“Do we have to wear like her?” whispered Malee to Mary. Georgia was wearing a bikini which literally displayed almost all of her arms, legs and her back as she walked out of the door. Malee couldn’t imagine wearing anything like this out on to the beach in full view of the crowd.

“No. But you can’t be going out as well. Here is your swimwear. Go and Change then come and help me with the drinks.” said Mary as she took out a set of swinwear from the bag she was carrying. Malee nodded and went into a nearby room and locked the door. It was a single piece swimwear, in red, which covers half the arms and legs till the knees. Even though it wasn’t as flashy as what Georgia was wearing, Malee thought what would her father said if he saw his daughter in that dress. Malee’s thoughts were broken by the sound of the fridge opening and she rushed out to help Mary with the drinks.

Mary herself was wearing the same piece of swimwear as Malee, but in different color, blue. She turned around to see Malee in the dressed and smiled.

“You look wonderful dear. Its ok. Come and help me to bring the drinks outside to Georgia.” said Mary while she went back to the fridge.

Malee picked up the tray on the counter that Mary had placed the drinks and walked out towards the beach trying not to spill the drinks. Georgia was already laying on the chair underneath the big umbrella a few meter away from the front door. There were also a few more chairs with their respective umbrellas on the beach, which Malee assumed had been prepared for Mary and her. Malee placed the tray on the table besides where Georgia was resting and breathed in deep clean air from the beach. Malee stretched her arms in the air as her long hair waved in the ocean wind.

Then she suddenly realised while she had been to the exact same beach several times, the air was never that clean nor beach empty with people. It was always full of children shouting and running around on the beach with various vendors selling their wares and barbecue meat, filling the surrounding air with the smell of burnt meat. There were none of it where Malee was standing. It was all peace and quiet with pure ocean wind rubbing against her cheeks.

“Why are you standing? Sit down and take a drink.” said Georgia who finally noticed Malee standing behind her in amazement.

“Where are we? There are no people here.” asked Malee as she sat down by the chair besides Georgia.

Mary too had came out of the villa by that time with a small plastic bag along with a few towels and sat down at one of the chairs.

“This is a private beach, Malee. No tourists here.” said Mary as she opened the plastic bag.

“Sunscreen dear?” asked Mary to Georgia.

“Not yet. Lets relax and drink for a while.” said Georgia as she took a sip from one of the cups that Malee had brought. Malee handed another cup to Mary and she took the last for herself. Either they had came out of the house too early or there were less traffic than usual but the sun still not completely out yet for Georgia to have a swim at the beach.

“You still have not tell me how you learnt to draw.” asked Georgia, only moving her lips.

Malee told her about the drawings and graffitis she made when she was a children in the slum, playing with other children in the dumpsite. Add subsequently, selling fried potato around the neighbourhood and at beaches during peak seasons.

“I see. No wonder your strokes are calm. Unlike the brother of mine.” remarked Georgia as she turned around to show her bared-back for everyone to see. Mary took a glass bottle from the bag and squeezed out a few drops of brown liquid on her hands. She then rubbed Georgia’s back and her legs with her hand till they were also brownish in color. Once done, Georgia jumped out of the chair and ran towards the beach.