The Transfer

Prudence Walker

 

Part 4

 

Stephen helped his dad cast off the boat and settled down in the seat, watching as David manoeuvred the boat out of the docks, taking note of the way he used the throttles to control the direction as it drew slowly out into the harbour. As they proceeded out of the channel and into open water, Stephen felt the exhilaration as the boat was throttled up to cruising speed.

After a few minutes, David asked him to take over, showing him the compass heading, and warning him to watch out for anyone on the water. Stephen couldn't get over the thrill as the throb of the engines came under his control. David watched for a few minutes, and then went down below to talk to the passengers.

As the ocean swell increased, the motion of the boat took on a more pronounced bounce as it crested them. Knuckles white with strain, trying to hold the boat on course, Stephen was wondering if he should throttle back a touch, and was glad to hand over the helm when his dad finally climbed up from below.

David had a mug of coffee in his hand and nodded that there was one for him below. Stephen relaxed, happy to have skippered the boat, but happy to hand over to his more experienced dad. Entering the main cabin, he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat watching the passing ocean, as the two passengers chatted about the upcoming fishing trip. Stephen figured that if he was to be of some help, he'd need to know more about knots and fishing terms. So, grabbing a book dealing with fishing off the shelf, he went into his cabin to cram in as much as he could. After working out that he had a small working knowledge of knots to get by, he emerged just in time to get asked to set some lures on a couple of bait rods.

Glad of the quick thinking he showed earlier, he tied off the two lures he was given to the lines and then let them pay off the reels, imitating David's actions on the other rod. After the rods were placed in their holders, David throttled back, so the lures just stopped surfacing as they trailed behind the boat. Keeping an eye on the rods, Stephen watched as David headed towards a patch of the ocean where the gannets had gathered. Stephen guessed, by the way the gannets speared the waters in their diving plunges, that there were many fish below.

Stephen watched fascinated as the sea boiled around them as they motored though the school of fish. Suddenly, TWANG...SKREEEE… both lines snapped taut, bowing under the tension as the fish struck the lures. The clutches on both reels screamed as the line was torn forcefully against the set tension. Stephen didn't need to be told twice to grab a rod, amazed at the weight on the other end, as he struggled to hold it upright. David had closed the throttles letting the boat coast to a halt and rock gently in the swell, as he grabbed the other rod.

 

"Hey, take this one, Jeff, while I handle the boat," he called to the man who had come topside. "My son can handle the other one, unless your wife wants a go," he added. The woman shook her head.

"I'll just watch this time; maybe later," she called back.

Stephen was glad of the chance to land whatever it was on his line. Jeff handled himself like a pro, lifting the rod without winding then furiously taking up the slack as he dipped the rod. Stephen tried doing the same, but it seemed a lot harder for him. Soon Jeff had landed a decent sized tuna, and he turned to see if Stephen needed any help.

Stephen was never more aware of the extra strength he had as a male. As Stephanie, he would have been pulled overboard, let alone try to land this fish. Grunting that he needed no help, he struggled for 15 minutes, eventually getting the fish along side. David grabbed a gaff, expertly hooked the fish behind the head, and lifted it into the boat smoothly in one swing.

" No wonder it took so long, it's a huge kingfish," exclaimed Jeff, patting Stephen on the back.

Stephen, who had never fished, let alone caught anything, was feeling very pleased with himself and allowed himself a small feeling of pride at landing the monster. It was at least 5 feet long, weighing about 80-90 lbs. It looked so beautiful to Stephen, and he had a moment's regret at its ultimate fate.

"Kingfish steaks tonight, guys," David chortled with glee.

'Oh-oh,' thought Stephen. 'What am I going to do now?' he thought. He knew the old Stephen ate fish; how could he get out of this? Trying not to seem worried, he made a weak smile, while inside he was grim faced. Even getting a hug from Sara, as she congratulated him, couldn't stave off the feeling of imminent doom. He couldn't even claim seasickness had ruined his appetite, as he had never felt better.

They trawled back though the school of fish several times, picking up enough fresh bait-fish to see them right for the rest of the trip. A mixture of kahawai, mackerel, and bonito soon filled the bait hold.

Sara finally joined in on the fun, catching several fish while laughing in high spirits as she battled some of the smaller ones. The afternoon whiled away and, as the sun started to set, they headed for the safety of a nearby island. Dropping anchor in a secluded bay in deep water, David suggested to Stephen that he try a hand line over the stern, to try his luck for something tasty.

Stephen baited up a hook, and was soon contentedly sitting watching the sun go down, as David secured the boat for the night. The fishing was great, and soon Stephen had landed five pan-sized snapper. David took over the cleaning and scaling of them and showed Stephen how to fillet them for cooking.

Entering the galley with the fillets, Stephen could see Sara making chips and placing sliced kingfish steaks under the gas grill. When she saw the snapper fillets, she got the flour out and told him to coat them in it. She pulled out another skillet and added some oil and started heating it.

Stephen escaped having to cook the fish by saying he'd set the table. She laughed and shooed him out, calling him a typical male, not wanting to do any cooking.

Just as he found everything he needed for the meal, David entered, throwing him a can of beer and telling him he deserved it for the great job he'd done. It was strange; he was feeling a sort of bond with his new dad, and it was rather comforting. He relaxed, sipping the brew as David and Jeff included him in their mutual tall stories. Meanwhile, appetising smells wafted in from the galley.

The sea air had increased Stephens's appetite to the point where he would have eaten a horse. When the food duly arrived, he knew that, fish or not, he was going to try some. As the first piece of succulent snapper entered his mouth, he moaned. It was delicious; never had he tasted anything like it.

The expected nausea didn't eventuate; perhaps the body he now had didn't react to fish. Maybe it was something more to do with the body swap; whatever it was, he made the most of it. He tried some of the stronger tasting kingfish, but decided the snapper was more to his liking.

That night, he slept like a log; the gentle rocking of the boat and the quiet slap of water against the hull sent him quickly into an untroubled sleep.

============

Party time at last: Stephanie's week at school went by in a flash as her friends reacquainted themselves with her. A test, set out by her mom as acting principal, proved she didn't need to stay a year behind. In fact, she seemed to be ahead in some areas.

Julia and Heather stuck to her like glue, acting like a shield for most of the inquisitive students. She was urged to show the marks on her arms to many, and her words about drugs and the life on the street (most of which she fabricated) sent a chilling message to those that only saw the glamour side of drugs, not the consequences.

Cathy had set up the party for Saturday afternoon, and had left the invitation open for anyone to attend, deciding to leave the selection in Heather's and Julia's hands. Stephanie fussed over her appearance, trying to get the party girl look down pat. Cathy had let her buy a new dress of shimmering pink satin that hugged her body to the waist, where it flared out, the hem ending just past her fingertips.

She liked the way it made her hips look bigger; and it was complimented by a pair of sparkled hose that made her legs shimmer in the light. The three-inch heels in pink accentuated her legs, making them stand out. She was admiring them in the mirror when her mom knocked on the door.

"Wow! Is this the daughter who didn't care to look her best? I think someone brought back an impostor," she joked. Seeing Stephanie's look of horror, and mistaking the wrong reason for it, she went and hugged her daughter.

"Honey, I didn't mean it like that. I think you look beautiful and I'm so glad you're back. We love you, honey, and nothing's going to change that," she murmured in Stephanie's ear.

Stephanie relaxed, thinking, 'That was close'. Then Cathy gave Stephanie one of her necklaces and some matching earrings from her own jewellery set, and spritzed her with some expensive smelling perfume. Stephanie sat in the lounge, dithering with nervousness. She knew there were going to be some boys coming, but how many, and who, only Heather and Julia knew.

A knock at the door heralded the arrival of the first guests. Heather and Julia stood there, resplendent in party dresses. They had brought two boys with them and introduced them to Stephanie as Kevin and Koster. They were brothers, living next to Heather. Koster asked to be called Koos, laughing that it was be-Koos he was always in trouble. Kevin laughed, saying the real reason was that their mom loved the actor. Of the two, Koos seemed the most interesting. Apparently, he was heavily into martial arts, and wanted to be a bodyguard or something. They soon found the light beers that Cathy had supplied, and brought back sparkling grape juice for the girls.

As everyone started trickling in, Heather made the introductions. Karen was a newcomer to the school and Julia had thought it was a great way to get to know her too. She was recently out from the UK, and made everyone laugh with some of her word usage and the British accent she had. She took the ribbing good-naturedly, and gave as good as she got by slinging off at the Kiwi lingo.

Food and music soon had everyone mingling and having fun. Stephanie wandered from group to group, explaining that her memory still wasn't back and asking them to forgive her for any slights she might make.

After the party started breaking up and everyone started leaving, Heather, along with Julia, cornered Stephanie and rather bluntly, asked who she was.

"You're not our Stephanie, that's for sure," said a rather puzzled Julia. "We weren't sure at school, but seeing you here, acting like you have, we know you're not our Stephanie."

"I agree, and don't bullshit us with this memory loss crap. We know Stephanie like the back of our hands. After all, we grew up together, now we want the truth. Just who are you, and why does Mrs Wallis act like you're her daughter?" demanded Heather, rather impatiently.

Stephanie went white; her worst fears of discovery had finally arrived. Her heart pounded as a flood of adrenaline coursed though her body. She panicked at their accusing looks, and ran, crying, out into the night. The two girls ran after her, afraid that they might just be wrong, and had driven her away again. Stephanie ran till she collapsed, sobbing, on the ground near the park. Full of misery at failing to make a go of her new life, she just sat there alone in the dark, till a voice spoke to her.

"Please, just tell us what's wrong," came Heather's out-of-breath voice.

"EVERYTHING," screamed Stephanie. "My whole life's a mess."

The two girls plonked themselves down on each side of her, panting as they recovered their breath.

"Tell us," they gasped. "We promise not to tell anyone."

Haltingly, between sobs, she told the two girls everything, leaving nothing out. It took over an hour, and Stephanie started to shiver in her thin dress. The two girls looked at each other over Stephanie's hunched shoulders in the faint light cast by the distant streetlight. Stephanie never saw the unspoken communication that passed between her two friends.

"Stephanie? STEPHANIE…" they called louder, hugging the slumped form. "We believe you, God knows why; but it's too far fetched to be a lie," they insisted.

"You do?"

"Well, it does explain everything. Do you have Stephen's number? We could confirm it for ourselves; no impostor would fool us, no matter how well coached he is," Heather boasted.

"Are… um, will you still be my friends, even though I'm not really Stephanie?" she asked tearfully, dreading the answer.

===========

The appetising smell of bacon wafting though the boat brought Stephen out of his slumber. Pulling on a pair of jockeys and a pair of shorts, he marvelled at the speed at which he could be decent. Wandering out of his cabin bare-chested was another novelty he was becoming used to. No bras, no getting sweaty under the breasts, just a smooth surface with no creases. He did miss the way his nipples used to make him feel, but ,on the other hand, they didn't need much in the way of protection against coarse materials.

Getting a "Hi, breakfast is in five minutes," from his dad. He decided to take a brief shower before eating. Passing Sara in the walkway, her hair wet and just wearing a towel, he felt the strange stirring below. Showering himself only seemed to make things harder, as thoughts of Sara naked under the towel inflamed a certain part of him. Things came to a head as he washed it gently. As the nice feelings increased with his touch, it grew, and suddenly, with a spasm of pleasure so acute it was nearly painful, he came. The spurts of ejaculate, struck the shower wall, slowly being washed away, as he gasped in wonder.

'That was intense,' he thought. 'A bit like an orgasm, but concentrated into a small area and of shorter duration.' Washing the signs of his exertions away, Stephen exited the shower, feeling a sense of release from built up tensions he hadn't been aware of before.

The day passed quickly, Stephen enjoyed the pleasure of just relaxing and having fun. They fished and motored around the larger of the two barrier islands, looking for the 'big one'. Stephen got to handle the boat more and more as his confidence grew, and his dad went to help the two passengers with their rods and tackle.

Jeff wanted to catch a marlin and talked David into moving up to the Bay of Islands, reputed to be the main spot to get one. Asking Stephen if he minded being on board longer than expected, David pulled into Whangarei for fuel before making the journey north.

That night, the wind picked up as they anchored off Bream Head, making the boat toss feverishly in the increasing swells. David reassured everyone that it was safe, saying he had endured far worse in the boat with no problems.

Stephen felt a little queasy, and only had some fresh bread rolls, which they had bought in Whangarei, for dinner. He didn't want to try the sushi the others had purchased at the same time, and was glad of the queasiness to beg off on the raw fish.

That night, the winds picked up and caused the boat to drag it's anchor, bringing it perilously close to the rocky shoreline.

A crash and the sound of glass breaking woke Stephen from an odd dream filled with bull riding. The feeling of being tossed around became reality, as the boat lurched and he was tossed out of bed. Scrambling back to the main deck, clad only in his silk boxer shorts, he looked out at the seas in horror.

Calling out for his dad brought no response; so he walked forward to his cabin, only to find his dad unconscious. Frightened, he ran to the passenger's cabin, calling out as he went. Getting no response, he entered their cabin to find them both in the same state. Feeling and getting a pulse, he could tell that they were feverish, their skin was hot to the touch. Panicking now, he raced back to try to rouse his dad; but to no avail, as it was clear that something had poisoned them.

'The sushi, it had to be the sushi,' Stephen thought, as he ran to the bridge. The seas were higher now, and the spindrift was blowing all over the boat. As he tried to get the radio working, a wave crested the side, drenching him to the skin as it entered the broken window next the radio gear.

A series of sparks caught him on the hand, as he tried to turn it on. He jerked back as a small fire started erupting from the radio. Fortunately, a burst with the nearby fire extinguisher soon took care of the fire; but Stephen knew that calling for help was now out of the question.

In the darkness, he could hear the sounds of waves crashing over rocks and, looking out into ocean, he could see the phosphorescence of the surf on the rocks. It seemed awfully close, and Stephen wondered if they were drifting. Moving outside, he made his way forward over the treacherous deck to check the anchor. Nearly slipping, he could feel the rope jerking as he placed his hand on it. 'Damn, it is slipping,' Stephen thought, 'I'd better start the engines and move before we go aground.'

Getting back to the bridge was a feat in itself, as the seas broached the boat, sending spray over Stephen. Managing to fire up the engines, he started to operate the electric winch that pulled the anchor rope. The whine of the winch as it struggled to pull up the anchor suddenly stopped after making a screeching sound. Knowing that to try and move with the anchor part way up was risking the fouling of the propellers, Stephen engaged the throttle slowly allowing the boat to move forward.

Grabbing a fish knife, he made his way forward again to try to cut the rope to the anchor. Reaching it, he sawed frantically at the hard nylon cord one handed as he clutched the railing. It parted with a twang and immediately the boat slewed around, catching Stephen off balance. He fell, going over the side with a splash, as the boat slowly moved away from him in the darkness.

===========

Stephanie waited for an answer, while the two girls digested her story. Suddenly, a bright light lit up the ground nearby, sweeping across the grassed area where they were sitting. It swept nearer, searching and finding them as they huddled together. An amplified voice, with a metallic ring to it, told them to stay and not to move. They heard doors slamming and the glare of the searchlight was momentarily broken as figures passed though it, heading in their direction.

A police officer came up to them and shone a torch directly onto Stephanie's face. He pulled a radio off his belt and thumbed the mic.

"We have her," he said, talking into the handheld radio.

"Roger… unit ten...copy that...calling off the foot patrols," a rather thin female voice replied, interspersed with static. "Do you require backup?"

"Negative on that central, we're 10-7 at the entrance of the local park on Park Avenue. We have three, I repeat, three girls, we'll take them all home."

"Copy that, unit ten,"

"Well girls, you caused a big panic at your home when you ran off like that," the officer explained.

The girls, who by this time had got to their feet and were standing, huddled together, looked worriedly at each other before they were led to the waiting patrol car.

A few minutes ride saw them back at Stephanie's house where the lights were ablaze and another police car was parked outside the house. Exiting the car, Stephanie saw her mom and dad rush out to meet them. They were both visibly upset and started talking at once as soon as got near.

"Young lady you have some explaining to do," her father said sternly.

"You scared us badly when you suddenly rushed off crying," her mom added, showing her emotional state with tears. "You disappeared for over two hours. It's now 1.30 in the morning." she continued.

"We didn't know what to do, so we called Mike. And 5 minutes later, all this." Her dad waved his hand, indicating the police presence.

"I'm sorry Mom, Dad, I didn't mean to hurt you… I just… the girls brought up a memory of something I thought I'd forgotten, and it hurt me, and I just wanted to hide from it all," she explained tearfully. She looked at the other girls, uncertain as to whether they would denounce her or not.

 

"Oh, honey, we were just scared you were going to leave us again. We didn't expect this sort of response to our call," Cathy explained, enfolding Stephanie in a hug. "If anything like this happens again to trigger unpleasant memories, just remember we love you and will do our best to help and comfort you."

"Thanks, Mom, Dad. That means a lot. It's just I didn't think… I just reacted. I need you to be understanding that certain memories I have are too painful too reveal… they are just too fresh," Stephanie said, looking at both of them for any argument.

"Stephanie, we will respect your privacy as long as it doesn't endanger your safety," her dad replied, leading her inside.

Just then, an unmarked police car drove up; it's single magnetically attached light flashing momentarily before going dark as Mike climbed out and hurried over.

"Everything all right here?" he asked, flashing a badge at the officers standing watching. He spoke to the officers, dismissing them, and came over to Stephanie.

"Yes, she's okay, just something that triggered a panic attack and sent her running scared." Keith explained, with a shrug.

"Anything I can help with?" he asked, looking at Stephanie.

"Mom, Dad? May I talk to Mike for a few minutes alone, please?" Stephanie asked.

"Okay, we'll go inside and make a cuppa. Don't be long or you'll get a chill," her mom replied, leading her dad inside the house.

"Okay, what's up?" Mike said quietly, as he looked over at Heather and Julia still standing nearby.

"They both know about me and Stephen, Mike. Can you talk to them to verify my story?" Stephanie asked, pleadingly.

"Sure, Stephanie, I know that you're not the same person I knew; but for her and for you, I'll always be here for you. Look, I'll talk to them and then run them home."

He walked over to the girls and spoke in hushed tones for a few minutes. The girls listened quietly, then asked a few questions as Mike moved them to his car. Stephanie wondered what would happen at their next meeting. She went inside as Mike drove off.

She walked to the bathroom, calling out to her parents that she was going to freshen up. Getting an acknowledgement, and a call to see them back in the dinning room, she went and washed the remains of her streaked makeup off. By the time she'd finished and was walking back to the dining room, she heard a knock on the door.

Calling out that she'd get it, Stephanie opened it to see Mike standing there with a grin on his face. Mike explained that he'd given the two girls a pocket history of the real Stephanie's life, and her ordeals with drugs and Chad's sexual activities, and how she was now far better off by living Stephen's life. Stepping inside, Mike took Stephanie's hand as she invited him in for a cuppa.

 

They had just sat down at the table with the cups of tea that Cathy had poured for them, when Stephanie stiffened and her gaze unfocused. She had this overwhelming feeling that Stephen was in trouble. It was hard to describe, but she knew he was in deep water trying to swim; she could feel his panic in the blackness. The kitchen where she sat sort of blanked out, leaving her in darkness where she heard or sensed a storm and waves crashing.

"Stephanie… Stephanie… what's wrong?" It took a few calls to register and bring her back out of the fugue she had experienced and back to the kitchen.

"Stephen's in trouble," she blurted. "I saw a storm and he was in the water swimming," she cried, feeling a gut wrenching sense of dread.

Mike looked at her, he knew something was wrong, after seeing her snap back out of a fugue state. Quickly, while Keith and Cathy looked on with shock, he grabbed the phone and rang the number of Stephen's home.

Everyone went quiet as he asked where Stephen was and, by his replies, they knew that Stephen was supposedly on a fishing trip somewhere between the Barrier Islands and Auckland. Mike explained that he was a police officer and had information that had just come to his attention, and asked them to call the coast guard, saying that Stephen was in trouble.

"Stephanie? How can you be so sure Stephen is in trouble, I mean he's a long way away?" her dad asked sceptically.

"We must have some sort of bond; I could sense it, as if I was near him," Stephanie replied, shrugging her shoulders.

Mike rang another number after hanging up from Stephen's home. They listened as he asked a few questions, then he turned and looked at them with an expression of worry as he hung up the phone.

"It seems as if there is a storm front moving in from the north-east, between North Cape and the Coromandel peninsula. That means they are smack in the middle of the storm; I just hope they can find them. There's been no radio contact from them and, as of this minute, no response to the radio calls to them. It looks bad; I hope that they are safe, since the coast guard can only reach the area in 10 hours by boat. No helicopter rescue is possible at this time.

They sat there, deep in their own thoughts as the implications of Stephanie's vision, coupled with the reality of a very real threat from the storm, sank in. Stephanie's quiet sob broke the silence, as she felt the fear increasing in the room.

===========

Stephen was swimming for his life, hoping that he could somehow catch the boat as it motored on unmanned. As he swam, he thought he saw Stephanie… STEPHANIE! … WHAT? The ghostly image seemed to float above the waves over towards his left. A mirage? Or was he becoming delirious? As he altered course to swim towards her, a shock of revulsion went though his body as he felt something slither past his legs. Thoughts of sharks or eels flashed though his mind until he realised it was a rope, probably one of those neatly coiled mooring lines that had once lain on the deck, now washed overboard and trailing behind the boat.

He made a desperate grab for it, feeling it slither thought his grip as the pain of trying to hold on tore the skin on his hands. Just as he feared it would slide though his grasp, the loop spliced on the end allowed him to get a hand though it. The sudden force of being jerked forward sent a wave of agony up his arms. Looking up, he saw no sign of Stephanie's image; it had vanished. Now another problem loomed, the waves he was being dragged though crashed over his head making breathing difficult.

Finding strength from somewhere, he managed to get a leg though the loop and then tried hauling in the rope. Time seemed to blur, and the agony increased, until he was working like a robot, pull…reach…pull…reach…pull. Suddenly, the waves crashing over him changed in intensity and seemed quieter. He could feel the turbulence from the wash of the boat as he neared the stern.

At last, the stern was within reach, and he struggled to grasp the stainless steel ladder that went from the waterline to the deck. He hung there, too tired to do more than grip it, while he caught his breath. The water, rushing past the underside of the boat, prevented him getting his feet close enough to step onto the ladder to climb up; so it was pull and reach again, slowly getting his body weight up the ladder, until he could put a foot firmly on the lowest rung.

Stephen lay on the deck, exhausted; every muscle was in pain, like he'd run several marathons one after the other. He looked at his bleeding palms and winced, seeing the blood running from the torn flesh. Knowing he had to move, he got to his knees and staggered up on unsteady legs.

He moved forward to the wheel and, looking at the compass and radar screen, opened the throttles and spun the wheel, turning the boat so that it ran with the waves. The boat surged with each wave as it dipped into the swell, then slowed momentarily as it crested the back of the next one. Stephen managed to locate a chart of the area on the computer console, and compared it with the GPS data. He then checked the radar images for any obstacles or vessels on the sea's surface. He was thankful that he'd taken the time to study how his father had used the high tech equipment to get exact positioning.

After ascertaining that he was heading in the right direction, he dashed forward to check on everyone. Finding that nothing much had changed, other than that their temperatures had risen, he went and got the first aid box out and carried it back to the wheel. He managed to wind some bandages around his hands, and wiped clean the blood he'd spilled on everything.

The wind increased until the waves were crashing over the stern, making the boat shudder. The smooth drone of the engines could hardly be heard over the scream of the wind's ferocity. Stephen was getting worried about whether the boat could survive the punishment being meted out by Mother Nature. He tried altering the speed to minimise the battering, speeding up just before a wave hit, then slowing to prevent crashing too hard into the one in front.

Time passed, and Stephen, who hadn't had time to eat or rest, was finding exhaustion creeping up on him. He was finding it hard to concentrate on the tasks at hand. Somehow, he kept going though the night, until he saw a light, then another. Checking the radar, he saw the coastline highlighted on the radar screen. Looking at the chart, he located the beacons he needed to enter the channel into Whangarei harbour.

Entering the channel, the seas grew calmer as the surrounding land broke much of the force from the winds. Throttling back the engines, Stephen tried to pick out the way in the darkness, using only the odd beacon and the glimmer of the town ahead as a guide.

As the jetty hove into view, Stephen started using the klaxon on the boat to alert anyone about at that time. As the loud blasts of sound echoed into the night, a man came out of a nearby shed to see what the fuss was. Slowing the boat to a crawl, Stephen coasted it against the jetty, jarring the boat against the bollards. Cutting the engines, Stephen stumbled on deck, and threw a rope to the waiting man before collapsing on the deck with fatigue. He heard the man shout to him as he made the boat fast, but Stephen was spent and lay there exhausted.

"Young fellow, are you okay?" the man asked, as he jumped aboard.

"People…sick, below… food poisoning…need hospital, quick." Stephen managed to gasp as he blacked out.

===========

"Honey, wake up," a voice intruded.

"Uhhhhh… okay, Mom," Stephanie mumbled, still half asleep.

"We have news of Stephen," her father's voice said, penetrating her sleep-blurred senses.

Stephanie came alert and sat up in bed. She drew the blankets up to her neck, as she saw her dad looking at her from where he sat on her bed.

"I know," she said, beating them to the punch. "He's OK; he made it to Whangarei," she added.

"How?… oh never mind, but yes, you're right. He is okay. Apparently he navigated the boat though a storm single-handed. His dad and the other passengers were suffering from…"

"Food poisoning," Stephanie filled in.

"You're scaring me, honey," her mom gasped in shock.

"It's okay, Mom, I just had this dream and saw it as it happened. I told you we had a bond," Stephanie interrupted.

She got up and hugged her, saying she was okay except for being hungry. Cathy smiled and told her to get dressed while she got breakfast ready.

By the time Stephanie wandered into the kitchen, breakfast was being served. Stephanie looked at the full plate of eggs and sausages with grilled tomatoes and toast.

"Mom… you expect me to eat all this?" she laughed.

"Of course! You need filling out. This will put some curves back on that body," her mom replied.

"Yeah, these sort," Stephanie said, indicating with her hands the outline of a huge stomach.

"Nonsense, honey, you lost a lot of your fat reserves in the last year. Adding a little will bring back the right sort of curves. Women have a higher ratio of fat to muscle than men. Give it a few weeks on a fat rich diet, and you'll not recognise yourself." She chuckled and busied herself in the kitchen, checking now and then, as Stephanie struggled to finish breakfast.

Asking if she could help, Stephanie was given the chore of washing the breakfast dishes. Doing so allowed her to take her mind off the worries she had about her revelation to her friends. The simple act allowed her to relax and not think of anything but the job in hand. When she had finished, she went outside, taking some of her homework that she needed to work on. Sitting in the morning sun, working on her books, she managed to bone up on a few critical subjects.

After a lunch of sliced ham on fresh bread rolls, which Cathy had popped down to the local hot bread shop to buy, Cathy suggested they go out for the afternoon to do some window-shopping.

"How much are windows these days?" quipped Stephanie. "I hope you have a big enough shopping bag," she added, laughing.

"Funnnnnnny?" Cathy retorted, giving her a mock clip around the ear. "You'll be paying if I see one I like," Cathy laughed back.

Just then, the phone rang. Stephanie ran and picked it up. It was Mike, with more news on Stephen and his dad. Stephen was okay. Except for some damage to his hands, he had bounced back from the exhaustion with a good night's sleep. His dad and the other passengers were recovering too, from salmonella poisoning. A local newspaper was calling Stephen a hero, as it was only due to his efforts that the others had survived at all.

Stephanie was so happy that everyone was safe and recovering well, and thanked Mike for the call. Hanging up, she rushed out to her mom to relate the good news. Cathy hugged her daughter, thankful that everything had turned out fine. She was glad that the phenomenon that had allowed Stephanie to see Stephen's plight didn't seem to be affecting her daughter in any adverse way. She smiled at Stephanie's whoops of joy at the news.

The afternoon passed quickly. Cathy watched Stephanie closely as they browsed in front of the shop windows. Stephanie seemed so much different from the girl she was a year ago. She was now taking an active interest in the fashions displayed in the stores. Even asking her advice about whether this or that style suited her. Before, she was only interested in her friends and seemed to hate shopping, being content to accept whatever her mother bought her.

'My baby's grown up, and I missed it' Cathy thought wistfully.

'Well, at least she's home again,' she mused.

"Ice-cream?"

"Oh, yes please, Mom," Stephanie answered, as they stopped outside 'Wendy's'.

"Only a small one, mind. I don't want you to spoil your appetite for dinner," Cathy chided gently.

Later that night, as Stephanie lay in bed, she thought about school in the morning and what might eventuate. She tried not to think about Heather and Julia's long awaited answer to her question.

As she walked to school alone, she saw Heather and Julia walking on the other side of the street with a few others. They seemed in deep conversation with them and, judging by the glancing looks she was getting from the others, it was about her. Trying not to let herself panic, Stephanie ignored the looks and concentrated on trying to appear calm and cool.

As she entered the school, a voice called out, "Stephanie, you're wanted in the office."

'Oh oh, what did I do this time?' she thought to herself as she veered towards the main office. Entering the foyer, she waited outside the office patiently as several teachers went in and out, until a warm contralto bid her enter.

Stephanie stepped inside to see a young woman with blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She was dressed in a conservative suit that gave her a smart look that complimented her femininity. Her legs, which showed from beneath the skirt, made Stephanie a little jealous. The woman stepped forward, smiling as she gestured to a seat.

"Hello, Stephanie, I'm Terri Sark. I hear that I have you to thank for this job," she said warmly.

"I'm sorry, it just happened." Stephanie apologised, shrugging her shoulders.

"I'm not, and you have nothing to apologise for. I heard the full story, and I hope to restore your faith in principals in general." She sat on the edge of her desk, looking at Stephanie. "Now, we need to set up a test to find out for the records just what your ability level is. I know your mom did an unofficial one, but for the records, and to quash any taint of favouritism, we need to do another. For now, I'll put you in with the year you should have been, had you not lost a year of schooling. Come back at fourth period, and I'll give you the test instead of doing gym."

"Thank you, ma'am?"

"Call me Terri, ma'am seems so… old," she laughed. "Okay. run along now and I'll see you later."

Moving to her locker. Stephanie saw more clusters of girls gathering around Heather. They seemed to be giving her the same sidelong glances at her as did the ones on the way into school. Obviously, something was brewing, Stephanie noted, when she happened to catch one of the girls eye, a quick flash of a smile from the other girl. It didn't seem a predatory smile or a nasty one, just an acknowledging one.

Stephanie didn't know if she wanted to go over and confront Heather or not. Sighing, she opened her locker, put her lunch in, and took out some of the books she needed. As she walked towards the group on her way to class, the bell rang and everyone separated, going to their own classes.

Heather caught up to her, and started to talk.

"I heard you saw the new principal, what was that all about? I hope you're not in trouble again."

Stephanie looked at Heather, surprised at her concern.

"No, she wanted to see me about taking another test to see if I can handle staying at my right year, instead of being held back."

"What's she like? I heard she's really nice."

"She is. I felt like she wasn't judging me on my past. She didn't even mention anything about drug abuse, or look down on me because I had been a user," Stephanie concurred.

"So, where are you off to now?"

"English with Mr Pickles, same as you."

"Okay… hey! You mean…?"

"Yes, I'm staying with you, until the test confirms my status."

"Great," she said, giving Stephanie a hug.

"Heather, about the other night. You still haven't answered me, can we still be friends?" Stephanie persisted.

"Um, can it wait till later? I have something planned," she replied enigmatically.

"Sure… I… it wasn't my fault, Heather. I had no choice in the matter. It just happened, and now we're stuck as each other." Stephanie tried to explain, as they sat down in class.

Heather smiled at her, but didn't reply, as the teacher came in and asked for quiet. He then welcomed Stephanie, explaining to the rest of the class that Stephanie was returning after a year's absence. He started class and told Stephanie not to worry if she felt left behind, that he'd make allowances for her and for her to just do her best to catch up.

Stephanie liked the teacher's manner and the calm matter of fact way he treated her. Fortunately, the lesson was about a subject she, as Stephen, was familiar with. She felt that her responses to questions were accepted with more than a little surprise from both the teacher and the other students. She thought that the other students, barring Heather, expected her to fall flat on her face, and were rather disappointed at how quickly she responded.

At first break, Stephanie saw a group of students, mostly in the same year as herself, approaching her as she sat eating a snack. Heather and Julia were in the lead, and Stephanie noted that Koos and Kevin were there, along with the others that were at the party.

As they neared, Heather spoke, obviously the leader of the group, "Stephanie, we, as your fellow students, have something to say to you. We didn't officially welcome you back. So, this is to say that we're glad you came back. You gave all of the people here a message that getting hooked on drugs isn't the end of life, and that you can overcome and beat it. That you're back at school is also an indication that you consider it important to finish schooling, and not just bum around the rest of your life."

With that, she came and hugged Stephanie, whispering in her ear that she was going to help her be the best Stephanie she could be. Julia came and joined in the hug, as the others gathered around adding their welcomes and hugs.

Stephanie felt tears filling her eyes. To be accepted as just one of the girls was like a dream come true. To have friends like this was like having the sun come bursting though the clouds. She couldn't speak, she was so choked up with emotion. Knowing that both Heather and Julia accepted her as a friend was doubly sweet. She sat there weeping in joy, as the girls all hugged her and the boys shuffled their feet, trying not to look embarrassed.

The rest of the day passed in a blur as her joy seemed to override everything else. The test was a piece of cake and Stephanie knew she'd aced it. Heather invited her home, saying Julia was coming to help give Stephanie her first 'Girl lesson' in Makeup 101.

Getting the okay with a phone call home, Stephanie walked home with Heather. Julia came later, after stopping off at home to bring 'the essentials'. Stephanie was agog at the large case she brought. She joked that Julia would need a car to bring the full kit. After getting some refreshments from Heather's mom, Joanne, who insisted that Stephanie try some of her home baking, Heather took the girls to her bedroom.

Stephanie had only a limited knowledge of makeup, all learnt by trial and error (mostly error). It was like being thrown in the deep end as Heather sat back and let Julia quiz Stephanie on her own expertise. Stephanie admitted her knowledge was lacking in every department, and that she needed all the help she could get.

Julia started slowly, explaining the why and the how of good makeup. She had Stephanie sit in front of the vanity mirror while she applied the makeup. She did half of Stephanie's face, which brought out the contrast, and then she had Stephanie try to match it by applying it herself.

Stephanie acquitted herself well, as she tried her best to match Julia's handiwork. They experimented with different looks, going though normal daywear to night, and minimal to attention grabbing. Julia gave her a bag containing the shades that suited Stephanie's complexion, saying these were all free samples that her mother had given her from her job in the beauty parlour.

"Tomorrow, we'll come over and sort out your wardrobe for you," they laughed. Stephanie joined in, happy that she felt like her life had taken a turn for the better at last.

===========

Stephen was discharged from the hospital the next day, after having his hands treated and being kept overnight in a ward so he could recover from his lack of sleep. He visited his dad and the passengers after breakfast, checking on their progress. His dad was sitting up and looking much better when he entered.

"Hi, Dad, how are you feeling this morning?" he asked anxiously.

His dad motioned him over, patting the bed in an invitation. Stephen sat on the bed as his father took one of his bandaged hands and squeezed it gently.

"Son," he said huskily, "I've never been so proud of you as I am right now. You not only saved me and the passengers, but you brought the boat home safely in a storm that I'd be hard pressed to navigate in. I hear that you fell overboard and had to swim for your life to catch the boat."

Stephen blushed. It was the first time that he felt as if he'd accomplished something worthwhile; and the praise from his dad gave him a heady feeling.

"Thanks, Dad, but if it wasn't for Stephanie…"

"Stephanie?" his dad questioned.

"Yeah, I saw her image that night in the ocean, and started to swim towards her. That's when I felt the rope… if not for that, I…we, might never have survived."

"Hmm, well anyway, you still did an excellent job. I must ask her if she felt something that night. Perhaps she loves you and she possibly knew you were in trouble. I've heard of stranger stuff than that happening. I'd think carefully, Stephen, she could be your soul mate." he said speculatively.

"Well, I do have feelings for her, but she's still at school, Dad."

"No matter, son, there's no rush; just give it time. That way, you'll both be sure. Now, go check on the boat. I hear there's reporters hanging around. Maybe you can tell them your story."

"Okay, Dad, I love you." Stephen said, hugging his dad before he left.

"Ditto, Son."

Stephen left the hospital and caught a cab to the wharves. As he started to approach the moored craft, he saw a reporter and a cameraman from the TV2 news. They asked if he was the lad that skippered the boat in on the night of the storm, and wondered if he would agree to an interview. He agreed to an interview, but tried to downplay his role in it.

He stayed aboard the boat after getting the broken window and the radio repaired. He watched his interview on the news that night, grimacing at his untidy look. The next day, several more reporters were waiting as he went ashore to check on his dad.

He found that being a celebrity was nice, but awkward at the same time. He liked the attention, but the insistent questions from the reporters left him drained. Being hailed the hero made him feel a little embarrassed. In retrospect, what he did could be termed heroic; but, at the time, it was just a matter of survival. The successful result could have easily turned into a tragedy. They made a big deal out of the swim for his life after he fell overboard, along with him having torn hands as he struggled to get back onboard.

His dad was standing by reception, using a phone, when he finally made it to the hospital.

"Hi, Son," he greeted him. "Just in time to take me back to the boat," he added at Stephen's surprised look.

"They let you out? Are you okay now?" Stephen queried, taking hold of the small bag of personal possessions his dad was holding. "What about the others, are they coming too?"

"No, they are staying longer; I think they ate more than I did. And, yes, I'm fine, although the doc says no overdoing it for a few days. We'll take the boat back to Auckland and see what happens. You okay on taking the boat home with me?"

"You bet, Dad," Stephen said excitedly as they made their way out to the entrance.

===========

"Stephanie, may I have a word with you for a moment?" Miss Sark asked, as Stephanie entered the hallway leading to her school locker.

"Of course, Miss Sark," Stephanie answered politely.

"Sit down, please, while I get your results from the test," Miss Sark said as they entered her office.

Stephanie sat demurely, keeping her knees together, feeling somewhat anxious.

"I'm very pleased to tell you your marks were excellent. So, you will be staying with your peers this year. I hope to see a continued effort to maintain your grades for the finals at the end of the year."

"Oh, thank you very much," Stephanie gushed. She felt the weight lift off her shoulders as the small lingering doubt about the test vanished like a summer breeze.

Teri Sark smiled at her, thinking. 'She seems so anxious to please, it must have been a terrible time for her'. "Go on back to class now, and I'll inform your teachers of my decision."

Stephanie bounded back to her locker, feeling like singing. She saw Heather there and gave her a hug.

"What's all that for?" she asked in surprise.

"Oh nothing, it's just great to be alive, and things seem to be finally coming good," Stephanie answered with a laugh.

"Well, if it's that good, how about helping me with these books? They're darn heavy." Heather juggled her books precariously, before Stephanie grabbed a few off the top.

"Thanks."

"No problemo."

"You know, the package is the same, but the person inside is way different," Heather whispered in her ear. "Not that I'm complaining, mind, it's a little hard to come to terms with. You are much more outgoing than the old Stephanie ever was."

"Oh?" Stephanie replied.

"Don't worry about the others, they probably won't notice, but Julia does. We were that much closer to you than the others." Heather walked slowly to first class. "I think I like the new Stephanie. You're more fun, and we can get to play dress up with you," she giggled.

All that week after school, Stephanie and the two girls worked on improving Stephanie's fashion sense. As her expertise improved, she noticed that the boys at school were taking more notice of her. The reputation she had of a reformed junkie still had them stand off a little, but one or two came along and tried talking to her as a potential date. She didn't mind their attentions and come-on lines, even though she knew them all for what they were. It was rather flattering, and she knew her acceptance as a girl by them meant she had managed to overcome the last hurdle on the route to womanhood. But she didn't take up any offers, other than one from Koos to see a movie. She knew in her heart that someone else was destined to be her life-mate.

Cathy noticed the changes in her daughter, the way she dressed and the way she interacted with everyone. Stephanie was more outgoing and, although she seemed happy, Cathy was a little concerned. Stephanie rarely dated, and Cathy was wondering what was wrong.

"Stephanie? Can we have a talk?" she asked one morning.

"Sure, Mom, anything the matter?"

"Well… maybe you can tell me. I noticed the girls are often over, but hardly any boys. You aren't having problems relating to boys now are you, after your experiences last year?"

"No, Mom, not at all," Stephanie replied, giving Cathy a hug. "It's just I have no interest in the boys at school, other than for the occasional movie treat."

"Your not interested in girls then?" her mom asked, biting her lips.

Stephanie laughed. "Of course, I'm interested in girls, they have been helping me a lot; but I'm not interested in them romantically. No, I have my heart set on someone special… I just hope he feels the same," she sighed.

Cathy felt the weight of ages lift from her shoulders. "Honey, for your sake I hope he does too. Care to divulge his name? Is it anyone we know?" she inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Umm… I'd rather not say anything at the moment, at least not until I find out whether he feels the same way. I'm not sure yet if I'm just reaching for something unattainable," Stephanie answered, looking imploringly at her mom.

"Okay, honey, I was just getting worried you might be missing out. I'll leave you alone until you feel that it's safe to tell me. Remember, I'm always here for you, anytime," Cathy said with a hug, before moving into the kitchen with some dirty dishes.

Stephanie was just about to get dressed to go out when the phone rang. She heard her mom answer it, then call out that it was for her. She went into her bedroom and picked up the extension, yelling to her mom that she had got it. She heard the phone click as her mom put the phone down.

"Hello, Stephanie speaking."

"Stephanie, it's Stephen. How are you?"

"Stephen! Oh, I'm so glad to hear your voice… well, my old voice," she giggled.

"Yeah, sorry it took so long, but I was bringing the boat back from the trip north, and we stopped to do some fishing. How is school going? I hope Heather and Julia are helping you cope."

"Oh, they are. We are the best of friends…still. School is going well, there were a few problems at first, but everything's been sorted out. I wish I could see you again, I miss you."

"Me too! By the way, I'd like to thank you for saving my life, that night of the storm."

"Oh, I did nothing, I just had this vision of you in trouble and told Mike."

"More than you know; while I was swimming, I saw a vision of you in the night. That's what saved me, I turned towards you and that's how I found a trailing mooring line that had washed overboard. If it wasn't for that, I'd have missed it and never managed to get back on board," Stephen explained.

"WOW! That's awesome… I did feel like I was there somehow, but I never realised… wow, that's totally weird!" Stephanie gushed.

"Yeah… my…your dad said we must be soul-mates or something… Stephanie? Are you still there?"

Stephanie's heart did a thump, and a feeling of déja vu came over her. Intuitively, she knew that they were indeed soul mates. Now, all she needed was to find out if Stephen believed so too.

To be continued…

  

  

  

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