The two brothers lined up side by side amongst the other club members waiting for the starter. Muscles tensed momentarily and in an instant they were off moving down the beach towards the white breakers. The brothers were as different as can be, one a huge powerful man with short cropped blond hair the other well built but slight and having a curly mop of brown hair. There were other differences too as everyone who lived in Piper’s Point knew. The brothers porpoised through the surf, one confronting the ocean in a powerful surge and sending spray high in the air, the other lithe, graceful, and slicing through with barely a wake. Today the surf was pounding and the bigger man reached the green water behind the cascading surf first, while the pack behind struggled to pass through the white water. The pack settled into a rhythm as the giant man rounded the striped bouy then the second white buoy, he was well in front by several body lengths and began swimming back towards the beach. Many tried to catch a wave from the back of the pack but dropped off, however, a few at the front of the pack were more successful riding the wave and catching up to the big man. Five on the wave using the oceans power to race headlong towards the beach. Up, wading, running the five raced towards the beach turning flag, reaching it simultaneously, where the big man used all his weight to crush the bodies together so that only he remained upright then turned right and ran through the soft sand across the finishing line. The others scrambled to their feet and ran after him finishing seconds behind. Pete Smyth the surf club president strode over to congratulate his son Zach. Their two massive hulks dwarfing everyone else on the beach as their animated display of self delight became equally loud and jocular. Jason Smyth sat on the sand sucking deep breaths having been winded by the heavy fall, he reached out to shake the hands of the other guys around him and with that simple action epitomized the main difference between the two brothers more than words could ever tell.
Jason recovered quickly, taking his time as shook a few more hands, added a few short conversations about analyzing the surf conditions, and then walked up the beach towards the bright blue beach umbrella and the thin lipped whale of a woman underneath. His mother, however, continued watching her bull of a son through her dark shades and didn’t acknowledge Jason as he leaned down, picked up his things and made towards the clubhouse. Once there the cool shade rejuvenated his step and he passed through the member’s entrance and into the change rooms. A cool shower, a change out of his speedos into his bike pants and Jason was soon on his bike pushing his slim body up the incline and out towards the main road from Piper’s Beach to the highway. Jason was not a loner outside of his family, lack of acknowledgement from them was a common occurrence so there was little to be gained from fighting it. It was just something you learned to live with and in his eyes just the way it was.
As brothers Zach and Jason practically ignored each other these days. Despite being eighteen months younger, Jason, had always been too quick for Zach to chase, using his speed and smart comments to taunt and infuriate. Jason had his friends and Zach had his, polar opposites, and each kept away from the other. For Zach it was a learned response from his parents whilst for Jason it was a way to escape from his unhappy family situation. As little boys there were fights. Many, many fights not always won by the older brother. The heart … that was something else, if you cared you got really hurt and the ache wouldn’t go away. If no one cared well they couldn’t hurt you could they? So often defeated in body but never in spirit Jason eventually began keeping his distance from his bullying brother and uncaring parents. Thus the alienation from family had begun.
Jason pushed his bike hard and his body strained as he tried to absolve his thoughts and rid them from his mind. Punishing exercise was his way of ridding the negativity of his family from his mind. Many times he had wondered why he was born to this family. Why his mother was so cold towards him? Why his father doted on Zach as though he was an only child? Today, once again illustrated the gulf between his parent’s relationship with Zach and their relationship with him.
On his right the train traveling north came into view. Jason’s legs pumped like pistons as he tried to match the train for speed, but he was soon left behind well before it slowed down approaching the Maxton station. Riding his bike and leaving Piper’s Point behind, there was only the steady rhythm and familiarity with the pedals to occupy his mind almost as if it was his own mantra leaving his mind and spirit free.
