Page 44 of The Company

“I’m six today,” I tell him so he won’t think too much about the lionfish. I like to touch them. I want to feel them. And the stings don’t always hurt. I’ve been stung four times, but I’ve touched a lot of lionfish. I don’t always get stung. I know which parts to avoid now.

“I know,” he says back in that deep rumbling voice. His body relaxes. “I’m Six today too.”

I tilt my head and stare at his green eyes as I continue to pile sand on his feet. Most grownups don’t want to play with me, and I’ve never had a hunter even look at me before. But he’s not a hunter yet. Today is a special day for him too.

I stand up and run over to grab a stick near my towel and then dart down to the wet sand. The tide is going down and this is the best time to draw. When the tide is coming in, it erases your pictures. But when it’s going out, they stay until the sun bakes them and the wind makes the picture shift back into nothing but ripples.

I fall to my knees as I get to the water’s edge and then look over my shoulder. He’s watching me carefully. “I’m going to draw you a picture!” I yell back at him.

He nods and smiles as my father walks up and sits down next to him. I know they are talking about me, but I don’t care. I’m drawing a picture. I draw notes first. I read piano so I can make all kinds of notes. I copy the song I was writing last week. It’s a simple one, but it’s a sweet melody that I’ve been humming for weeks before I decided to write it down in notes.

I draw the piano next. And me, playing it. I draw a guitar and a violin. And my dad comes over to see what I’m doing and not breaking any rules before he leaves.

I look over my shoulder as my dad walks away with the green-eyed hunter. My dad puts a hand on his shoulder and they talk about serious things. I can tell by the look on their faces.

And then they both look at me and the hunter shakes his head.

My father puts up a hand and smiles, pointing over at me, then he claps him on the back and turns away.

For a minute I think that the hunter will leave with him, but he turns towards me and starts walking.

My stick begins drawing out the final instrument as he stands over me. “That’s a nice picture.”

I look up and he’s shielding his eyes from the sun as he studies me. “It’s for you. A present.”

“What’s your name?” he asks me again.

“Lionfish,” I answer back, giggling. “That’s my hunter name, what’s yours?”

He laughs with me now and tsks his tongue. I’m not allowed to ask these things, but he’s not either. And he did anyway. “You made that up.”

“So make one up,” I challenge him back. “You remind me of sea grass so I will call you sea grass.”

“Sea grass! How boring.”

“But…” I can’t stop my smile. My cheeks get all hot. He squats down next to me now and his gaze falls over my drawing. My heart beats a little faster. I wonder if he can see my secret? I want him to see it. I want him to guess. But I don’t want to be caught giving out such important information. So I keep talking. “But your eyes are green like the sea grass. And I saw a manatee yesterday eating sea grass. You remind me of that.”

He lowers the hand he’s been using as a sun shield and I can’t stop looking at him. “And your eyes are amber, like the lionfish.”

Amber… I’ve never heard of that color before. I will have to look it up.

“Sister!” Nick calls from down the beach. I lean to the side so I can see around the hunter and spy my brother. He’s not happy.

“What?” I call back. Why is he mad?

“It’s time for cake,” Nick says as he runs up and grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet. He glares at my new friend as I’m tugged away. But a few feet up the beach I turn back and catch the hunter standing up to follow us. “Don’t forget your present!” I yell at him. He has a puzzled expression and then glances down at the sand drawing and smiles.

I hope he never forgets that present.

Because I want him to remember me.