the bar, you know. Such a flirt!” Loula giggled when Sofia threw her a glance of unease. “Don’t worry, girlfriend,” she said, raising both hands. “I’m not in the least interested in him. I prefer the blond, as you know. Seeing that he reads long books, I’d normally leave him for you, but I got dibs on him now, so tough!”

  “That’s all right then,” replied Sofia with a bright smile.

  Loula’s face turned serious. “You like this one, I can tell.”

  “Granted, there’s something about him. Yes, I do like him, I guess,” admitted Sofia as her eyes scanned the beach once more. The boys were probably in the water. Their towels looked forlorn all spread out over their straw mats.

  “Excellent!” said Loula with a wide grin. It was all she had hoped to hear from her friend’s lips for years on end.

  Sofia glanced at her watch and bolted upright. “Oh, I’d better go!”

  “Off you go then; I’ll man the fort here. I’ll let you know if your boy gets up to any mischief when you’re not looking.”

  Sofia picked up her cheese pastry from the counter. She moved to go, but then her eyes lit up, and she turned to her friend again, her face bright. “Loula! With Crazy Boy, I forgot to tell you the news! Next Saturday, Captain Spyros is doing the excursion we’ve been waiting for!”

  Loula gasped, her eyes widening. “Paxos? You mean, a week from now?”

  “Yes! I’ve already asked Jimmy. Do you think you can take the day off?”

  “Sure! I’ve already made sounds to your aunt and uncle about a day off. They’re just waiting to hear the date. I’m sure they won’t mind. Any day is the same here, isn’t it?” she said matter-of-factly, and it was true. Weekends in the touristy areas just blend in with weekdays to form an endless string of busy summer days.

  “Excellent! Do you think Akis can join us? Shall we ask?”

  “No, don’t. It might put his parents on the spot. I don’t think they can spare him at the same time.”

  “Oh, no…” Sofia whipped her head around to throw a glance at her cousin across the concrete patio. She could see him through the kitchen window chopping vegetables, looking totally engrossed, and in a hurry. She could almost imagine the ball and chain at his feet. “Poor thing,” she whispered, shaking her head ruefully.

  I’m sure he’ll be envious, but perhaps we can buy him a nice souvenir or something,” said Loula, shrugging her shoulders.

  “Yeah, we could do that. And maybe he can join us another time.”

  Loula frowned. “It’s just strange working this summer, not being able to enjoy time together like before. But I guess losing your carefree days is the price you pay for growing up.”

  Sofia nudged her playfully. “Oh come on, what is this now? Cheer up!”

  “You’re right! Hey, we are going to Paxos! Yay!” Loula gave a loud cheer.

  Sofia joined in and in no time they were both shrieking, enough to raise a few eyebrows from the patrons who sipped iced coffee at the nearby tables. Considering it best to leave before Akis heard them and got jealous, Sofia picked up her snack again and waved hurriedly to Loula.

  She returned to the beach, and strode along the pier towards the head. She had lost track of time and now realised she had to hurry and have her pastry while it was still quiet enough. Once she got to her chair under the umbrella, she didn’t waste time. As she munched on her snack, she tried to spot Crazy Boy around the hectic beach and in the water. For the first time, it felt like seeking a fix for the most intoxicating habit. It had barely been fifteen-twenty minutes since she had last spotted him, and it already felt like forever and a day. She looked thirstily around her but didn’t stare at any point. Her pride didn’t allow her to be anything but surreptitious about it. She would simply die if he happened to be out there looking back at her and witnessing her scanning the area. She guessed he was vain enough to guess immediately who she might be looking for.

  She spotted the boys soon enough. They were swimming in the deep, and she kept stealing glances their way. It felt wonderful, simply to know where he was. Luckily, the next customers arrived just as she was finishing her snack. Swallowing one last bite hurriedly, she wore her best smile and walked up to them. However, she left a large portion in the paper bag on purpose. The Greek Orthodox generally regard it as a sin to throw food away, and Sofia was no exception. She wasn’t going to waste her food. It was going to be an excellent treat for her winged friends in the evening.

  Chapter 21

  Closing time came rather easily that day, seeing that it was quite busy all afternoon. So busy actually, that Sofia even forgot about Crazy Boy for a few hours. After storing all the equipment away with Jimmy, she stood at the pier head for a while, just admiring the serenity of the water, as the descending sun caressed it with fingers of sparkling gold.

  Jimmy surprised her when he announced he was going. He gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder and waved goodbye, leaving her without further ado. He normally lingered about at this hour, cracking jokes with Sofia, commenting on the odd awkward customer of the day, or just sharing pleasantries with passers-by. Yet, today there was going to be none of that. His little boy was running a fever, and he couldn’t wait to go home and see how he was.

  Once he departed, Sofia yawned and stretche
d like a cat. She ran a hand through her long hair and ambled along the deck to get her beach bag. The sparrows were gathering at the shore, and it was time to treat them to the leftovers from her snack.

  “Hello there,” came a familiar voice from behind her, making her jump as she rummaged through her bag.

  “Oh, hi!” she said looking up. It was Crazy Boy and, right on cue, there was that thumping in her chest again. Panicking, she shot a glance at Karavi just to make sure her aunt or uncle weren’t in sight. She knew she could count on Akis not to say anything if he saw her alone with the boy, but past experience had taught her that the adults were a different story. Do-gooders of the sort came in all shapes, even in the one of loving family members.

  “Sorry I startled you, my lady!” Crazy Boy squatted before her with a bright smile, totally unaware of her unease.

  Sofia noticed he held one hand behind him and wondered why, but she didn’t voice her curiosity. “You really must stop calling me that. I have to tell you, it’s rather daft.” She giggled and allowed herself the small luxury to relax a little, seeing that there were no locals about to cause her any grief.

  “Well, I’d be happy to if you were kind enough to disclose your real name,” he replied with a devilish grin that caused her to feel overwhelmed.

  “It’s Sofia… Sofia Aspioti,” she said breathlessly, offering her surname also, although she didn’t have to. He was much too close to her, and the feeling this induced in her was indescribable, unprecedented.

  “That’s a lovely name! And easy to pronounce.” He winked.

  She flashed him a sweet smile. “What’s yours?”

  “It’s Danny Markson; your obedient servant, my lady!” He offered his hand.

  Sofia threw him a look of mock-exasperation. “What did I say?”

  “Oh yeah, right! Sorry I forgot…. Sofia!” he responded with emphasis on the name, his hand still extended mid-air.

  “Nice to meet you,” she said finally, taking his hand. Their handshake lasted for a few moments longer than is customary, and they were both conscious of that fact. As they finally let go, the thought of their lingering hands made her smile nervously. The same thought ignited the look in his eyes, with an intense glow that made her heart beat wildly again.