July 1967 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School MaEazine

July, 7967

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

July,1967

the other surfers paddling for the preceding ways-1hs one before the big one! Fred watched them paddle past, sav/ them stand up readv for the drop, then they disappeared from his view . . . ^he was the only one left out there. He turned out to sea and his mouth opened wide in disbelief as he saw the huge fifteen footer! It only took a second as his mind argued with hii body as to whether or not he should take it, but this was going to be his vrave of the day, He'd show them! For the next five seconds Fred didn't think much, just con- centrated on paddling for the wave. He felt it pick up the back of his board, then he was moving with the wave. He looked over the front. Crikey, it was a long way down but he'd do it. As he.got to his feet ready to drop to the bottom of the turn, the vrave hit a banlc and the wall was vertical. Imagining his board pearling all the v/ay to the bottom he panicked and ried to turn at the top. That was itl After his tail had spun out and his body_ was f{ee-falling dangerously to the 1eft, he thought, they are doing this to me, making me nervousl Now Fred was exhausted, and irritable. The paddle back to the beach_ y4s grim because his friends had been- watching and they'd probably heckle him for bungling that wave. As he tied his board to the racks his mates made funny remarks about his final wipe our, but he didn't despise them for this. He knew his mates felt sorry for him becauie they were older than Fred and knew that they only got guys Fred's age. Fred decided on an early night and uroke up feeling better and drove out early to check out rhe surf, He-felt elaied but as soon as he hit the water he knew nothing had changed . Tbey made him too nervous to ride propedy-he kept wiping out. He was_in a.nasty mood by now, so he drove to his girl's place, thinking maybe she could cheer him up. But alasl All she wanted to talk about was what he thought she should do if they got him. He decided to go out for a while, it being Saturday night, but then a terrible thought hit him. Perhaps it had arrived. If it had arrived then they would get him. One thing was certain, lf it didn't come today, then he vras safe. As he got ready to go out he was on a fazors edge but when he closed the door behind him, he could have jumped for joy. His parents had said nothingl It hadn't come and they wouldn't get him. Saturday night Fred Nurk was on top of the world, he knew he would be all right now. Sunday was beautifully clear

with a light south-wester and the waves still rolling in the same- if possible a little larger. He suded a71 day, coming through with some,great.rides. It seemed he couldn't do a thing v/rong. He told himself it was because he knew that tbey waien't gdirrg to get him. Fred drove hime, happy {or the first time in a long while. He felt as if he had been released from a great .worry, Aft.r dinner he sat in his big chair ready for a night of television. Sud- denly his father was standing in front of him. "This came in the mail Saturday, but forgor to give it to you, Fred," he said. Fred's heart missed a beat as the white envelope fell into his clammy hands. He opened it praying, hop- ing, tfat this wasn't lt. But as soon as he looked he knew that this was the end of his surfing days. They had got him. He knew it as he read the first line. "In the recent ballot for Compulsory National Service your name has been chosen. Please report . . . ." -"PRAY FOR SURF", VlB, Gibson House.

GUSTAVSON, I I IA.

-ANTOINETTE

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