Bronte's Big Sister Problem

Book 2: Surf Riders Club

by Mary van Reyk

Genres: Young Adult

Synopsis

The Surf Riders Club is back! And Bronte has a problem - a big sister problem! How's Bronte supposed to catch waves when she keeps fighting with her big sister? She always wanted to be just like Carrie, but now they are growing apart. Bronte wants to do her own thing, but Carrie thinks Surf Riders Club is lame. Now Bronte is torn between her friends and her sister. Will she get it together in time for the Beachcrest Carnival surf comp? Ava, Alex, Bronte, Janani and Molly formed Surf Riders Club to help each other practise, but it has quickly become much more than that. Whether it's learning how to get barrelled, problem parents or annoying boys, Surf Riders Club are there for each other, no matter what. Officially endorsed by Surfing Australia and includes a special message from Tyler Wright, 2016 WSL Women's World Surfing Champion. 'kicks off in a very promising manner . . . Highly recommended for upper primary/early secondary readers.' - Just So Stories on SURF RIDERS CLUB 1: AVA'S BIG MOVE

Release date: February 27, 2018

Publisher: Lothian Children's Books

Print pages: 75

Sample

All I had to do was walk down the hallway. Not usually a big deal (I’m thirteen – I’ve mastered walking by now), but I had to pass my big sister Carrie’s room and I could hear her talking. Normally when she wakes up on the weekend I’ve already left for training. This morning was different. Her voice was excited, but she was trying to whisper, too, which meant she was probably talking about boys. Leigh – her current crush – must have asked her out at the party last night. I was happy for her, but if she knew I was up she’d want to tell me everything, and that could take hours. Which would make me late for Surf Riders Club.

The club is made up of me and four other girls: Alex, Janani, Molly (we all grew up together) and Ava, who moved to our town from the city this year. We all started at Beachcrest High together and picked surfing for our school sport. I already knew how to surf, but some of the other girls needed help so we began training on weekends. Alex, who could surf a bit already, and I were their coaches. I thought it would be boring, but it was actually really fun. So now every Saturday morning we meet at Perry’s Beach to train together … but not too seriously – we muck around a lot. My sister thinks the club is lame, so I knew she wouldn’t care about making me late.

I had my swimmers on, towel over my shoulder, board under my arm, thongs in my hand, and was tiptoeing down the wooden hallway when I saw our cat, Frank. Frank is a big, fat, fluffy light-beige Burmese with green eyes that were crankily looking at me and saying, ‘feed me NOW’. When he meowed it was so loud you could hear it all over the house. If he started, Carrie would hear him and know I was up.

I tried communicating with him telepathically: I promise I’ll feed you an extra big breakfast, just please, please, please stay quiet! He ran over to me and started rubbing against my legs right outside Carrie’s door. I juggled everything and scooped him up for a cuddle to try to keep him quiet, but as I lifted him he let out a very loud and demanding Meeeeeeaaaooooowwwwww.

I froze, but it was too late.

‘Hang on a second, Jess. Bronte?! Is that you?’ Carrie called out.

Mentally, I facepalmed. I could walk away, but that would annoy her, and when Carrie is annoyed she can make life really hard for me.

‘Bronte, bring Frank in here, I have to tell you all about what happened last night.’

I looked down at Frank and shook my head. ‘Nice one, you stupid cat,’ I whispered. ‘Now you’ll be late for breakfast, and I’ll be late for my surf.’

Frank meowed angrily and tried to jump out of my arms, but I held him tightly. If I had to listen to my sister, so would he.

Putting down my surf gear, I pushed Carrie’s door open. Her room was a total pigsty from when she and her friends got ready for the party last night. Clothes were all over the floor, make-up was scattered on every surface, and she was still in bed with her mobile glued to her ear.

Looking at my sister is like looking four years into my future (she just turned seventeen). We’re really similar: both of us have long hair bleached blonde by the sun and salt water. We’ve got olive-brown skin with not too many pimples, and blue eyes. Our parents, Sam and Bianca, own a surf shop in town called Surf to Sand. We get to wear free clothing samples that brands send them. Actually my sister picks through them first and takes all the good stuff; after she’s worn something for a month or two she gives it to me.

We also have an older brother called Oscar, but he moved to the city at the start of the year to go to university. I miss him so much, and our family feels different without him.

‘Okay, bye, bye, byeeeeeeeeeeee,’ Carrie sang into the phone before putting it down and staring at me from her pillow castle. She patted the bed next to her. ‘Come sit down and talk to me – you’ll never guess what happened at the party!’

I stayed at the door. ‘I’ve got Surf Riders Club this morning and I don’t want to be late. The others are probably already at Perry’s.’

Carrie rolled her eyes in disgust. ‘Don’t. Even. Bronte. All I want is five minutes of your precious time! Is that stupid club more important than your own sister?’

I sighed, walked in and sat down on the bed, putting Frank in my lap. I figured after ten minutes he’d be even hangrier (that’s when you get angry because you’re so hungry: hangry) and really start to lose it, which would give me an excuse to escape.

‘So, you know how I’m totally obsessed with Leigh from school,’ Carrie said. I nodded, remembering a guy with spikey brown hair and freckles. ‘Well, last night at the party, he asked me out!’ she squealed, clapping her hands.

‘Oh, wow, that’s awesome.’ I tried to sound enthusiastic. A couple of months ago I would have been way more excited, because I’d been boy crazy too. But back then I’d been into everything Carrie liked. Since starting high school I’d been getting into different stuff, like my surf club, even though Carrie thought it was lame. I wasn’t sure why I had changed interests, it had just started to happen.

She grabbed my hand. ‘I know, it’s so cool, right??!! Oh my god, he’s so dreamy. Anyway, I was talking to Jess on the way home and we were stalking his Instagram when I remembered he’s got a little brother in your year.’

I nodded. Daniel was in some of my classes, but I didn’t really talk to him. He had shaggy blond hair and was a pretty good bodyboarder, but that was all I knew.

‘Well, Jess and I think it would be super cute if you guys went on a date!’

I stared at Carrie. She must have thought I’d hyperventilate with excitement at the idea of a date with Daniel. The old Bronte would have, but the new Bronte wasn’t so keen.

‘Um, I don’t really know him. So. . .