Stories by Merlin Cadogan
Merlin has written 11 short stories for children about surfing and is currently looking for a publisher.
Each story is about a different surfboard that Tim's dad, Pete, has in his boardrack.
The stories teach kids safety in the sea, surfing etiquette and morals for life.
- Below is an extract of one of his stories.
Tim Saves The Day
Tim had been surfing on his dad’s Malibu board for most of the day. He found it hard to turn the big board at first, but now, after nearly three hours of solid surfing, he was getting the hang of it.
The surfboard was just over nine feet (two metres) long, more than twice the height of Tim.
His dad had carried the board down to the waters edge at eight thirty and now, at eleven thirty, the tide was nearly all the way in.
Tim paddled for a wave. I say wave, but in truth it was more a ripple. Tim had realised one of the great advantages of long boarding; the bigger the board the easier it is to catch waves.
On his dad’s Malibu board two or three strokes and he was flying along; he could catch almost any wave, no matter how small and ride it further, because the wave pushed the board along, even when the wave had broken.
Tim paddled for the wave, popped to his feet and trimmed the board along the wave. He cruised along the wave and, trying to copy his dad’s style of surfing, he put one foot in front of the other trying to cross step down the board. Tim promptly fell off the board and popped up next to it, laughing.
When the next wave came, Tim paddled into it and, without standing up, rode the white water to the beach.
He wasn’t far from the lifeguard but now the tide was nearly full. It still took him ages to drag the board up the beach.
Tim put the Malibu board in the shade next to the hut and, turning round, saw his dad.
"I saw you catch more waves today Tim than in a whole week of short boarding!" smiled Pete.
"I really like long boarding dad. You can catch waves that are super small."
"Yes", agreed Pete. "But when the waves get big. I mean really big. (Pete pointed to the roof of the lifeguard hut to show Tim how big he meant) you can catch them on a long board nice and early, so you’re up and riding along the wave without having to make a late take-off."
"How to do you that walking down the board thing dad?" asked Tim.
"Cross stepping is what you mean son, and you do it like this."
Pete stood as if he was surfing and then put his back foot in front of his front foot, with the instep facing towards the nose of the board. Then he put his other foot in front and repeated the move again.
Tim watched his dad’s feet and had a try himself.
"Watch dad." shouted Tim, and started cross stepping down the beach.
"Good Tim. Try it on the wall by the café now. If you can make if all the way around the café I will buy you an ice-cream."
"We get them free from mum anyway." laughed Tim, but he ran over to the low wall and started practising.
After a few falls, he made it.
"Good son. Now try cross stepping backwards as if you were walking back down the board."
Pete laughed as Tim fell off the wall again and again.
"It’s so hard going backwards, I will never be able to do it!" groaned Tim.
"Slowly, slowly my boy. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take a break and try again later!"
Tim went and had some lunch in the café. It took ages to get his lunch from his mum, Mary. There were loads of tourists visiting the beach today and, when she finally got around to Tim, she looked tired.
"Hey mum, guess what? I’ve learnt to cross step!" said Tim proudly.
"That’s great darling. Listen Tim; the girl who helps out on Sundays couldn’t come today. Can you help me with the washing up later please?"
Tim looked at his mum.
"I’ve got someone from the tourist board coming to do a write-up about the beach today and I want the place to be clean and tidy." finished Mary.
Tim frowned. "Can I do the dishes in a couple of hours when the tide’s gone out a bit, please mum?"
Mary laughed out loud. "You sound just like your father Tim. Of course you can. It’s twelve thirty now, be back by three please. They said that they would be here around four o’clock."
"Cool! Thanks mum. Do you want a hand with the people now?"
"No, you’re a good lad. Off you go but don’t be late!" waved Mary, as Tim ran back to the Malibu board.
Tim didn’t have so far to drag the board now the tide was fully in. It was a spring tide, which meant that the water was as high as it ever got. There was only a thin strip of beach showing. It was difficult to see the sand because there were so many families on the beach!
Tim dodged through the crowds and, reaching the waters edge, stopped and put his leash on.
He paddled out in the rip current so that he didn’t have to go through the waves and, looking at the rocks, he marvelled at how fast they were whizzing by.
He paddled across the rip current towards the line-up of other surfers and sat waiting his turn.
Tim had been surfing for what seemed like twenty minutes but it was in fact an hour, when he heard three blasts of a whistle on the beach.
It was a lifeguard signal. One blast was to attract people’s attention. Two blasts were to attract other lifeguards’ attention and three blasts meant lifeguard taking action.
Tim looked around but couldn’t see anyone in trouble. He watched the lifeguard hut and saw the lifeguards running towards the cliff.
Someone had fallen from the top of the cliff and the lifeguards were running to help. Going into their E.A.P. – Emergency Action Plan.
Tim knew what to do in the case of a cliff fall. His dad had made him learn First Aid, C.P.R. and rescue techniques before he was allowed to go surfing without his dad.
Tim also knew that it wouldn’t help to rush over. A crowd of people had already gathered to look at the injured person.
Most of the other surfers paddled in to go and watch, so Tim took advantage of the empty line-up and started surfing on all the waves he could catch.
Tim glanced down at his watch and saw with horror that it was already two forty-five. He’d better hurry up or he would be late!
Tim turned to look for a wave to catch to the beach, but there were none coming. In the distance, near the edge of the rocks, Tim thought he saw a shape waving. He carried on watching and felt more certain that there was someone in trouble.
Tim looked back towards the beach; everyone was still crowded around the bottom of the cliff. There was an ambulance there now as well.
Looking back to the shape, he decided he would have to paddle over and check it out.
The Malibu board sped through the water as Tim paddled it into the rip current and out towards where he thought he saw the shape.
As he got nearer he could see it was a boy, frantically swimming against the rip current.
Tim had never done a rescue in real life, but his dad had made him rescue him before and the first time he had pulled Tim off his surfboard when he got close enough and dunked him under water.
"Remember son." his dad had said. "Keep your distance unless you want to be a casualty too!"
Tim stopped five metres away from the boy.
"Help! Help!" shouted the boy. "I’m drowning!"
"Are you on your own?" called Tim.
"Help me! Help me please!" shouted the boy, panicking.
"Ok. Ok, but first tell me, are you on your own?"
"Yes, I am on my own. Please help me. I’m so tired I can’t swim properly."
"Ok, just climb onto my surfboard and lie face down. Relax, we’re going to be fine."
The boy climbed onto the Malibu board whilst Tim held the board steady in the water.
"What’s your name?" asked Tim.
"Rupert. What’s yours?"
"Tim. Now listen Rupert, open your legs a bit and slide forward. I’m going to climb on and lie behind you and paddle us in."
After a bit of a struggle, Tim was ready to start paddling.
The current had taken them further out than Tim had ever been before and looking towards the beach, Tim felt the first icy fingers of fear creeping down his back.
"Try and paddle in time with me Rupert." called Tim, trying to sound calm.
"But we’re going the wrong way." shouted Rupert.
"No, we have to get out of this strong current before we can start going back in. Now paddle with me." ordered Tim, feeling a bit more confident.
Rupert and Tim paddled for ages. They were making slow progress.
"I can’t paddle any more", cried Rupert. "We’re going to die."
"No, we’re not. I always surf around here," said Tim reassuringly. "Just stay calm and keep paddling. Soon we’ll be able to catch a wave towards the beach."
Another fifteen minutes passed and Rupert started to cry.
"I don’t think we’re any nearer to the beach."
"Yes we are," replied Tim. "I’ve been taking a mark from the cliff and we’re miles nearer to the beach."
Eventually they were close enough to catch a wave to the beach.
"Rupert, we’ve almost made it. Now listen. Hold onto the edge of the surfboard as hard as you can. We’re going to surf a wave in. When you feel the wave take the board, lift you head and shoulders up and arch your back. Ok?" asked Tim.
"Ok." replied Rupert.
Tim looked over his shoulder and, seeing a wave, started to paddle hard. The wave caught the board Rupert and Tim shot towards the beach. The two boys got washed up on the beach and the board tipped over. Standing up, Rupert began to cry again.
"It’s ok Rupert, we’re safe now. Sit down over here. Did you breathe in any waters?"
"No." replied Rupert, sitting down.
"Ok, now come with me. Let’s go to the lifeguard hut and see my dad."
Tim helped Rupert up the beach and, seeing his dad walk into the café, Tim called out.
Pete came running over. "Hi Tim, who’s your friend?"
"Dad, he nearly drowned. I had to rescue him while you were dealing with the cliff rescue. We were all the way out past the cliff."
Pete looked at his son. "Great job Tim, I will talk to you later. Rupert, come with me to the lifeguard hut and we will get your parents and sort you out."
Pete turned to look back at his son. "Tim go and eat a Mars Bar and have a cup of tea, you look fit to drop."
Pete put his arm around Rupert and led him towards the lifeguard hut.
Tim started walking towards the café. Suddenly he felt very tired and hungry.
Tim walked in through the café door and saw his mum busy behind the counter.
"Where have you been, Tim? You are an hour and a half late. Look at the tables piled high with rubbish. What a mess. Thanks Tim. The one thing I ask you to do and you can’t even be bothered to do it."
"But mum..."
"No Tim, just start cleaning up this mess."
Tim started to clear the rubbish off the tables and take the dirty plates into the kitchen. He knew it was pointless trying to tell his mum what had happened; she wouldn’t listen.
A man and lady entered the café and walked over to the counter.
"Sorry, we are closed," Mary called to them from the kitchen.
"Yes, we thought you were", the man replied. "We’re from the tourist board. We just wanted to say that we liked the beach but that the café wasn’t quite up to standard."
"Oh!" replied Mary, "I’ve had a member of staff away today on important business."
"We will be back next year. If things are better we will recommend you for the..." but the man never finished his sentence. Rupert ran over to him and threw his arms around his dad’s neck.
"No now Rupert!" scolded the man, but looking into his son’s face he saw something was wrong, "What’s happened? Are you ok?"
Rupert told his dad how he had been swept out to sea and how Tim had saved him on his surfboard. As the story was told, Mary came over to Tim and gave him a hug.
"Sorry for shouting at you," she whispered into Tim’s ear.
Tim began to cry and gave his mum a hug.
"It’s ok dear. It’s ok," soothed Mary, "It doesn’t matter. You did the right thing. Your father and I are proud of you."
"I’m sorry about the café mum. I’m sorry," sobbed Tim.
"It’s ok dear, it doesn’t matter,", smiled Mary, drying Tim’s eyes.
Pete walked into the café and over to Tim.
"You did a very brave thing today Tim. Well done," congratulated Pete as he swung Tim into the air. "Look, I’m very grateful for what you have done young man and as far as the café goes, I am glad you were rescuing my son and not here. I will definitely be recommending the café and beach go into the tourist guide."
Tim looked at his mum, who was smiling down at him and smiled back.
"Also Tim, I would like to give you a small token of appreciation." and with that, Rupert’s dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a ten pound note and offered it to Tim. Tim looked at Pete, who smiling nodded back to him.
"Go ahead Tim, take it. After all, you did save the day."