Oh Mandy

Episode 3: Surfing with you

You could not ask for a more ideal summer morning. The sky was baby blue, the few clouds that were present were white and poofy. The gulls were flying high in the sky, whilst pelicans dived into the, at the moment, clam ocean waters. The sand glistened, a product of a very zealous soul. Today was a day for fun in the Sun.

Geoff breathed in the morning air. The salty sea air was especially delicious today, he thought. Bridgett loosened up her ponytail, allowing it to dance with the wind. She was wearing her bodysuit, whilst Geoff opted for his beach shorts. "Ahhhhh! Nothing like a day at the beach! Right Bridge?"-asked Geoff. Bridgett replied- "The tide ought to get stronger in a few hours. We could go swimming, build sand castles, anything! The weather is perfect today."

From not too far off, Mandy and Blaise were setting up the picnic cloth. "Thank you for coming Blaise, it means a lot that you can share this day with us."-she said to him. Blaise said- "Gee, Dolphin, you and Bungie are like sisters to me!" Mandy giggled, as Blaise surveyed the beach. "Gee, aren't there any sweet men out there for little old me? I just want to have a fun little field day, maybe play a little beach volleyball with a sweet hunk by my side…"-he said, dreamily. Mandy had to hold back her laughter. Blaise was always a good laugh. "Bridgey, Geoff, we'll be having lunch in two hours, ok!?"-she said to the young pair. Blaise smiled, and he said slyly- 'You distract Bungie, and I'll see if I can make a move on Geoff, cuz girl, that man is delish!!!!" Mandy gave him a disapproving, yet playful look- "Blaise! Shame on you, stealing another girl's boy! You're better than that!" Blaise looked at the water, thinking…

An hour and a half had past. Geoff built a large sand castle, while Bridgette built a sand sculpture of a seal. They swam a lot, enjoying the large flora and fauna the waters had to offer. They even played a game of beach volleyball. To please Blaise, Mandy and Bridgette allowed him to be paired up with Geoff. Sadly, the boys lost because Blaise kept glancing at Geoff's chest. It was all cool with Geoff though, he had fun just the same. During this time, the sky kept getting a little cloudier.

It was lunch time. There was mashed potatoes, salad, gravy, and tuna sandwiches, with some guacamole sandwiches for those who preferred not to eat fish. Geoff ate one of each sandwich, Blaise and Bridgette each had just one guacamole sandwich, whilst Mandy ate a Tuna sandwich. Suddenly, the phone rang. Mandy picked it up.

'May I speak to Bridgette, please?'-asked the voice on the other side. Mandy gave the phone to her daughter. While she talked on the phone, Blaise had asked Geoff to accompany him on a short walk.

"So, Bridgette, huh? She's a nice girl. You are one lucky guy."-said Blaise. Geoff said-"Yeah, she's the coolest. A real nice chick, you know?"-he replied. Blaise then said, a smile on his face- "She takes after her mother in a lot of things. Her compassion, her humanitarianism, her zeal… her looks?" Geoff chuckled, and said- "Yeah, Mandy's HOT!!!" Blaise thought for a while, and said- "They are both very special to me. I love those two, they are like sisters to me. I want them to be happy. They were the first people to accept me for me, the day I came out…" His smile had faded. Geoff kept silent. Blaise turned his gaze at Geoff, and said- "Don't hurt her."

Bridgette was a little annoyed. The animal shelter called her, asking her to quickly help them with Kairo, an old dog they have had for a while. "Mommy, I have to go, I'm the only one Kairo does not keep away from."- she had said to her mother. Mandy simply nodded, and said- "Should I pack?" Bridgette shook her head, and said- "I'll be back soon. I probably won't be gone for more than an hour. I bet they just want to give Kairo a shot or something. It'll be over quick." Mandy then got a bad feeling in her stomach. She called out to Blaise- "Blaise!? Bridgette needs to go to the animal shelter. Would you please accompany her?" Blaise was a little surprised, but said- "Sure. C'mon Bungie, let's go." Bridgette felt she did not need Blaise to accompany her, but, she said nothing. However, the idea that Geoff and Mandy were now alone had not escaped from Blaise' mind for a second.

Geoff had asked Mandy, after the other two had left- "Why'd Bridge and Blaze leave?" Mandy responded- "Well, the animal shelter called her, asking for her help with this old dog. I asked Blaise to tag along." He asked- "Why?" Mandy responded- "I just have this awful feeling in my stomach. I wanted her to have someone she trusted to be with her… Who better than her Uncle?" Geoff's eyes widened- "Blaze is her uncle?" Mandy nodded her head. Just then, a drop had fallen on her cheek. "Uh oh, will it rain? We're going to need shelter."-she said.

It took her ten minutes to find an old shack. "In there!"- she said to him. They had entered the old , empty shack. It had but a few chairs. Geoff and Mandy took a seat. Meanwhile, it had begun to pour outside. Mandy surveyed the old shack's walls. She saw a heart with a few initials in it. "Hey! I remember these! Jacque and I had engraved them here. This is where we first met, where we had our first date, where…"-Mandy stopped herself, blushing at the NEXT memory. "Who's Jacque?"-asked Geoff. Mandy responded- "Bridgette's father, a Quebecois surfer. He came here once a year, every year. We met when I was fifteen. I married him three years later. When we got married, he became a more permanent feature of British Columbia. He's also Blaise' older brother."

"Ah! So, where is he? I've yet to meet him."-said Geoff. Mandy suddenly looked downtrodden. She then perked up, and said- "This old shack belonged to the local beach bum. His name was Reef Masterson. He taught me how to surf, when I was just a little girl. After Reef moved out, he allowed his shack to be turned into a snack shack. That's where I met Jacque. That snack shack eventually went out of business…It's been abandoned ever since. Last time I was here…" She then began to blush, remembering the night Bridgett had been conceived.

Geoff listened to her intently. But, he had to ask again- "So, where is Jack? where's your husband?" Mandy looked at the floor, and said- "With Reef. In Heaven." Geoff gasped, too shocked for words. Mandy looked out the window, and said- "It was raining that day, too… Please, Geoff. I don't like talking about that." Geoff nodded, feeling uneasy. Why did he feel so…sad?

Mandy then said- "Bridgette inherited her surfing skills from her dad. In fact, he taught her everything he knew. She was already a natural surfer by the time she was 5. Sadly, Jacque did not live to see the progress his daughter had made…Maybe…Bridgette surfs because…the waves remind her of her father." Mandy was smiling now, a serene smile. Geoff also smiled happily upon seeing it. "Now that I look at you better…you and Jacque have a lot in common. You are both happy-go-lucky, guys who live life like there is no tomorrow…and at the same time, you are both very caring people. Bridgette is so lucky to have you." Geoff just stood there, paralyzed. He never knew any of this. Mandy then began to hold her stomach, and said- "Something's wrong with Bridgette, I can feel it. I can feel her…crying." She then began to cry herself. Geoff, without thinking, embraced her. Holding Mandy in his arms, her figure against his, providing her with warmth and support…something about it felt…right. It did not take long for the embrace to be mutual. They stayed in that position, for the better part of an hour. 'God- Thought Geoff- I think… I'm starting to like Mandy…'

Meanwhile, at the animal shelter, Bridgette was embracing her uncle. She was crying her heart out, lamenting the loss of Kairo, whom she had to help put to sleep.