Hi - don't hate me please.
March 1975 was busy for almost every teen in Dogtown. With Del Mar Nationals in the beginning of the month, and the Western Surfing Association (WSA) Competition at the end of the month Tovah was buzzing from everything that was happening in her life. Not to mention whatever was happening with her social, and home life.
It was the night before WSA and Tony was throwing yet another party at his home in honor of, well honestly she couldn't even remember she just assumed it was for the boys doing well at Del Mar. She didn't want to go, but she knew someone would come to her house and drag her out if she didn't at least show up for a few minutes. She threw on a casual knee length dress, something her mother would approve of too much (which is why she decided to sneak down the fire escape) and headed to the Alva's.
She never understood how Tony could throw all of these parties and never get a noise complaint from his neighbors - it could have had something to do with the fact that it meant free alcohol for them, but who knows? All the familiar faces were there and everyone from the skate team seemed real pleased them themselves for what they had pulled off at Del Mar. Tovah made her way up the porch steps saying hello to the teens and adult spread out with beers in their hands.
After taking in the scene inside she regretted coming even more; this party was a bit more rowdy than the normal get together they had. Normally she'd be up for a party but she had to be up early for WSA, and the drive from Venice to Huntington Beach was going to be about two hours. She scanned the crowd for Stacey hoping to see the long haired teen here. After a couple glances she finally pointed him out, he was of course with Kathy and she didn't want to be the one to interrupt whatever they were doing.
"Yo Tovah! You are late as usual!" Tony had come up behind her wrapping his arm around her shoulders getting some of his curly hair in her face "You nervous for tomorrow?"
Tovah shook her head "No, it'll be cool" she said in a non-convincing voice "I've done competitions in Huntington before I don't think this one should be any different"
"You know you don't have to drink or anything tonight," He whispered to her "Everyone knows tomorrow is big, Peggy isn't even coming tonight" Tovah huffed, she hadn't even thought to ask Peggy if she'd be here tonight or not. "It's cool Tovah girl, just hang low tonight."
Tovah smiled up at the curly-haired boy, glad that he had noticed she looked distressed about tonight, and the competition tomorrow.
"Yo Tovah are you gonna touch the waves tomorrow like Bertlemann?" It was Paul he had come up and shoved Tovah's shoulder playfully
"You know that's my signature move," She turned around and faced Paul "Bertlemann totally stole that one from me!"
Paul laughed and guided Tovah towards the fridge "You want one?" he held out a beer in her direction
"No thanks man," She declined "I need to be totally level-headed when I surf, the last thing I need is a killer hangover"
Paul shrugged and put one of the beers back in the fridge "So, about the other night" he shuffled his feet a little bit "Sorry that everyone's been giving you a hard time about it."
This was a rare moment of sincerity from one of the boys "It's cool Paul. Shit around here just spreads so fast, ya know?" she placed her right hand gently on his shoulder "It's all good, I don't even care."
"Cool" he smiled at her "You're a cool girl Tovah, good luck tomorrow!" Paul gave her another playful shove and went to join Wentzl and Shogo as they we're just lighting up a fresh blunt
That was weird, but she wasn't going to question it. She made her way around the house, seeing that a lot of people were downstairs so she assumed no one would be up in Tony and Kathy's room, so she made her way up there. She slowly pushed open the door to the siblings room, and as she assumed it was empty. She settled herself on Kathy's bed reaching underneath it to pull out her record collection, she sifted through the records hoping to find something decent. A lot of Cher records, some Bowie but not what she was looking for.
"Stacey I just don't get you!" It was Kathy's voice from outside the door "I pretty much throw myself at you are just totally uninterested."
Tovah didn't want to pry, because that would be rude, but she also didn't want to awkwardly leave the room. So she listened.
"Kath," Stacy said calmly "I like you a lot. You know that. I just want to take things slow. What's the rush?"
Kathy huffed "Stace, I don't want to take it slow, we've known each other for so long. What are we waiting for!?"
The conversation went on that way for a bit longer, it ended with Kathy rushing back downstairs leaving Stacy alone. Tovah couldn't stand being in the room alone anymore so she slowly pushed open the bedroom door.
"Hey Stacey." Tovah practically whispered
"What are you doing in there?" Stacey inquired "Are you with someone?" He sounded ticked off
"No, no" she shook her head quickly "I just didn't really want to be downstairs with everyone partying, since I'm not drinking or anything tonight"
Stacey nodded his head "So you heard all of that shit between me and Kathy" All Tovah could do was nod her head feeling embarrassed that she even listened "It's cool Tov, don't sweat it - you wanna bail?"
Tovah nodded again not really knowing what to say. The two made their way downstairs saying quick goodbyes to everyone, a few hurried good-lucks were thrown in Tovah's direction, to which she gave her sincere thanks. The teens got into Stacey vehicle and headed towards Tovah's house.
"How are you feeling about tomorrow?" Stacey asked her as he looked at the road
"I feel alright," She said honestly "Peggy has been riding really well lately so I'm nervous to be competing against her"
She could see Stacey nod out of the corner of her eye. This was the first time the two of them had spent any time alone together since the incident at Tovah's house the other day. "I just wanna say sorry again about that shit I said about Kath-"
Stacey cut her off "S'cool don't worry about it" it said curtly "You wanna go somewhere or do you just wanna head home?"
"Yeah, we can go wherever." She thought for a minute "You wanna go to the beach or somethin?"
Stacey made a sound in conformation and steered the car in the direction of the beach. It was a nice night out, it was breezy and it was kinda cool for a night in Venice. It made her amped for tomorrows swell because she could already tell that the waves would be gnarly tomorrow. Stacey pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine. "You wanna sit on the hood, I don't feel like getting sand all over me right now"
Tovah climbed out of the vehicle and made her way on top of the hood "Stacey" she began "Is everything okay with you?"
The two teens were lying with there backs flush against the front window. Stacey looked over at Tovah seeing that she looked worried for him. "Tovah," he sighed "Everything is alright, relax and don't worry about me I have everything under control" He patted her left hand gently in reassurance "So who's going with you tomorrow? Any of the guys?"
She shook her head "No, just me and Peggy. But Peggy's Mom is taking her up and I'm going with Skip and the rest of that crew"
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"What?" she turned her head quickly to look at him "No. Dude, the drive to Huntington is like two hours I don't want to you to have to do that. Not for a dumb surfing competition"
"It's not dumb" he mumbled "I'm going, you need someone cheering you on, besides I don't have shit to do tomorrow anyway. It'll be cool to see you compete"
Tovah could feel her eyes getting wet, but quickly brushed it away. Not a single one of her friends had asked to come to support her. She knew getting to Huntington was a bitch but she hoped at least one of the guys would have volunteered. Stacey was always so nice to her, one moment that always stood out for her was when she first surfed The Cove.
She had to have just turned 15 and had been surfing for three years at that point. She'd heard of people surfing The Cove and she wanted to do it.
"Tovah are you sure you want to do this?" Stacey had been trying to talk her out of it all week
"Yes!" she practically shouted "I don't think it's fair the rest of you get to surf here, but I don't"
Stacey sighed loudly, peddling his bike faster to keep up with the girl's excited pace. It's not that he didn't think she couldn't do it, it was just so risky. He didn't want to see her get hurt, but she was too strong willed. The two made there way down to the shore where they saw Skip, Jay and Tony on the there.
"Girly what are you doing here?" Skip laughed "You know there's no surf bunnies at The Cove"
Tovah shot Skip a quick glare "I can surf The Cove, let me at least try."
"No." Skip was very firm about that. Surfing The Cove was dangerous, and the last thing he needed was this little 15 year-old girl dying on his watch. Jay and Tony snickered in the back, they had told her Skip would never let her surf The Cove.
Tovah huffed loudly and shoved her board in the sand. She knew she was a good surfer, she could surf circles around Tony, and sometimes even Jay. It just wasn't fair, just because she was a girl she wasn't allowed to surf here. She didn't care though, she was going out there she didn't care what anyone said. She quickly grabbed her board and zipped up her wetsuit, and rushed out into the ocean.
"Girl what the fuck you doing!" Skip yelled from the shore "You tryin' to get yourself killed?!"
Tovah ignored his shouting and the shouting from the other guys on the shore. She was going to show them she could surf The Cove, and when she proved herself they would never say anything ever again. She saw her chance and she took it, she rushed the wave so hard she lost her footing, and her board.
"Shit, shit shit!" it was Stacey he was paddling out to help her out "Tovah get on my board." He reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her up "Are you okay?"
Tovah stared blankly ahead of her into the boneyard "My board" she whispered "My Dad's board."
Stacey looked out and saw the board split in half bobbing around in the boneyard. He wrapped his arms around Tovah's shoulders pulling her head down so he could rest on his wet shoulder. "I'm so sorry Tovah" he whispered in her ear "I know how much that board meant to you."
Tovah couldn't do anything but sniffle pathetically on Stacey shoulder. Her Dad had given her that board before he went to San Francisco, it was the board she learned to ride on. Stacey paddled them back up to the shore and that's when it all began.
"What did I tell you girl" Skip said pointedly "No ladies can surf The Cove"
"Yeah nice one Tove, you totally fucking bailed out there." Jay laughed "We got your board for you though, not that it's anything more than junk at this point"
"Shut the fuck up!" Stacey yelled "As if your first ride on The Cove was any better."
Tovah couldn't believe Stacey had just yelled at Jay and Skip, and he even said the F-word.
"It's cool everyone." Tovah said "I was being cocky. I got what I deserved." She smiled "It's rough out there"
Tovah and Stacey had made there way back into the car and were on their way back to Tovah's house. The Allman Brothers were playing over the stereo, and the streets were empty and silent. Stacey turned off the engine when he reached Tovah's house, and clicked the buttons to unlock the car doors.
Got your hands full now baby, as soon as I hit that door. You'll have your hands full now woman, just as soon as I hit that door. You'll have your hands full now woman, just as soon as I hit that door. Well I'm gonna make it on up to you for all the things you should have had before.
"So see you tomorrow in Huntington?" Stacey said with a smile
"Mhmm." she mumbled "Thanks again for coming, it..." she paused "It means a lot to me that you're coming"
The two stared at each other for a while, just listening to the sounds quietly coming through the car stereo. Stacey gently reached his left hand forward, tenderly grabbing Tovah's cheek stroking the top of her cheek bone gently with his thumb. Tovah closed her eyes confused about why he was doing this, everything seemed to confusing lately, especially her guy friends. She felt Stacey's hand retreat quickly and he shoved that hand right into his pocket.
"Tomorrow?" he questioned nervously
"Tomorrow." She said with a nod and left the car