Hawaii Five O

            An extremely high-pitched noise erupts in my head. My eyes open to see cracks of light coming through the blinds three feet from me. I attempt to move my legs, but it feels like something has crusted over my muscles, making it almost impossible to move. I finally manage to urge my body from the warm cave out into the cold dark room.

            "Come on, it's so simple. Don't worry, new guy, you'll start to understand." Comments from my new boss circle around me. Why was starting a new job so hard? Wasn't my entire life's education preparing me for this? I was recently hired for a job in Hawaii designing new surfboards, skim boards, and other water sports equipment. My career was going perfectly. I had just designed a new fabric for surfing shirts that traps body heat to help tolerate cold conditions. It was the primary reason I was able to get this job in Hawaii. I look out from the shower to see that the mirrors are completely covered in a cloud of moisture. I turn the tap and the flow of warm, comforting water ceases.

            After getting my master's degree in engineering, I moved to Hawaii for work. I try to get in to work early so that I can spend my afternoons and evenings surfing and skim boarding. Once I get through my long morning at work, I get in my dark blue Jeep Wrangler and head out to the beach. I stop at a small seafood restaurant near the beach to eat a light lunch. When I finish, I waste no time and go straight to the ocean.

            I dig my toes into the soft, hot sand. The beach is mostly deserted. I appreciate the peace. The cooling wind coming in with the ocean waves provides relief from the intense sun. In the distance one of my friends, Brendan, falls from his surfboard into the clear, salty water. He was one of my friends in high school and he moved to Honolulu recently. We first spoke again at Waikiki Beach, where I first learned to surf at the young age of thirteen. I returned there to practice surfing on calmer waves. Brendan had moved here a few months before me but he didn't have the spare time to learn to surf before we met again. It didn't take long for us to get sick of the crowds of tourists and vendors, and we became determined to find a new beach that better suited us.

            I slowly wade into the cool water at our new beach before lying on my board. I paddle out towards Brendan until we are equal distance from the beach. He waves and we exchange a friendly greeting before he continues his surfing. I turn my head and see a large wave approaching from thirty feet away. Adrenaline rushes through my bloodstream. I begin paddling, periodically checking over my shoulder to mark the wave's progression. I stand up quickly, on instinct, not thinking. I grin as I feel the power of the wave accelerate me. I turn back into the wave after a few seconds and catch a little air before my board falls away from beneath me and I crash into the water. I continue for the afternoon, maintaining a positive attitude, and leave shortly before five p.m. to have dinner with my fiancée.

            I open the front door and kick off my shoes. I walk peacefully to Sadie's crate and open the door to grant her freedom. She takes a small step out and stretches. We head into the backyard. I turn the switch and smell a small amount of gas escape the barbeque. I push down on the button to ignite the gas. I gaze at the horizon while I wait for it to heat up. The rhythmic sound of the waves crashing on the sand soothes me. I toss a ball for Sadie to run after. Her excitement starts to influence me and I throw the ball into the waves. Without hesitation, she dives into the water to rescue it. My fiancée begins making the salad as soon as she arrives home.

            Within half an hour we have the table set and we are ready to eat. The steaks are grilled to perfection and sit on a large plate at the centre of the table. Sadie watches us patiently. I give my fiancé a quick smile and pick up some of the bread beside me. Sadie commences to eat her food. We have a quiet meal, talking about our days, occasionally stopping to enjoy the beach in the background. After we have both finished, I help her clean off the table before I go out with Sadie for our evening run.

            The cool breeze and smell of salt water constantly refresh my face. I look west to see the large orange sun being swallowed by the dark ocean. I look down and see Sadie's tired face looking back at me. We have been jogging for an hour, and her tongue is almost scraping the sand below. I can tell she is tired, so I slow down. I pass by the skim boarding place on the beach built by a friend and me a few weeks ago. It was many hours of effort to get the water to flow perfectly, but it was worth it. Sadie begins to pull me forward towards my house, which is emerging into view.

            The pencil softly scrapes against the paper to produce a light layer of graphite. The curve meets perfectly with the end of the fin. My fiancée interrupts my concentration with an exhausted attempt at a good night. I mumble back something that sounds similar to a good night greeting, and go back to drawing the surfboard. I have been working on it in my spare time for a few weeks now. I am so close to finishing the design that I can barely hold the pencil steadily enough to write down the last angle. Finally I am done. I become eager for the next day to bring it to work where it will hopefully be approved for testing. I put it in my briefcase and drag my feet up the steps. Exhaustion overwhelms me suddenly, the small amounts of energy I have left vanish. I somehow find the strength to pick up my toothbrush and brush my teeth. I crawl under the welcoming covers and relax.

            "Honey, you left the bathroom light on."

I moan and try to ignore her.

            "Greg, turn off the light."

            I knew I wasn't going to win the argument so I roll out of bed, my feet once again on the floor. I shuffle towards the bathroom, thrust my hand down on the switch, and fly back into bed. A comforting and restoring sleep embraces me.