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forgotten, their attention concentrated again on the pleasures of their immediate surroundings. Peter, showing off, swam outward for several yards in a fast crawl and then lay floating on his back. He spat out salt water, hoping he would be noticed by the girls and wondering whether he could speak to them without appearing too forward.
    Seemingly oblivious to the young man in the water who had approached so near to them, the three girls, up to their knees in shallow water, were wading along the foreshore, splashing each other and laughing in delight.
    They were just a few yards from him. Peter watched as one of the girls slipped and suddenly sat down in the water. This caused considerable amusement among them for they shrieked with laughter. Peter, fascinated, could not take his eyes off them, especially the smaller of the three who had waded out from the beach and who was now standing up to her waist in water. He watched as she plunged forward with her arms outstretched, swam a few strokes, and then, almost immediately, was on her feet again, but now shoulder deep in water, spluttering and laughing, and a little closer to him.
    Drifting with the tide, the fibrous husk of a coconut floated towards Peter. Holding out a hand, he caught the water-sodden husk as it drew near and, without a second thought, tossed it towards the girl who, at that moment, had turned her face towards him. The husk dropped with a splash not more than an inch from her nose. Giving a little cry of feigned annoyance, she rebuked him in Chinese, wagged a finger at him, and then catching hold the husk tossed it back at him. He laughed and again plonked the husk near her; then he dived under the water, swimming with the tide, allowing it to carry him towards her. Bobbing up alongside her and laughing, he greeted her, “Hello.” She ignored him. He blew out a mouthful of water. “Aren’t you going to say hello?” he pleaded, smiling. Then the fast tide carried him away from her.
    The girl had an amused smile on her face when she again threw the husk back towards him. But the husk plopped into the water halfway between them. Both hurried towards it, Peter swimming, whilst she waded out into even deeper water. Each reached for the husk and were soon fighting for it, all the while laughing and splashing each other. The Chinese girl took hold of the husk and would not let go, and Peter felt her floating hair sweep across his face. Reaching out a hand he playfully pushed her head under the water, just for a few seconds, then let go but she seemed to lose her balance and was floundering, and the next moment she disappeared below the surface. She came up choking and gasping for air, then with a gurgled scream she sank again. Peter, to his horror, suddenly realized that the girl could not swim. Frantically grabbing her floating hair, he pulled her head to the surface. He then slipped an arm around her to keep her from sinking again. She was coughing and spluttering but she did not struggle as he pulled her towards the shore. Obviously frightened at what had taken place, her two girlfriends waited in the shallows until Peter was close enough for them to help their friend to the safety of the beach. There she lay on the sand, shaking with fright, coughing up water, spluttering, and eventually swearing loudly in Cantonese at Peter.
    Embarrassed, Peter was standing over her saying, “I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry. Please forgive me.”
    The girl swore at him again. Eventually, though, she sat up, still coughing and stared at him angrily.
    â€œI didn’t realize you couldn’t swim, and I did say I’m sorry,” said Peter.
    â€œGo away. You very bad boy,” the girl said, glaring at him.
    But Peter did not go away.
    The two girlfriends began to giggle and appeared to joke about him to each other. Then they left their friend alone with him and returned to the water.
    Not knowing what to do next and certainly not