I quickly splashed my face with one hand while Gary was holding my other. It was weird because as I was splashing my face it felt as if the pain in my leg was draining down and out of my toes.

Gary plucked a couple pebbles out of my arm as he said in reference to what he’d done to my leg, “Know that hurt. But it had to be done.”

I lifted my leg out of the water and saw that he’d used the Seadragon to tightly wrap my knee. It was like natures ACE Bandage and boy was it tight.

“Where’d you learn how to do that?” I asked while watching him do the same thing to my right elbow.

I attempted to bend my knee but only managing to get it to move a bit. I was however able to wiggle my toes and move my ankle just fine.

“Old Aztec Witch Doctor,” He said and I was not sure if he was telling the truth or not.

“Will make for getting up on your board more difficult, but it will keep it from buckling under your weight.” He explained.

It wasn’t what he’d said, but how he said it which gave me the idea that he was again calling me fat.

“I’m not that fat!” I whined.

“Said the porky little piggy!” he joked and poked me in the belly.

“Gary!” I whined and slapped away his hand.

We’d missed the other two competitors but we did catch the scores. The announcer’s voice seemed to drift over the waters like a fog.

“With the completion of their first run of the day, Group One stats are as follows. First place with an outstanding perfect score on his first run, “Minkus Dawson”.

I looked at Gary in disbelief. They had used Meek’s real name, not his pseudo name.

“Guess they finally figured it out.” Gary chuckled.

Half a second later the announcer was heard, “Or as many of you have come to know him by…” and then gave Meek’s pseudo name to which the roar of the crowd could be heard.

“There it is!” Gary laughed.

“And on a side note, you’ll all be happy to know he has been reunited with his parents and I and the judges have personally spoken with them. He is now competing today with their permission.

It took a while for the crowd to quiet down enough for him to continue.

The announcement continued, “A close second is Luisa Tang.”

“And trailing at a distant third we have Rodney Hildegard.”

“Way to go Minkus!” Gary cheered while pumping a triumphant fist into the air.

“While our first group comes in, may we please have our next contestants report in?”

Scotty Hildegard come on down!!!”

And let’s have Chad Baker! Come on Chad!”

“and…”

The crowd crazy for like three whole minutes.

The announcer then laughing said, “Now wait for it… the two time Junior Surfing Champion, Alvin Holloway!”

And just like Meek, they had announced my name… my REAL NAME. However, unlike Meek, the announcer didn’t even bother with my pseudo name. Maybe he didn’t because the crowd never got quiet. From my position, I could see the people on the beach pointing and waving in my direction. I waved back which seemed to make the crowd get even louder.

Even as far out as Gary and I were, the roar of the crowd was surprisingly loud.

“Oh there he is!” The announcer laughed, “Wave to the camera Alvin!”

Beaming with pride, Gary said to me, “Can’t let your fans down! Get out there, wait for the perfect wave and just in case this is your last run, give it everything you have.”

My eyes filled with tears again as I stretched out on my board and began to paddle toward the competition area.

Behind me, I could hear Gary shouting instructions, “If the pain gets to be too much, bite your inner cheek as hard as you can!”

“Looks like our returning Champion is eager to get started, he’s already out there! Scotty and Chad, you best get going!” the announcer said with a laugh which caused the crowd to laugh too.

Thinking about Gary’s words, I knew he had meant that I should give my all as if this were my last run of the competition, however in my head I was thinking just a little differently. I was telling myself that this could be the last time I surfed… EVER! And if that was the case, then I wasn’t going to play it easy or safe. I was already out far enough to catch a choice wave, but I didn’t want a choice wave, I wanted a perfect wave.