The Practical Navigator (35 page)
Read The Practical Navigator Online
Authors: Stephen Metcalfe
“It's beautiful,” says Jamie, cradling it to his chest.
“You want to try it out?”
“Today.”
“I've got to put a leash on it first. And we need to get you a wet suit.”
“Today.”
“Yeah, okay. Today.”
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
Michael is backing out of the drive, the board in the back of the pickup, jury-rigged with bungee cord, when Jamie leans out the passenger window and calls to Penelope, who stands in the driveway watching them depart.
“Nana? You will be here.”
It is both a question and a statement.
“Well, of course, my darling,” calls Penelope Hodge. “Where else would I be?”
This departure could suddenly take a while and Michael quickly shifts into drive, with the hopes it won't. He gets a good ten yards.
“Go back! Dad, go back, go back!”
Penelope, puzzled now, watches as the truck reverses back to the driveway. Jamie pops out the window again.
“Nana!”
“Yes, dove?”
“Even when we're not here, we love you!”
Stop it, Penelope says to herself. Only silly old women choke up and weep for no good reason. “Over the rainbow, darling. Over the rainbow you go.”
“Back soon,” calls Michael. And then they're off and running.
“It's going to be a splendid evening,” Penelope whispers. What did an old teaching colleague of hers call it, the moment when the sun hits the horizon? Alchemy hour. A time to turn base metals to gold.
Phoo.
Who needs gold when we have each other?
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
The waves at Tourmaline are small but they're enough. Michael is out in the water with Jamie. They both wear new wet suits. Body Glove. They've been out for a while. Paddling, getting used to the board, getting up and falling down, Michael doing most of the work.
“Okay, now rememberâpush down with your arms, when the board drops, the feet jump up.”
“Okay,” says Jamie, determined. Michael, already knowing that the strength and balance aren't there. With time perhaps, but not today.
“You ready? Last wave of the day.”
“O-
kay
!”
Michael turns. A small wave is forming, moving toward them. “Here it comes.”
“I'm ready!”
Michael gently pushes the board and the wave takes it. “Okay,” he calls out. “Now jump and stand! You can do it! Stand, Jamie! Stand up!”
Jamie struggles slowly to his feet, left foot toward the backâgoofy foot. He wavers on the slow-moving board, struggling for balance. At any moment, Michael knows, he will bail and fall. But there is always next time.
“I'm surfing! Dad, I'm surfing!”
Jamie's voice is loud and clear like the call of a singularly beautiful bird. He stands, steady now, his arms out, his feet splayed widely. He's doing it, thinks Michael.
He's doing it.
“Good, Jamie, that's good! Just like that!”
He's doing it.
“Yes, Jamie! Yes!”
You're doing it.
“I'm surfing! Dad! I'm surfing, Dad!”
Michael whoops and screams and slaps the water. He watches his son ride toward the beach. The voice is getting fainter and farther away but is still clear.
“I'm surfing! I'm surfing, Dad! I'm surfing!”
As Michael starts in toward shore, behind him the horizon flashes green.
Â
ALSO BY
STEPHEN METCALFE
Â
STEPHEN METCALFE
is the author of
The Tragic Age
. He wrote the screenplays for
Jacknife
(starring Robert De Niro and Ed Harris) and
Cousins
(starring Ted Danson and Isabella Rossellini). He also wrote production drafts for
Pretty Woman, Arachnophobia,
and
Mr. Holland's Opus
, among others. His stage plays have been produced in New York and at theaters throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. He is an associate artist at The Old Globe theater in San Diego and has been an adjunct professor in dramatic writing at the University of California at San Diego, the University of San Diego, and San Diego State University. Visit him online at
www.stephenmetcalfe.net
. Or sign up for email updates
here
.
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CONTENTS
Â
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR.
Copyright © 2016 by Stephen Metcalfe. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Cover photographs: Los Angeles © UbiMa Xx, France / Getty Images; pattern © Ivankov / Shutterstock
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Metcalfe, Steve, author.
Title: The practical navigator / Stephen Metcalfe.
Description: First Edition. | New York: St. Martin's Press, 2016.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016003176 | ISBN 9781250075321 (hardback) | ISBN 9781466886834 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Domestic fiction. | BISAC: FICTION / Family Life. | FICTION / General.
Classification: LCC PS3563.E833 P73 2016 | DDC 813/.54âdc23
LC record available at
http://lccn.loc.gov/2016003176
e-ISBN 9781466886834
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at
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First Edition: August 2016
