Chapter 14: giving up?
Lynden Makes a Change
"Was the water cold, Lynda?" Mrs Keaton asked with a smile.
I must have been hyped up or something because I responded with, "Yes, it sure was and that was more incentive for me to stay on the board."
"You were getting better, weren't you?"
"Oh, yeah, a couple more sessions and I'll be better than Randolph."
"In your dreams, Lynda," Randolph put in with an amused smirk.
"Don't be too confident, Randolph," Mr Keaton observed with a smile, "Lynda seemed to be coming along pretty quickly."
"Nah, she won't live long enough to catch up to me," Randolph declared and we all started to laugh.
As I was hanging my wet swimsuit over the rail out the front (as told) I had a sudden thought, What was I doing? I was acting as though this was normal. Stuff it, these people were my enemies. I had to find some ways of letting them know that they were wrong, that they shouldn't be making me dress-up like this.
But, but, but . . . I wanted to go paddle boarding again, I wanted to . . . and . . .and . . .
Oh hell, did it matter? Did it really? If I started trying to show them how pissed off I was, what would happen? I don't know, I don't bloody know.
I went in and sat on my bed. This was hopeless, I was floundering. Whatever I did to try to get at them would just be stupid. I kept feeling that somehow I would end up being the loser.
Okay, back to my earlier decision, just put up with it.
I hadn't closed the door of my room and now I heard, "Lynda dear, lunch is ready."
I went out. Gosh, these people seemed to eat well, the food was always delicious.
"Lynda, do you like fishing?"
"Er, I've never done it, Mr Keaton."
"Well, if you want to try it, we'll have a go later this afternoon."
"Dad's really lucky at fishing, Lynda."
"Ha, luck's got nothing to do with it, it's pure skill."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, so you say," Randolph retorted with a derisive laugh.
"We'll see then," Mr Keaton responded with a smug smile.
"Whatta you say, Lynda, we show him how it's done later?"
What could I do? "Sure," I answered smiling at their antics.