I crashed onto my downy pillow as I closed my exhausted eyes. Behind my eyelids, I could see a large blue wave curling towards me as I waited patiently before standing at the last moment and rode eccentrically down until I reached a few feet to the shore. My fan whipped noisily above me, but it was blocked off as all I was able to here was the rolling and thrashing of huge waves as they tumbled over each other, racing to the shore. I took in a breath of fresh air but a strong whiff of the salt ocean and seaweed overtook me. I smiled to myself as I reached from under my low bed to my long, surfboard. Tomorrow was competition and I had been waking up at 3:30 in the morning until midnight practicing long and hard for the following day. I let sleep over take me as I dreamt about waves and surfing and winning the competition until I was woken at eight. "Ready?" My dad asked with a huge smile on his face. Never had he had one of his students win a competition and he had a feeling that today was finally the year. I smiled back although my stomach rose with butterflies as I tried to choke down my toast.
"Good luck, Kioni!" My older brother Jhonothon greeted as he sleepily took the phone as he ritually called up his girlfriend as he did after he woke every morning. I let the beautiful Hawaiian breeze overtake me as me and my father walked to the beach where there was already crowds swarming. I smiled and wove to my friends as I took my number and got dressed in my green rash-guard and shorts. Finally the air horn was blown and all of the contestants pedaled vigorously into the dark blue ocean foaming with salty white foam. As I shook off seaweed I paddled farther and farther as for the next past hour I did what I did best: let the waves overtake me as I forgot everything around me as I rode through strong waves. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, we sadly had to paddle back into the shore. I turned back to the ocean as I let the warm sand cake onto my bare wet feet I walked towards the judges table with the crowd of my opponents.
"Number Nine!" They called as I gasped in surprise. Everyone congratulated me and as I thanked them I smiled as I went up to the judge's table.
"Kioni, Kioni, are you glad you won?" reporters crowded towards me. I nodded to the blue-green ocean as I smiled.
"Yes. But I don't think it should be considered a contest, because this is what we all love to do best, and you have to give us credit for all of our unique styles." I said as I acknowledged the group of opponents behind me as they smiled and crowded around me in a big group hug.