Blackbird by Nicole Salmond Page A

said kissing
Claire’s cheek. “How was the beach?”
    Claire dropped her handbag on Dave’s kitchen bench
top and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It was amazing! I learnt to surf!”
    “You what?”
    “I learnt to surf. It was so awesome. Have you
ever done it before?”
    “No I haven’t.” Dave paused “It’s a bit dangerous
for a girl, don’t you think?”
    Claire pulled her arms away. “Excuse me?”
    Dave placed his hands on her hips trying to pull
her closer. “I’m just saying it’s not really a woman’s sport.”
    Claire brushed his hands away. “Are you serious?”
she snapped. “Women can do every sport that a man can do.”
    “Not every kind.”
    “Name one?” Claire said, putting her hands on her
hips, unimpressed with his ideologies on this topic.
    “Just because women do the sport doesn’t mean they
should.”
    Dave’s face was serious.
    “Are you kidding me? What world do you live in? Since when are men superior to women?”
    “Do you really want me to answer that, Claire?”
    He was serious. What a dick!
    “You know what, don’t answer that question,”
Claire said as she grabbed her bag from the counter and stormed off, slamming
the front door behind her. She stomped down the staircase and towards her
parked car. Jumping into her car, she had just turned the engine over when her
phone rang. Without even looking at the caller ID Claire answered. “Unless
you’re calling to apologize and say how wrong you are, I don’t want to fucking
talk to you!”
    “Claire? What’s wrong?” Nate’s voice sounded
concerned.
    “Shit, sorry.” Claire’s voice calmed. She paused
before asking “What are your views on women doing ‘men’s’ sports. Do you think it’s okay? Do you think men are superior to women?”
    “Why do you wanna know
what I think?”
    “Nate, please, just tell me.”
    “Okay, then, well, I think that all women can do whatever they want. Regardless of if you’re a woman or man, you are free to live your life the way you want,
provided it’s within the law of course. We live in an age right now where women
have rights and have a voice, so they have every right to use them.”
    At least another male could see sense in it. Nate
might be an off the rails kind of bad boy but at least he had morals and
values.
    “What about men and women are equal?”
    “Of course we are equal,” he replied. “Well, equal
until it comes to sex, of course. Some women can become very demanding in that
area,” he laughed.
    Claire laughed along with him. ‘So
typical of you to turn the conversation around to sex.”
    “It’s true, though. Admit it.”
    Claire did admit it, but she wasn’t about to tell
Nate that. “What are you up to right now?”
    “What, has all this sex talk got you thinking-?”
    “No!” Claire interrupted. “No, Nate, we are still
only friends. I just wanted to chill out and not have to think about anything.”
    “I’m actually going to a friend’s Halloween party
soon, if you wanna come? It’s not really chilling out
though-”
    “Going to a party sounds awesome.” Claire said
quickly.
    Anything to get her mind off
what just happened.
    “Great, well it’s a costume party so if you can
get one ready and come to my place in a couple of hours we can go?”
    “I’ll be there.”
    “Okay, see you soon.”
    “ Seeya ,” Claire said,
hanging up the phone.
    She looked down at her phone. No messages from
Dave…and he hadn’t even followed her out to the car, either. Fine, have it
your way , she thought.
    Claire pulled out of her park and drove down the
street. Now all she needed was a costume.
     
    ***
     
    “Wow.”
    Claire looked down at her costume. She didn’t have
much to work with, and this was all she had been able to come up with. She was
wearing a white leotard with a matching white tutu she had borrowed from
Stella. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and she wore white flat
ballet shoes.
    “Wow as in good or