Chapter Three - Swim with Sharks?

“Hello? Hello?  Earth to Casey?”  I felt my foot being kicked, the coolness of shade on my face.  I opened my eyes to see Phoebe standing over my chair. “Wake up! I’m sweating and need to go in and I don’t want to go alone.”

            “Afraid a shark might get you?”  I asked with all seriousness. “They’ve been spotted by some fisherman. Did you hear the reports?”

            “Why are you telling me that? Now I’m not going in!” Phoebe whined, stomping back to her blanket and pouting. She was deathly afraid of sharks, so of course I would mention them just to make her crazy. 

            “I’m only kidding, you idiot.”  Hey, if she could call me one, I could do the same. Besides, we used it as a term of endearment. “Anyway, the sharks would go after the smaller kids before us. Tastier and easier to swallow.” I gave her my most sincere and matter-of-fact look, and she wrinkled her nose at me and probably cursed me under her breath. I may have missed that part.  “Yes, I’ll go in with you. C’mon.”  I pulled myself out of my sand chair with poise, as it takes some practice to get to a standing position from the chair that low without tipping the chair or falling on your butt...

© 2015 Susan Kotch All Rights Reserved

Find out more from Casey @caseyofthecove

Hibernian Publishing

Chapter Two - Base Camp

                    The sun was high in the sky.  Phoebe and I decided to take a break from boogie-boarding and get to work on that coveted base tan. The sooner I had it, the sooner I’d be able to get into the one-piece and show the world my killer boarding moves. Plus, I know Phoebe would rest easier knowing that I wouldn’t be locked up for indecent exposure.

                At our base camp (also known as our spot on the beach), Phoebe enjoyed laying out on a towel, but I preferred sitting up in my sand chair. Their low-to-the-ground profiles allowed your legs to stretch out, and the reclining back allowed you to get maximum UV ray damage.  But I wasn’t worried about that. I always sunscreened. Besides, I certainly didn’t want to get wrinkled before my time.  Plus, I like  to read on the beach. You just can’t do that comfortably while laying on a towel. It’s too awkward. The chair also afforded me the luxury to scope out and keep an eye on the lifeguard stand where Mr. Hottie was stationed. I liked to watch the steady stream of girls approach the stand in an attempt to get his attention. Like the string bikinis they wore weren’t going to do that anyway...

© 2015 Susan Kotch All Rights Reserved

Hibernian Publishing

Chapter One Excerpt

I emerged from the surf with my hair clumped and strewn over my face, spitting a salt water stream from my mouth as snot ran from my nose. My bikini top had settled up under my chin.  My bottoms were filled with sand and broken shells.  Very attractive.  The perils of a boogie boarder.

            “Did you see that? Did you see that ride?” I spit as I screamed over to my friend Phoebe who was still floating out in the water. She wasn't able to catch that monster wave that just made me swallow half the surf and probably a jellyfish or two.  “Phoebes! I am still the champion!”  I saw her doing some odd hand movements over her neck and stomach which I couldn't quite decipher. Looked like she was having some type of seizure. Finally, after making my way out closer to her, I heard her.

            “Pull down your bathing suit top, you idiot! Didn't you hear me yelling to you?”

            Now I knew what she was doing.

            “It’s all the way up to your neck, Casey! Didn't you see people looking at you?” She continued to scream at me, half laughing, half scolding, as I ducked under the water to readjust the suit and put the girls back into hiding. That’s the problem with boogie boarding in a two-piece suit. It can get messy.  But it was the first day of the summer season, and no one wears a one-piece at the beach until the desired base-tan is achieved. Then, and only then, do you get down to business in a practical one-piece.

See what Casey is up to - look for more every day...from Hibernian Publishing.

© 2015 Susan Kotch All Rights Reserved

Casey of the Cove is a blog dedicated to Casey Whitman, the main character of the YA novel, Casey of Cranberry Cove.

Please come back often to read about Casey; her thoughts, aspirations, and her feelings.

Casey of Cranberry Cove will be released this June.

Please visit Casey @caseyofthecove