White Tiger

tea. I tapped the table next to my teacup.
    Mr Chen, Simone and I ate breakfast on the balcony the next morning. Simone had already pulled on her new swimmers and was chatting merrily about the beach.
    Leo stormed into the kitchen and towered over Monica. He was wearing just a pair of shorts, his dark muscular torso bare. Usually he didn’t come out until he was fully dressed in one of his sharp outfits.
    He hissed angrily at Monica. Monica protested just as softly. We couldn’t hear a word they said.
    ‘What’s going on?’ Simone said.
    Monica shook her head and turned away from Leo. He glowered down at her, then he straightened, looked out towards the balcony and saw my face.
    He walked to us with a great deal of aloof dignity. He came right up to me and towered over me, his face a mask of fury, but clearly couldn’t think of anything to say. He stormed back into the apartment without saying a word.
    I collapsed over the table, shaking with silent laughter.
    ‘What did you do?’ Mr Chen said.
    ‘I snuck into the laundry room while Monica was busy,’ I whispered, so softly Simone couldn’t hear. ‘All his underwear is pink.’
    ‘You are very evil sometimes. I look forward to seeing his revenge.’
    ‘I don’t.’
    The beach had already filled with people, most of them setting up their towels between the yellow and red flags.
    ‘There’s the flags, Daddy,’ Simone said, pointing. ‘We have to go there.’
    ‘Having the flags is a good idea,’ Mr Chen said.
    ‘Looks okay to me,’ Leo said, sceptical.
    ‘If you came here by yourself, and there were no flags, where would you swim?’ Mr Chen said.
    Leo looked up and down the beach. Then he pointed. ‘Over there. Looks calmer there. Don’t know why the flags aren’t set up there, there’s fewer waves.’
    ‘Most people who are new here think that,’ I said.
    ‘Leo, if you were to swim there, you would be quickly swept away and probably drown,’ Mr Chen said.
    Leo opened his mouth to protest.
    ‘Even with your strength, I don’t think you could fight the current there. It’s very strong. That’s where the water is going out, not coming in. That’s why it looks calmer.’
    ‘We call it a rip,’ I said. We all walked towards the flags together. ‘Last year a young backpacker from New Zealand hopped off the bus, dropped his bag in the hostel, changed into his shorts, walked into a rip and drowned. He’d been here less than an hour.’
    Leo studied the waves with new respect.
    ‘They are very useful,’ Mr Chen said.
    We dropped our stuff near the lifeguards’ tent between the flags and flopped to sit on our towels. I put sunscreen on Simone, then had Leo put some on my back. His huge hands covered me in no time at all.
    Mr Chen stood watching the waves.
    ‘Go!’ I said.
    He glanced down at me. ‘I may be gone for quite some time.’
    ‘How long, sir?’ Leo said.
    Mr Chen looked out at the waves. ‘A couple of hours?’
    ‘We’ll be fine here,’ I said. ‘Plenty of people around.’ ‘And we have Leo,’ Simone said.
    Mr Chen didn’t say anything; he just walked towards the water. ‘Mr Chen!’
    He stopped and turned. I gestured with my head towards the lifeguards’ tent. ‘The lifesavers here are professionals. Disappear quietly, otherwise they might try to rescue you.’
    He nodded, turned and walked down to the water. He waded into the breakers, then dived into one of the metre-high waves. He didn’t reappear.
    Nobody noticed.
    ‘How come he can swim like that?’ I said. ‘No idea,’ Leo said. ‘Something to do with his nature.’
    I raised the sunscreen. ‘Want me to put some on your back?’
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he said with scorn. ‘The sun’s much stronger here than in Hong Kong, Leo.’
    Leo rose and held his hand out for Simone. ‘Want to swim?’
    Simone jumped with excitement as she grabbed his hand. ‘Yeah!’
    At the edge of the water Simone shrieked with delight and ran away from the waves. I showed her how to jump over the small breakers and Leo watched with a huge grin.
    Simone threw herself at Leo with her arms up. ‘Carry me, Leo, I want to go deeper!’
    He hoisted her onto his hip, then waded into the deeper water. The waves broke around him but he didn’t seem to notice. Simone laughed and he laughed with her. He didn’t laugh often and it was wonderful to hear them together.
    Simone pointed to some children body-boarding. ‘Can I try that?’
    ‘You want a boogie