{w a v e} after wave [Frankel]

[Loony]

Lukas Cobia

The beach is a sacred place in District 4.

Our existence depends on it. Without these churning waters our district would be obsolete. We are controlled by nature, helpless against her cruel torment or thankful for her gentle waves. That's why I often find myself standing in front of her in awe. Gaze cast out onto the endless blue land, ensnared by her vastness. Walking along the beach is where I feel least connected to this world, to this cruel reality I'm living in.

My father made it clear today that he hated me. His words still echo, scolding me for failing to be interested in murder, for not volunteering for the latest Quarter Quell. He can be a ruthless man, filled with regret and odium. I try to avoid him to the best of my abilities, but that's not always possible. When he comes crashing in, still sweaty from a day out casting nets, I know it's never a good thing to be in our living room, to have to meet his gaze as he berates us for things we have no control over. Unlike my brothers, who absorb the blows and tunnel them into their training, I take them to heart.

Useless. Perhaps I am.
Stupid. Well that's not false.
Fuck-up. I still grin at that.

I suppose I should care. I know that there should be something within me that strives to redeem myself to him. A sliver of desire for recognition or acceptance. But I fail to find it. Because I’m done caring. I’ve stopped years ago, instead devoting myself to being an absolute dipshit. I suppose the hours I’ve spent on this beach would probably add up to a years worth of doing nothing. It must drive him insane, seeing me waste my days as my brothers push themselves for nothing but a few extra pound and a reassuring smile. Yet somehow I’m the one wasting my time.

So as I watch the waves crash into one another, I try not to think of my father nor my mother, purely focused on the sea out ahead of me. My fingers still burn from the days work of tying and untying nets, and the sun hangs precariously over the horizon. Though exhaustion courses through me, I’m filled with satisfaction in the fact that I get to spend another day here. I couldn’t list all the nights I’ve spent sleeping on this beach, towel spread cautiously above the tide, and smile etched upon my sleeping face.

I’m tempted to strip to my bathing suit and take a quick swim, but I hold back. Not just yet. I lay down the white towel against the pure sand and quickly sit. A nice breeze strokes the land, and I immediately forget everything that has pushed me to spend the night outdoors rather than at my home. I bask in the sunlight, catching the few rays that remain before the sunsets behind an invisible world.

A shadow crosses, blocking the light and causing a single eye to be opened.

A girl, with hair bleached blond by the sun, stands before me. She’s attractive, to say the least. I smile, before raising a sandy foot to nudge her ankle and call up to her “Hey, blondie, you’re blocking the sun.”

 

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

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Mina Knudsen

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How different the beach is, to where I was this morning. Cutting up fish really is not an ideal job for a girl like me. Firstly the smell, how anyone could possibly withstand that aroma, I do not understand. It sticks to you like flies to shit; it takes a lot to get rid of and is absolutely vile. Secondly the gore, guts of fish is really not a pretty sight. It took me months to hold back the vomit, which wanted to erupt from my stomach. I can cope with the blood and gore now, but at times I still gag. Mainly it is the head, those fish eyes glaring up at you, sinning you for chopping off its head. Finally the heat, how I love the warmth but when I am cutting up fish in a confined space, it really becomes my enemy. Sweaty fish and people, all crammed up into one tight space. It is terrible now, especially in the heart of summer.

Summer has its benefits however, a lot of them really. Every summer, the district is really in its spirits. Everyone is out of the house, after work they are outside, lapping up the gifts from the sun. Populating the whole beach, it was really the location for everyone, especially me. The beach is where I can relax, make friends and let all my energy out. Really the beach was a marvelous kingdom for adventure. There is always something different about it every day. Different people, different animals, the ocean acted differently and sometimes spat obscure objects onto the sea. It is also a great soft spot, for me to throw a few shapes.

Since I wasn’t like those stuck-up district 4 careers, I decided to put my physical ability to a different use, entertainment. Doing cart-wheels, hand stands, backflips, I am actually quite talented at them, which makes a change. Mainly my brothers cheer me on, they like to usher audiences to the beach, when I do my little performances. It is actually quite entertaining to do, all these people clapping my name; they sometimes throw cash at me too! I have decided this will be my career, not a fish chopper upper, a body shape thrower. I have no idea what it is called, but it is my own talent, so I can call it what I want.

So here I am, throwing my shapes again on the beach. Incredibly, it is pretty quiet than usual, although because it is later in the day. I have my bathing suit on, I can flex easier in it and I have planned to take a dip into the sea. The swimming suite is my black one, a full one with white dots splashed here and there along it. It quite comfortable, compared to those bikini ones, which sluts tend to wear.

I continue to do a few cart-wheels before spotting an ideal target on the beach, a guy who looks my age. I try to identify him, but his face is not recognisable, maybe I should go for a close look. Halting my tricks for now, I’d grab my beige towel, before heading over to the guy. Treading my bare feet across the warm soft sand, it was pretty soothing on my feet. Standing directly in front of the guy, before I could announce my arrival, he already spoke. “Well you’re obviously sat in the wrong place to get the sun.” Really Mina, you can say better than that.

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[Loony]

Lukas Cobia

It isn’t easy living in District 4. Sure we aren’t starving like in the lower districts, and sure we have a virtually endless supply of seafood, but life isn’t easy. Our hands smell of rotting fish, our shoulders ache from sunburn, our lips chap from the salty air. We struggle, just like the rest of Pamen.

It irritates me to no end that there are people in the district who do not struggle.

Those posh faces look down upon us like cats upon mice. And for a moment, I believe this girl above me to be one of those monsters. Her eyes are a brilliant blue, a stark contrast to her relatively pale face, and her smile is wide, revealing pearls that cover the seafloor.

She appears to be pristine, clearly from the richer part of the district, where they can afford to worry about appearances. But her hands are her give away, tinted red with blood of fish, a few stray scales remain, reflecting carefully the dying sun. She’s no aristocrat, nor is she foolish enough to think I might be one.

We are workers, this girl and I. Blue collars at heart.

She carries her towel under her arm, with her black bathing suit a stark contrast to her skin. She seems ready for a swim, exactly what I was planning to do.

Years of resting upon this beach have made me familiar with the people who hang out here. But I fail to place a name to her face. I can list the names of the stoners who smoke beneath the pier, the careers who throw crazy parties every Friday night, and the skimpy girls who hang off their arms. But I can’t find a name for this girl in front of me. The question is on my lips when she responds to my demand.

“Well you’re obviously sitting in the wrong place to get the sun.”

I smile. Blue collar indeed.

I move over giving her room to lay down her towel and join me upon this sandy landscape. I’m tempted to rest my head and allow myself to return to my serenity beneath the sun. But I find myself wanting to hear more from this girl with gold for hair.

I’ve never been much of a ladies man… not that there haven’t been opportunities. Girls have thrown themselves at me in the past, only to be rebuked time and time again. It is demeaning, I think, to want to whore yourself out based off appearances alone. I don’t find it attractive when a girl is so willing to allow her identity to be absorbed by a man.

So I suppose that is why I find this girls moxy to be refreshing. It’s different than all those girls who usually spend the evening here. And I want to get to know her better, even if it is just a friendship.

“You can take my spot then. I was about to go for a quick swim anyway. Why don’t you join me?”

I stand, brushing sand off the black and red stripped board shorts, and begin to walk towards the thundering waves. As I walk I call back to her, “What your name, blondie?”

 

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

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Mina Knudsen

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Prior to me arriving to the beach today, I had a typical morning at home. Sweet mother darling was ranting one of her lectures at me; of course I ignored every word. She thinks she has strings attached to me but I cut them a long time ago. She is very manipulative to dad and my brothers but fails with me. Today’s lecture topic was actually about me being at the beach…too often. She say’s I should focus more on getting the house tidy, not messing around with boys on the beach. I need a life mother; it is not like I don’t do anything and at least I work.

Fortunately enough for me, I was born in District 4, not the most wealthily but good enough. We have enough food on the table and commodities, we work for it and we get it. Despite the terrible smell of fish lingering everywhere, we’ve a great social life, a great economy; even though I hate them at least we can afford career training. We also have our very own Olympic park, how awesome is that?

I decided I would spend the night here; I couldn’t stand an evening with my mother. Fortunately enough for me, we had different shifts at work, I have no idea how I cope living and working with her. My brothers and father were out on the ship once the reaping was over, me being the only one eligible for the reaping, everyone was relieved when my name was not called. There could have been the possibility though, with the quell. I think we’ve three tributes this year, none of them I know.

Looking to the guy on the beach, his face would be unrecognisable. How had I not me this wonderfully handsome one before?

“You can take my spot then. I was about to go for a quick swim anyway. Why don’t you join me?”
So he wants me to sit and then suddenly asks me to swim…make your mind up. I’d lay out my towel across the sand, before replying to the guy.

“Yeah alright, I’ll go for a swim.”

Despite being on the beach for a while now, I hadn’t put one toe into the water, which makes a change. I enjoy the refreshing seawater and I couldn’t give up the chance of swimming with a vigorously handsome guy.

“What your name, blondie?” Oh great, how original was he, ‘blondie’ wow I hope he can do better.

“Ough! I not a typical dumb blonde!” I’d yell, as I run up behind him. “My name’s Mina and yours?” I’d carry on running past him, heading straight into the water.

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[Loony]

Lukas Cobia

“Ough! I not a typical dumb blonde!”

I smile as we approach the water, of course she isn’t. Its obvious to me that she is not the typical blondie who walks these beaches. But I do love getting under peoples skins. A personal habit of mine, one I suppose could lead me into trouble some day. Although I do know that she is not some kind of stereotype, I would like to get a better feel for the girl with bloodstained hands.

I think to perhaps question her about the stains, but her response to the blondie remark tells me she may not be willing to open up about it. Still, common deduction would lead me to say that she guts fish, just like the rest of the district.

We are hard workers. Not many districts are willing to get so intimate with animal carcasses, except District 10 of course. So I’m no pansy when it comes to gutting a fish, but it’s still a particularly demeaning job.

I wonder why a pretty girl like her would do it.

“My name’s Mina and yours?”

We continue our walk to the water, two platinum blondes against a darkening sky. The sun slowly plummets, dangerously close to the horizon now. It was clear that we have about half an hour left of sun, and suddenly I’m anxious to get in the water. My feet quicken as I respond nonchalantly to the blondie Mina.

”Lukas. Lukas Cobia.”

I turn around quickly walking backwards as I grab her hand and shake it with a grin on my face. It’s always brought me some kind of pleasure to make some one else uncomfortable, just enough to make them squirm slightly but never enough to cause outright disgust. I hope I know how to find a balance with this kind of girl. She isn’t the type to be squeamish, nor is she a tomboy who will do anything I would do.

She’s a balance between the two, and I’m gonna find out where her center of gravity lies.
And suddenly she’s racing past me leaving me to eat her sand as she races towards the water. I let out a gleeful laugh and push against the sand. I race to catch up, ending up in the water only seconds after her. After a few large steps, I jump up and dive into the incoming wave, letting it toss me around for a few seconds before planting my feet and standing up.

”Quiet the runner, aren’t you Mina?” I let out a laugh and dive back under feeling my way through the ocean until I’m right next to her. I jump up quickly, hopefully giving her a start, and say ”But I bet you aren’t as good of a swimmer.”

It’s a playful challenge, just a enough of a remark to make her want to prove me wrong. There’s a competitive spirit in this girl just waiting for the right challenge.

 

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

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Mina Knudsen

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Looking back at the guy as I sprint to the ocean, I’d capture his appearance. He looks a well maintained guy, he is probably a career. But he doesn’t seem much like one; maybe he is one of those careers who kept their morality. Although he likely to be one of those ship’s crew, or a rope boy. Either way, he is a beautiful guy.

”Lukas. Lukas Cobia.”

Such a nice name, unlike mine. Wilhelmina, what was my mother thinking? Most people can’t even pronounce it, let alone even spell it. I’ve been called Mina all my life, I don’t see why she gave me the other name in the first place. Although the abbreviation of the name has its own faults too. Mini… Mino…Minu…Nobody can get it right, they always forget it! It is only a four letter name, how is that forgettable?

“Great name Lukas!”

I’d call back at him, as I reach the water. Splashing my feet, as I run deeper into the ocean…it is freezing. My body literally nearly shuts down, with the sudden shock, but I fight it. Continuing to push my body through the white horses, I stop where it reaches my waist.

”Quite the runner, aren’t you Mina?” Capturing his laugh, I’d smile back at him, not daring to let out my own giggle. At times my laugh can be a typical high pitch girly chuckle. If I really fall into laughter, sometimes there is no noise, my body literally fitting silently… I’ve taught myself to grin, sometimes just let out a ha ha I can’t humiliate myself in front of this guy right now.

But I bet you aren’t as good of a swimmer.” What is he talking about? He has never seen me swim before, ha I am better than my brothers and they work on a ship! ”Ah you can bet I am!” Splashing him as he entered the sea, my competitive side would begin to shine through.

At home I used to always challenge my brothers, being a girl predictably I had no chance, but all my brothers were dull. Literally they all acted the same, mirror images of each other. The cool, chilled out relaxed type, forever ‘looking out for me.’ But they were much fun to be around, I knew at times they let me win the races, arm wrestles and spitting games but I still love them.

Pointing over to a bed of rocks, not too far away from where we are. ”I’ll race you to that rock bed.” Before we could have a fair start, I’d push off into a swim.

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