Christmas in Barbados is different. Forget snow and scarves—we do Christmas in flip-flops, sweating through church services and pretending to feel festive because there’s tinsel on a palm tree. Everyone’s singing “Mary’s Boy Child” as if they’re auditioning for Caribbean Idol, and someone’s auntie is halfway through a bottle of Mount Gay before 11 a.m.
But my weirdest Christmas was when I was about 19—that magical age when you’re convinced you’re grown, but you still have braces. My mum had taken me “back home” to spend the holidays with family. I was excited because 1) I needed a break from university, 2) I could finally escape the British winter, and 3) I was ready to find a husband.
Enter Dwayne, my grandad’s neighbour’s grandson. He had the kind of Bajan confidence that comes from growing up near a beach and being told since birth that you’re handsome. He wore his flip-flops as if they were designer shoes. He was 24, shirtless, and could open a coconut with a machete.
We were all at the Christmas beach picnic, the air smelling like ham, pepperpot and sea salt. My auntie was blasting “Soca Santa” from her car speakers. My plan was simple: swim, eat, and act like I wasn’t bothered that Dwayne’s abs had their own postcode.
I saw he was cooking flying fish on the barbecue and figured it was the perfect time to flirt. I offered to “help”—and, within seconds, managed to drop an entire tray of raw fish into the sand. Dwayne tried to save them but people were still saying, “Who put the beach in the food?”
I knew I needed a new tactic to impress him, so I decided to play it cool—the casual kind of cool you see in music videos. I strutted into the sea like Rihanna in slow motion … or so I thought. The water was crystal clear, glittering under the sun, and I was convinced this was my time to shine—a proper island-girl goddess moment. I even threw a little glance over my shoulder at Dwayne, just to make sure he was watching. He was. Unfortunately, so was everyone else.
Here’s the thing: the Barbados sea doesn’t care about your confidence. It’s not the peaceful, flirty waves you see on postcards—it’s full of power.
The first wave hit my knees. Fine. I smiled. The second hit my hips—dramatic but manageable. The third, though? The third was a full-on attack. It came out of nowhere, slapped me across the chest, and sent me somersaulting like a Christmas turkey in a washing machine. That wave was disrespectful.
When I finally resurfaced, my sunglasses were gone, my hair was drenched, and my bikini top had clocked out for the day. I emerged from the water gasping, hair in my mouth, one boob out. I looked less like a sexy beach goddess and more like a drowned rat.
And just when I thought maybe, maybe, no one had noticed, Dwayne started to clap. Slowly. Like I’d just performed an interpretive dance titled Girl v Nature: The Struggle.
My mum shouted from under the beach umbrella, “You good, baby?”—which is Caribbean for: “You’ve embarrassed the whole family, but we still love you.” I gave a thumbs-up, tried to laugh it off, and pretended the seawater running down my face was tears of festive joy.
For the rest of the day, Dwayne kept calling me “Baywatch”—I might have been flattered if he hadn’t laughed a little every time he said it. I learned one big lesson that Christmas: flirting is a little like swimming in the sea—best attempted when you’re prepared, sober and fully strapped in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the story My weirdest Christmas I was flirting with my crush like crazy when a huge wave came out of nowhere and ruined everything
General Story Questions
Q What is this story about
A Its a personal humorous and slightly embarrassing story about someones attempt to flirt with their crush on Christmas which was completely derailed by an unexpected and huge wave
Q Where did this happen
A While not specified the mention of a huge wave suggests it likely happened at a beach a coastal park or a waterfront during a Christmas gathering
Q Was anyone hurt by the wave
A The story focuses on the social ruin not physical injury The damage was likely to pride clothing and the romantic moment not people
Q Is this a common Christmas story
A No its the oppositea weirdest Christmas story Most involve family gifts or snow not rogue waves interrupting a flirtation
Social Flirting Questions
Q How do you even flirt like crazy
A It likely means they were being very bold giving lots of compliments using playful body language and engaging in sustained witty conversationputting all their effort into it
Q Why is flirting on Christmas weird or different
A Christmas adds a unique pressure There are familyfriends around its an emotionally charged holiday and you might be trying to create a special moment making a public setback feel much worse
Q Whats the biggest mistake when trying to recover from a moment like this
A Panicking or getting overly upset The best move is usually to laugh at yourself acknowledge the absurdity and focus on cleaning up together Getting angry can make it awkward
Q Can an event like this help your chances with a crush
A Surprisingly yes How you handle unexpected disaster shows your personality If youre a good sport laugh it off and stay kind it can be a memorable bonding story that makes you more relatable and attractive
Logistical Advanced Questions
Q How could a wave come out of nowhere on Christmas
A A few ways a
