Leo Spencer was fourteen years two months and a few days old when it happened. It happened during the night, at 4.15 AM precisely. But Leo was fast asleep at the time, dreaming he was a Black-footed Albatross heading towards the Bering Sea after the breeding season, so he didn’t realise things had changed until he woke up. In fact, he didn’t realise it himself. It was his mother who told him what had happened. It may otherwise have taken him a long time - days, maybe weeks - before he’d realise his life had changed forever.
To make things worse, it also happened on his mother’s birthday.
It had rained all afternoon the day before, and the temperature had dropped. The wind was howling through the trees under a roof of heavy clouds. Leo and Peter were on their way to surf after school. Both boys shared a passion for surfing, and every day after class they went to the beach to spend an hour fighting the waves of Lemon Bay. Peter lived with his parents on the other side of the bay, less than ten minutes walking distance from Leo’s place. Both houses were isolated from the town, which had been built away from the ocean in an area protected from the strong winter gusts. Leo’s house stood on top of a small hill and overlooked the bay. The vegetation around it was low and scrubby, and a meandering path led to the beach. You could see the top of Leo’s house from Peter’s, but only if you knew that it was there; otherwise, it looked like shapeless rocks among the scrub.
‘I got her the book yesterday,’ Leo said, clutching his surfboard with his two hands to keep it steady.
Peter removed streaks of wet hair from his eyes. ‘The fat one?’
‘Yes. I thought I wouldn’t have enough money, but Dad’s given me the rest.’
‘I thought she wasn’t big on birds. You said she didn’t even read the last one.’
‘She’s getting there. She just needs time. The other day, she said she never thought birds could be that interesting.’
‘Me neither.’
‘Don’t start. This one’s amazing. You should see the photos of Collared Kingfishers diving in the water to catch fish. They must have used an underwater camera, but I’m not sure how they managed it.’
Peter pulled up the legs of his wetsuit with his right hand to maintain his stride.
‘Careful,’ Leo warned, ‘you nearly hit me with your board.’
‘Sorry, my wetsuit’s too long. It’s a pain.’
‘The book also has a chapter on Megapodes. I can’t wait to tell her.’
‘What’s that?’
Leo sighed. ‘Megapodes. They incubate their eggs in a mound of debris and monitor the temperature constantly to make sure it stays right.’
‘You’re pulling my leg.’
Leo glanced at the ominous clouds. ‘Hurry up, it’ll be dark in less than an hour.’
‘Looks pretty dark to me already. Maybe we should give it a miss…’
‘No way, we’re nearly there.’
‘Are you sure you can do it? You look quite tired.’
‘I’m fine, thanks.’
‘Your breathing’s been heavy all day. Maybe you shouldn’t surf.’
‘Yes Mum!’
‘I mean it.’
‘You want me to sit and watch? No thanks.’
‘Come on.’
‘I said no.’
Peter sighed. ‘Your choice.’
They could hear the waves before reaching the beach, deserted at that time. Leo took his cap off and brushed his hair nervously. He always insisted on having it cut extremely short, because he hated the curls he got when his hair grew, and he also wore a cap most of the time. They put their bags out of water’s reach and looked at what was left of the sun. A glimpse of orange mist in an ocean of darkness, giving the beach an eerie feeling. They zipped their wetsuits up and plodded towards the water, their boards under their arms.
Peter stopped without warning, and Leo nearly hit him in the back with the tip of his board.
‘What’s the matter?’ Leo said.
‘There’s a dog over there.’ Peter pointed at the right end of the beach, where the sand disappeared and the rocky part started.
Leo squinted. ‘What is it doing there?’
‘It must be lost. It looks tiny.’
Leo was already on his way. ‘You’re right, it’s a puppy,’ he said when the dog was within reach.
Peter took a step back. ‘It looks scared.’
The dog still had puppy fat and didn’t look older than a few weeks. It tried to climb the rocks to safety, but kept falling back. It stopped to take a good look at the intruders, with big eyes and ears on the move. When Leo took a step closer, it ran away, but slipped again and cried when it hit a rock. Its wet, brown eyes kept checking the two of them out.
‘It won’t let us go near it,’ Leo said, twisting his mouth.
The dog scratched its left ear furiously.
‘It’s full of fleas,’ Peter said, making a face. ‘If we move too close, it’ll fall in the water.’
But Leo was determined to help the puppy, which probably belonged to someone desperately looking for it. The dog ran away from him and slipped dangerously close to the water. Leo stopped, petrified: the waves were thundering below. In an attempt to flee, the dog jumped to the left, but slipped again, struggled to keep its balance, and fell head first into the water three metres below, with a pathetic yelp.
‘It’s going to drown,’ Leo cried.
‘Too late,’ Peter said, ‘the waves are already taking it away.’
‘It’s never too late.’
‘What are you doing? You’re crazy!’
Peter, horrified, watched his friend jump in the water.
Leo shivered under the shock of the cold water filling his wetsuit from the neck down. The powerful rip had already taken the dog far away into the open sea. Rips in the area were known to be treacherous, and the boys always made sure to surf in the middle of the bay. Leo could hardly see the head of the puppy trying to fight the current. Following the flow of the rip with energetic strokes, he swam until he reached the area where he last saw it. The puppy was gone. After a few seconds of frantic searching and splashing in the cold waves, Leo grabbed something spongy with his right hand. He was relieved to find the puppy still alive. It had lost a lot of strength and would probably have drowned any minute if Leo hadn’t come to the rescue. The rip was still strong and kept pushing them farther into the open sea. Leo waved at Peter, who stood on the sand scrutinising the water and was now the size of a Barbie doll. Leo saw him run towards their boards in the middle of the beach. Both boys knew how to fight a strong current. Rips took anyone or anything to sea, but their strength decreased after a while; the secret was to stay calm, let the current carry you until it lost strength, and swim to the shore at an angle. This still meant an arduous swim, especially with threatening waves and a struggling puppy. Leo tried to float on his back to keep the dog out of the water. He prayed for the puppy to have enough strength to last until they reached the beach. It crossed his mind they may never reach it, but he pushed the thought away with a strong kick. They were being carried away farther and farther from the shore, and the waves grew bigger. After minutes Leo could have sworn were hours, he felt the current slow down and decided it was time to try to swim towards the beach before it was too late. The water was so cold he had lost feelings in his hands and feet, and he could hardly breathe. He grabbed the puppy with his left hand, keeping its head out of the water, and swam painfully with his right arm. It was a laborious swim, and the beach didn’t seem to get any closer. Leo didn’t know which was worse, the puppy or the waves, and he swallowed water many times. At one point, a strong wave took him by surprise and hit the back of his head, making him lose his breath and swallow more water. For a split second, his sight became blurred and he felt himself being dragged under. His survival instinct was still alive though, and it forced him to surface again. He was thrilled to spot Peter paddling madly towards them with their two boards. It took the boys another twenty minutes to reach each other. Leo grabbed his board with relief and sat the puppy on top of it like a candle on a birthday cake. Peter helped his friend climb on the board. After recovering his breath, Leo paddled gently until the waves became more manageable and they could surf. Leo held the puppy against his chest and surfed the waves as steadily as he could. His daily training was proving extremely useful. If someone had once told him his surfing skills would help him save a dog, he would have said they were mad.
He couldn’t remember feeling so happy to hit the sand. The dog didn’t try to run away from them anymore; it was slouched on the sand, dripping and whimpering softly.
‘He doesn’t have a collar,’ Leo said after starting to feel his hands and feet again.
‘You could have drowned, you know,’ Peter said.
‘I was fine.’
‘You weren’t. I saw it in your eyes.’
‘You saw nothing in my eyes. I had them shut most of the time.’
‘You really scared me.’
Leo smiled. ‘Well, I’m back.’
‘Your breathing’s shocking.’
‘Stop worrying. You sound like my mum.’
‘I could never have done what you did, you know.’
‘Of course you could. I was faster to jump in, that’s all.’
Peter didn’t look convinced. ‘Where do you think he comes from?’ he said after a while, pointing at the puppy.
‘I don’t know, but he’s cute.’
‘Cute but smelly.’
‘What do you expect? Dog-fur and sea-water, great combination!’
‘What are we going to do with him?’
‘Can you keep him?’
‘Who? Me?’
‘No, the cat’s grand-mother, you idiot.’
‘No need to be rude, freckle-face.’
They laughed.
Peter shook his head. ‘You know my dad’s allergic to dogs.’
‘I’d forgotten.’ Leo’s face lit. ‘It’ll be Mum’s birthday present.’
‘What?’
‘I’ve always wanted a dog.’
‘It’s her birthday.’
‘We share presents, remember?’
‘What about the book?’
‘I’ll keep it for next year.’
Peter raised his eyebrows in the same way as Mrs Molinari, their Year Eight teacher, used to do when students whispered or the whole class giggled.
‘Cool. I hope your mum doesn’t freak out,’ he said.
‘She’ll be fine - I know her. She’ll fall in love with him in no time.’
Leo smiled. He had the best birthday present for his mum, and at the same time, he was going to have the dog he’d always wanted.
He went home and sneaked the puppy into his bedroom through the open window. He gave him milk, which disappeared in no time. After the feeding session, he dried him and sprayed him generously with one of his mum’s perfumes he found in the bathroom. The puppy’s white fur took a shiny appearance, and the nasty smell vanished. He turned out to be a ball of energy that licked everything that came within his reach. Leo waited for an hour after everybody had gone to bed and laid the sleeping dog in a shoebox with small holes. He silently put the box in front of his parents’ bedroom door with a note that said, ‘Happy Birthday, Mum. My name is Fluffy.’ Leo was trying hard not to cough. He felt he’d caught a cold in the water, because his lungs were burning as if they had been rubbed with raw chilli. He went back to bed, breathing with difficulty. When he woke up, he was fine.
Thinking about it, he couldn’t remember feeling that well in a long time. The day promised to be exciting. His younger sister Joanna had mentioned she was going to bake a chocolate roll filled with cream and topped with cherries for their mum’s birthday. It was spring holiday and she was relaxed. Normally, she’d be more focused on her homework. Joanna’s chocolate rolls were Leo’s all time favourites. Fluffy was more exciting material than chocolate rolls, though. Leo couldn’t wait to see his mum’s face when she found him. She probably expected the latest bestseller from the town’s only bookstore, a hand-painted vase, or a cheap necklace from the opportunity shop next to the public pool. Leo decided to stay in bed until she found her present, because he knew that as soon she’d see it, she’d rush to see him, and he wanted to make the most of that special moment. When his mum was happy, he was happy too.
Leo’s eyes were fully open as he lay in his bed. The curtains were half closed and let the soft morning light into his bedroom. Leo’s bedroom window faced the ocean, which, when you lived near the bay, was the best aspect. Leo liked to leave his curtains half closed to wake up in the morning with the sun rising over the horizon. He could always hear the cries of seagulls and terns, and this made his heart leap. Birds had been his passion since his Grade Two teacher organised a viewing of Birds and Their Migration for the class. The movie followed the birds across the world on their journey from colder to warmer climates, and through plains and deserts. It showed them at rest, flying, and singing to each other all the way. The movie had lit a spark that turned into a raging fire inside Leo, and he decided he’d spend the rest of his life filming birds. He’d travel around the world, visit deserts and oases, tropical forests and mountains, and spend hours hidden in a shed covered with leaves and branches, waiting for birds to appear. He’d capture them on film and would show them to the world. Along the way, he’d discover unknown species and would become famous. This was the plan. A life full of adventures. His dad kept saying that filming birds wasn’t a proper job, but Leo knew he had his mum’s full support, even if she didn’t seem thrilled to always get bird books for her birthday.
What was she doing? Leo glanced at the Mickey Mouse alarm clock on his bedside table. 8.05 AM. It was time to get up, but he didn’t want to spoil the surprise. He noticed the strange glow of the light, more intense but at the same time less aggressive than usual. The waves sounded different too, slightly muffled as if he were wearing earplugs. Then, he heard the footsteps rushing up the stairs. The door flung open, and his mother flew in, triumphantly holding Fluffy in her arms. Her dark hair was partially hiding her eyes, but Leo could see she was smiling.
‘Where did you get him from?’
She laid Fluffy on the bed, and he started hopping around.
Leo could tell by the sound of her voice that Fluffy was a total surprise. It was going to be her best birthday ever. He smiled at her and she smiled back at him. The atmosphere in the bedroom was peaceful. His mum put her right hand on his left shoulder and shook him lightly.
‘Leo,’ she murmured, ‘wake up.’
‘I’m awake, Mum!’
He pushed the sheets away and sat up, surprised she hadn’t noticed his eyes wide open.
She sat on the side of the bed and shook him again.
‘Come on Leo, it’s time to get up.’
‘It’s OK, Mum,’ he said, getting up.
She didn’t move.
‘Mum, what’s the matter with you?’
Leo stood at the foot of the bed, staring at her. What was she doing? It must be the emotion. She was always so emotional.
She opened her mouth and let a scream out. Leo jumped back, expecting to see a monster slide from under the bed. His mum wasn’t moving, as if she had turned into stone.
‘LEO! NO! LEO!’
‘What is it Mum? What is it?’
‘LEO! LEO! TALK TO ME.’
‘I’m talking to you. MUM!'
‘Leo, No!’ She collapsed on the bed, sobbing and gasping at the same time.
Leo didn’t know what to do. The whole situation was scary. He had never seen his mum behave so strangely. Didn’t she like her present? Fluffy jumped from the bed and hid underneath. Leo approached his mother and put his hand on her left shoulder.
‘Mum, please, tell me, what’s the matter?’
She stared at the bed as if it had turned into a spider or something ugly. Had she lost her mind?
She replied without looking at him. ‘Why? Why? It’s so unfair! NOOOOOO!’
Her cries must have alerted the others, because Leo’s dad rushed into the bedroom, followed by Joanna. He grabbed his wife by the shoulders.
‘It’s all right, honey, it’s all right!’ he said.
‘NO, IT’S NOT! Leo…is…dead!’
Leo froze. What was she talking about? He wasn’t dead - he was here, standing among them. Suddenly, he saw what he hadn’t yet noticed, because he had been so focussed on her.
Someone else was lying in his bed.
Leo shivered. Who the hell was in his bed and how did he get in? Why hadn’t he noticed him before? He stepped closer, and what he saw made him cringe.
Lying in his bed, asleep, he could see himself.
His mum was still mumbling. ‘Stay with us! Don’t go!’
Then, he understood.
It was his mum who finally told him what had happened.
He had died during the night.