A memory of a holiday in Kaiteriteri made into fiction but all of it is real apart from the characters - they were actually me and my mother.
Sounds of waves rolling and shouts of children playing fill my ears as I push the kyak out into the sea. Sarah sitting on it trying to balance as the small waves struck. Releasing my from the wet, mud- like sand I hoist myself onto the back just in time to see a jellyfish the size of my fist slowly bob past. I recoil at the new sight, Sarah smirks. ‘Don’t worry they’re not the stinging type’, she says.
As we get further out the jellyfish get bigger but less frequent. Occasionally we would see one that had been ripped to shreds by a passing fishing boat – floating life-lessly through the ocean like a plastic bag. Once we’d got round the point Sarah handed me the paddle and I slowly made my way towards the small bay. When we had gotten closer Sarah let out a gasp at the sight. A small golden beach speckled with tiny pale shells. A thin dirt path leading into thick native bush. As we landed we heard a tui chirp its greeting. I looked at Sarah, pleading with my eyes to go up the mysterious path. ‘Maybe another day’ she replied, ‘anyway mum and dad will be expecting us home soon’. I sighed as I took one last look at the magical place we had found then set off towards the kayak.
After a long awaited weekend visitation caused by false allegations of sexual abuse, Glen got to see his children for the first time in over two months. He promised them that they would never be apart again and then they disappeared.
