Page 45 of Summer, in Between
‘But you’re a local!Haven’t you ever had a crack?’
‘At the risk of offending present company, not that I give a rat’s how offended you are, in a place like this, surfing is the most sexist of pastimes of all the sexist pastimes,’ I say.‘I’m completely uninterested in being objectified while trying not to die off the reef.’
‘Sexist?That’s bull,’ says Paul.‘The surfer with the most world titles is a woman.’
‘Yeah, but she has balls, so it doesn’t really count,’ says Ant.
‘Grazie mille, Antonio.That’s what we call “Exhibit A”.’
‘You’re a dick, Scampo,’ says Paul.‘Come on, plenty of girls surf.’
‘Whatever.’
‘Seriously?That’s not an argument,’ says Paul.
‘Do you really think I’m going to waste my energy arguing with white crayons like you?’
‘White crayons?Ahh, because we’re useless, I get it.Come on, Cat, we’re just getting started.’
‘Give me that magazine,’ I say.‘This is the highest selling surfing magazine in the country, isn’t it?Let’s look inside, shall we?Let’s see how women are represented.’
I flick through the pages.He doesn’t need to know that I spent an hour last night looking at that magazine for my issues assignment.He’s almost stroking it like a pet.
‘Ooh, look, we’re twelve pages in, no women.Hmmm.Interesting.Let’s flick the page.Oh look, here’s a woman, oh wait, it’s a woman’s knees.Charming.What else do we have?Oh, this is a new angle, an ad for a travel company.“The ultimate wedding gift.”Here’s a woman, sipping a cocktail all alone on her honeymoon, watching her beloved surf.How romantic.’
‘Yeah, yeah.’Paul’s shifted in his seat to pass Tommy some chips, and his thigh leans against mine.I do my best to ignore it.
‘Hang on, I’m sure there’s more.’I keep flicking to find the article.‘Here we go – a woman at the forefront of professional surfing, dating another professional surfer, and his perception of her.They haven’t even asked for her opinion.That’s equality right there.’I flick a few more pages and clap my hands with glee.‘Boom!’There’s a beach, the water blurred, and the focus of the image is a muscular woman covered in oil, wearing dental floss where her bikini should be.Maybe I’d be more inclined to give it a try if I thought I wouldn’t be objectified like this.’
‘You think too much.’Paul puts the magazine back on the shelf.
‘And you don’t think enough.I hope you have seven daughters just to give you a smidge of karmic retribution.’
‘Careful what you wish for, Cat.’He winks at me.
‘Wait, what?No, not me!’
‘Wow, way to make the dad of your seven daughters feel good.Thanks a lot.’He stands, pushing his chair back into place.‘Are you coming to Miller or not?’
‘Such a charming invitation, how could I refuse?I’ll meet you there.’
‘Okay, see you soon.Matty, let’s go get your gear.’They walk to the door, Matty with a skip in his step to keep up.
‘What about me?’says Tommy.
‘You can walk with me,’ I say as we follow Paul and Matty.
‘I don’t want to walk with you,’ he whines.‘I want to go with Paul.’
‘Well, I don’t want to walk with you either.Just for that, you can go with Paul, and then you can stay home, ungrateful little shithead.Matty, make sure you ask Mum or Dad – don’t just disappear, and make sure you put on your seatbelt.And listen to Paul.’He flips his middle finger at me.
As we leave Sadie’s, I tug Paul’s wrist.The two boys continue ahead on route to Paul’s car.
‘Paul, wait.Matty’s not as good a swimmer as he thinks he is,’ I say.‘This is a really bad idea.’
‘Cat, he’ll have a ball.I’ll be on him,’ says Paul as he puts his hand on my shoulder.
‘He’d better be.If he’s not, Nonna will make you intopassata.’
