Free Surf School by Laurine Croasdale

– the beginning of winning. Hey, I like that, it sounds good.’
    â€˜You’ll be able to buy ten boards with all the money you’re making,’ Fran added.
    â€˜Maybe, but if I can get one for free I’d rather save my money. There’s plenty of other things I’m going to need, like wetsuits, boardies, travel expenses …’
    â€˜What if you don’t win?’ Tilly asked gently.
    Marlee held her fingers up in a cross shape. ‘Negative thinking, negative thinking – stop!’
    â€˜Sorry, Marlee. I’d hate to see you get hurt, that’s all.’
    Marlee laughed. ‘Nothing you haven’t seen before.’ She rolled onto her stomach, grabbing her ankles and pulling them towards her head. ‘No plan B – but I’ve got a good chance. If you work it out, there are eighty members in the club, and not everyone will go in the competition. And there’s a board for the juniors and another for the seniors. The juniors I’ve got to worry about are Jamie, Kyle, Sam, Siennaand you guys. Some will be taken out in earlier heats, so I just need to hang in there.’ She grinned. ‘I have a good feeling about it. Once I get a good board I’ll try and win some junior contests, get a bit of sponsorship, a wildcard into the World Qualifying Series, then the World Championship Tour. That’s our plan isn’t it, Tilly?’
    Tilly nodded uncertainly. ‘You make it sound so simple.’
    Marlee’s smile faded. ‘I never said it would be simple.’
    â€˜Sounds great,’ Pink punched Tilly’s arm. ‘I know you can do it. The whole Island Breeze team is right behind you.’
    There was silence as three awkward moments collided: Tilly gave a fake laugh to cover her reservations about the WCT plan; Pink realised, too late, that she’d promised Marlee sponsorship too, and Marlee fought back tears, worried that maybe she was on her own.
    Fran sucked up the last of the smoothie. ‘Well, you can tick me off the list. I’m over the competition thing. They’re so annoying. All that hype and hanging around, then hassling in the surf and what for? A board? No thanks.’
    â€˜It’s not just the board,’ Marlee said quietly. ‘It’s about winning. And who knows what else might happen? I could get talent spotted. Last year Tilly picked up a sponsor.’ Marlee turned away from Pink, giving her left leg a second stretch.
    â€˜Not for me, Marls,’ Fran said emphatically. ‘I’m a weekends, holidays, just-for-fun surfer.’
    â€˜What about you, Tilly?’ Marlee sat up, waiting for an answer.
    â€˜Yeah, I’m in. I love competition day, even if it is just a smallclub thing.’ Tilly tried to sound positive and upbeat but she wasn’t sure anymore. It was okay for Marlee she thought, annoyed, she didn’t have her father or the School to worry about. It was all so clear cut for her.
    â€˜Yep, I’m up for it,’ she said, trying to convince herself.
    13 DECEMBER 2 AM
    Hey guess what? Your amazing friend has nearly set up the School’s website. When it’s finished, it’ll have an archive, class info and a database. I know, I can’t quite believe it myself. Sam helped with the geek stuff but now I’m typing everything in.
    I’ll have 575 names on the database – mainly ex-students, some repeat offenders and a few high schools. Schools have got to be the way to go. And corporate – can’t forget Barb Cook. I bet Dad hasn’t even thought about schools yet. The plan is to get the newsletter happening then email it to everyone in the database.
    It’s good to turn that screen off. I feel like my eyelids are fried open! I’d planned on putting some more photos on there but I’m too tired now.
    You can have the book for a while. I haven’t got time to write in it.
    Gtg.
    Love T xx

    Â 
    Tilly was curled up