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C7 - Tuesday /

{Earth Reveals Her True Self} (The One Who Found The Code)

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Kyrie Eleison.

The world around me materialized into view. Without any need for my eyes to adjust to a change in luminance. It was all just different shades of dark. It felt like five o'clock. The sun was almost highlighting the atmosphere. It was the last few minutes before twilight and, If you strained to look, there was just enough ambiance, coming through the window, to distinguish shadows and shapes. And the subtle movements of the girl sitting up, stretching, to my right.

Pam's silhouette was pushing upwards to the ceiling. Her back against the headboard, arched slightly. Swaying left to right. It wasn't just off the cuff, this seemed proficient, exercised, practised. Yoga like.

Full C-cups, pushed up and away. Her eyes were half closed, surrounded in a veil of reverie. Her hair flowed off of her head, down her back, like a cowl. Texturally glowing in waves of a loftier, silkier gray. Palms up to the sky. She serpentined her neck and let out a light content sigh.

"Morning," I offered.

"Yeah, it is." She blithely replied.

Emily's voice muffled softly off my chest, "You have a cute snore."

Pam tilted her head down, looking to her left, "I snore?"

"Mmmhmm. But it’s really cute. Soothing."

She looked to me for confirmation. "It's more of a himnnnnnnnnnnn than a snore."

"With an mmmmhhh at the end," Em dreamily added.

"What time is it?" I half laughed.

"A little after seven."

"Seriously? Why is it so damn dark?"

"There's a really bad storm on the other side of the river, the clouds are black," she said, then she leaned down, put her arms around us and kissed us both on the forehead. With a hum, she blissfully rose up and out of the bed. Turned to the window and stretched in a vigor. "Really black… It looks like Armageddon over there. What are you guys doing today?"

"I was thinking of grabbing some breakfast, then coming back and catching up on our show, then maybe going for a ride down to that cafe. If the storm stays over that way. Unless Em has anything she'd like to do."

"Nnhhnn. That sounds nice. I do want to work on my program, though. There's another gremlin that I may have cornered." She mumbled into my chest.

"Bring your laptop, I'll bring my camera. I love watching you chase dragons. What about you, Pamillasaurus Chest?"

"I'm going to wheel this cot to my room and interrogate Carol, before the day starts. Then maybe I'll join you guys for coffee, so I can gossip. Then, I'll go back to my room and read. Nimmy gave me a book. All his research on the types of dog training techniques and the different needs depending on service type… I do want to do the confidence course at two though. That looks like fun."

"Is that what they were setting up on the other side of the field?"

"Yeah. Looks like a blast. Finally, something challenging."

"Em? What do you think? A two o'clock date with a rope wall and some mud?"

"Mmmhmm." she perked.

Pam was looking out the window, wiggling into her team shorts. She turned and caught Emily watching, "You keep looking at me like that and I'm going to have to hide a wet spot walking back to my room."

Em just smiled.

"Oh! Before I go,", buttoning up her shirt, "I was wondering?" She hit shift on the keyboard, the screen lit up, she scrolled back a few frames, "can I have a copy of that?" The monitor turned in our direction. To the picture of Emily and the flower. I looked at Em. She nodded against my chest. I got a paper and pen, 'dcim four three zero seven'.

"Write down your e-mail, I'll copy all these to a cd and Em can send it to you."

"You don't need a cd, I have an sd card slot on the side."

"Seriously?"

Mmmhmm."

"Might be time for an upgrade. One less adaptor to worry about losing."

"You wouldn't mind if I had it printed and framed would you?"

I looked at Em. She approved.

"All yours."

"Yes! Thanks. And thank you both, for a very, wonderful evening," she sighed, then skipped to the door, pulling the cot behind her.

The door shut, behind the bounce in her hips, muffling the sound of one squeaky wheel chirping down the hall.

"Do you think they have a laundry room here?"

"Maybe. If not I'm sure we can find a place to do wash. No better way to meet the locals. You low on clothes?"

"Mmhmm. Jeans. I only brought two. Didn't plan on needing more."

"We could just stay in this bed for the rest of the week. Then we wouldn't have to worry about it."

"That would be nice too. Hungry?"

"Yes, Ma'am. You?"

"Mmmhmm."

We showered and dressed and gathered ourselves together. A few minutes later we were sitting at a table ordering food.

Pam met us at the dining room, a short time after we sat down. We were already lost in the delectable world of short cakes and bacon when she came in. Bouncing. With a sly grin plastered completely across her face. I'd seen that look before, in many a mischievous eye. Usually, just before someone else said, 'touche', or 'asshole'. I nudged Em.

"Cheshire Cat's been naughty."

She caught my sight line and watched Pam strut up to our table.

"You've got canary feathers on your cheek there. Feel like spitting the poor bird out?"

"Coffee first." She impishly replied.

I poured her a cup. She swirled the sugar and milk with purpose, took a big sip and put the cup down.

"Ahhhhhhh. I'm gonna be coming here a lot. And not just for this coffee, they have some of the best food I've ever scarfed."

Emily, kept an expectant leer…

"Yeah they do. I almost forgot what real food was like myself."

…for about a second…

"I've eaten at some of the best restaurants in the city. Even the sandwiches here put them to shame."

…and a half. Her brown eyes scrunched coyly. She curiously queried, "What did you do?"

"Me? Nothing… Really! I walked in nice and quiet… Honestly… I was actually expecting Suzzanne to be gone. And Carol up and getting ready. That's how it always worked in college. But, they weren't gone, or anywhere near ready. They were still cuddled up, like cute little kittens, fast asleep. Their own little litter of two. I pulled the cot into the room and bumped into the night stand and Suzie woke up. She saw me, and damn near shit. She may have farted." Pam chuckled, "She stood up, taking the blanket with her, leaving Carol naked as a jay bird. Carol opened her eyes, saw Suzie's ass and smiled. Then she looked at me and gave me wooohoo face. I pushed Suzzanne back into bed and told them, they had a few minutes, stay warm. Then I pushed her over, and I pulled us into nice and cozy girl cuddle. Haven't had one of those since junior high. After a few minutes Carol said, 'This is nice.' I agreed. Suzzanne actually hummed. Then I kissed them both on the forehead, got out of bed and told them, they had five minutes to get ready for the first event. They scrambled in a panic and were dressed and out the door in two. Suzzanne did get Carol in a bear hug with a big kiss before they left though. That was cute. Then I took a quick shower and came here."

"You do realize everyone is going to smell the sex on them, all day?" I inquired.

"I realized that when I was walking in here. Hence, the shit eating grin."

We laughed, and talked until Em and I were done eating, then we went our separate ways. Pam went to 'read'. (just kidding) Em and I went and caught up to speed on our show.

Around eleven o'clock we went for a quick ride. I snapped some shots of the boats on the water and some of Em, doing battle with that demon in her code. We made it back early enough to don our groups colors and not be late meeting Pam on the field. Mine was light grey, Em's was red. The shorts looked good on her though, real good.

We met up with a light grey Pam and studied the netting before us. A couple of kids bowed out and just walked away. After picturing their bodies broken on the other side of that, twenty-five foot tall, construction.

There's worse things to fall off of.

(just take my word for that, don't try it yourself)

But these two. At my left. They were intent on working out their own strategies. Em was steady, working out the code. Pam, I don't know what she was thinking. And I honestly don't think she should have been.

I made it over the wall of netting in one shot, quicker than I had thought I would.

(shocked the shit out of me too)

But, I'd done this before. A long while back. Lost a bit of the speed but the muscle mechanics were… fluid enough. Surprisingly.

(that shocked the hell out of me even more)

Em, took it slow and steady, with a, first run of the code, anticipation. Climbing and getting her footing. Letting the next line of command propel her on. Half way up, her tongue peeked out in concentration.

No, I didn't have my camera. Some moments are only meant to be seen in the cinema of your soul anyway. They're private, that's what makes them special, personal.

She made it over the top and slowly climbed down the back end. Landing at my feet with a big hug and a happy kiss. One: The Code Worked smile; complete with glow, radiated off her face

Pam stumbled a couple of times. At the bottom none the less. You could see the frustration build in the corner of her eyes. And then, she stopped thinking. She studied some of the others, patiently. Until she saw Paul, scramble up and over.

Then all you heard was, "Fuck! That!" and the girl, cracked her neck, and broke even my speed, rolling herself over the bar and two handing her way down the back side, like a seasoned fucking SEAL. Thirteen years of gymnastics, finally paid off. Not surprising, considering it was mixed with a healthy dose of, Hell hath no fury.

"That makes an old Grunt nostalgic." We heard from behind, and turned to see, William, with a look of admiration on his face, "Nicely done Missy, nicely done indeed." Then he turned and walked away with a single, "Ooorah."

Pam did a little twirling dance with a bounce, "That was fuuuuun. Yes."

I think she's part Tigger, she bounces everywhere.

The next fifteen minutes was spent running through obstacles, crawling in the mud and scrambling under, and over, logs and short walls. By the time we crossed the line we were sweaty, muddy, exhausted, and laying on the floor. Making generous contributions to global CO2 levels. Some laughing like school kids, others taking stock in ourselves.

Suzzanne and Carol came stumble running through the finish and plopped down beside us gasping for air. It was the first time I saw Suzzanne participate, and not just judge. She rolled on her back and stared at the clouds, "Holy shit! That was harder than I remember. I'm done."

Carol leaned over her and wiped some dirt from her face, "I hope you're not too done, Suze. I've got plans for you later."

"So Suze is it now?" I laughed.

"Suze, Suzie, Sue, Sweet Ums, Sugar Britches, I really don't give a crap anymore."

"Good for you."

"Somehow I feel, I have you three, to blame for last night."

"Us?" I asked.

"Yeah, You! Girl Cuddle! And the shy one with her hand in your shorts."

"Not me and shy girl. Not immediately, anyway. Maybe, as co-conspirators. After the fact. Sound about right, Em?"

"Mmmhmm."

"See. Wasn't us. You can blame that all on the broomstick with the big boobs. She's the devious mastermind of that sordid plot. She even primed you up with candy from a stranger."

She stretched her hand out to Pam's and took it with a squeeze. Then she pulled Carol down with her other, and gave herself up to the brunette's full lips, and more than willing tongue. All the while holding a thankful grip on the hand of the girl who had sent her there.

Darren came up limping, pushing hard on one leg. He half dove across what was left of the white chalk line, many steps ahead of the once missing football player. Paul was pissed.

Darren had a slightly swelling cut on his shin. He sat up and looked at the scene before him and just shook his head and flopped back to the ground. We were a mess of humanity and the pile kept getting bigger.

I personally hadn't run that hard since I got chased through the woods by a pissed off buck. He obviously didn't want his doe's picture taken. He could have asked nicely. But that's not how G&G programmed it to work.

Paul finally calmed, sat up and looked at Darren, "Good win. You're pretty damn fast for a desk jock."

"I played Hockey and Lacrosse all through high school and college. Still go for a run every morning."

"Now I don't feel so bad. What time you run?"

"Six AM."

"Can I join you?"

"Sure. Meet me by the trail out back in the morning."

"See you then."

Paul looked at me, all serious. A calm, contemplative serious. "Can I talk to you a sec?"

"Sure." I turned and gave Emily a kiss, "Take a walk?"

"MMhmm."

Before we were out of earshot I heard Darren ask, "Is this bad?"

Then I heard Pamela's answer, "For Paul, maybe."

When we got far enough away, from prying ears, the defensive end looked at me with a hint of guilt and said, "I hear I caused quite a disturbance the other night."

"You could say that. You could have just told your roommate you'd be back in the morning, or left a note. Out in places like this, you make sure to cover your own ass, there's lots of things out here that can really fuck you up."

"Yeah. I should have let someone know I had… was fine. But dogs? Really?"

"One dog. But yeah, they were really freaked. And honestly, if I had gone for a walk and took a tumble, or got attacked by something or someone, I'd want some one to do that for me… And if you were hurt, and I didn't do anything, I'd feel like somebody that I Really, don't want to be."

"I see your point. Anyway, that's not why I wanted to... I heard you were the one that found me."

"Liffa found you."

"But you saw."

"Enough."

"And yet you didn't…"

"Why the fuck would I? We were tasked to find you. And we did. All they needed to know was whether you were alive, hurt or dead. And that's all they got."

"Well, Thank You. Seriously. If there's anything I can do for you just ask."

"That's okay there big guy, she's got that covered." I kissed Em on the cheek.

He looked at Em. Caught the twist in my words and stammered, "Oh that's not… what I…" And then he saw that look on my face and he stopped. "Asshole."

I gave him a grin, "There is something you can do for me, though."

"Name it."

"Stop treating women like they ALL did you wrong."

"It's that obvious?"

"Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles could sing a duet about it."

Em laughed. Her, you're such an ass, laugh.

Paul just shook his head, "Shit. I guess I have to put that at the top of my training regimen."

"You do that."

"I think there's some one wanting to talk to you." Emily noticed.

He tracked her sight line and looked to a picnic table with a sole body looking our way. "Yeah. Thanks. See you guys."

"Mmmhmm."

"Hey."

He stopped and half turned.

"There's a nice cafe down the road. The foods good, there's tables out back with a nice view. The people that own the place seem like pretty decent folk. It's worth the walk. Welcome to the family."

"Thanks."

We walked back to the little gathering. All eyes were on us.

"What?"

"What was that all about?" Suzie asked.

"He just wanted to say he was sorry for causing so much fuss, and thank us for looking out."

"Mmhmm."

"He looked awful serious for gratitude." Pam chimed. The girl, just wouldn't let go of that bone.

"I think he realized that he fucked up, by just going off alone and not telling anyone. And had he been hurt, he'd be happy that someone came lookin for him. Enough of that… You! You said, 'For Paul, Maybe'. Sooo, what tales did my umber brother fill your head with?"

"Me? None, really, he just said you had all the brains of George Milton and the stupid strength…"

"of Lennie Small. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And people wonder why, I call him The Nigerian Nightmare."

"Same reason he calls you The Calabrian Calamity."

"Hah. Haven't heard that in awhile."

"He did tell me how you guys met and one story of a hockey game."

"Oh? Good Times? And which hockey escapade was this?"

"When some guy three times your size hit one of your players from behind and you tossed him over the boards into the… penalty box?"

"Ah. It was his bench. Not one of my proudest moments. And he was only like twice my size, maybe one and a half. Top that off I was already riled up, because he ran me twice. Once in my crease. And nothing was called either time. I don't remember him running her over. He had just elbowed me square in the head. But I heard a grunt and I saw her laying on the floor. She was my best defense man."

"She?" Darren questioned.

"The girl had great hands, and she was awesome blocking shots. She wasn't afraid to bang it up in the corners and she almost always came out with the puck. Even in a game we lost by ten she managed to come out plus two. I really wished she would have been more than a tournament buddy. My regular team could have learned a lot."

"Was she hurt bad?" Emily asked. Looking up from my lap.

"A little banged up. She went to the locker room to assess herself, came back on the ice a couple minutes later. Blocked a bunch of shots and got an assist."

"Seriously? She was that good?"

"Darren. The girl quit playing women's hockey in college and joined the men's club team, because she missed the grinding. She had seven brothers. Five older. She could have made the Olympic team if she could have just learned, to stop fuckin checking. But, that wasn't her style."

"One of the 'Where Are They Nows?', huh?" he quipped.

"Oh no. Anyone who knows her, knows where she is. A small backwoods town tucked into a nice little resort, by the Canukian border, coaching college kids and NHL players. She's doing quite alright for herself. And having all kinds of fun, knocking around the guys you see on TV getting the big bucks. She's happy."

Gunny Hicks entered our disaster area, with some plastic cups, a couple of pitchers of water and juice, and some ice packs. I took two. And a juice. He sat the rest of the stuff down in the middle of the mess, of muddy flesh, that we were.

"Hey Bill. Thanks for all this. And for your service."

"It wasn't like I had a choice. Family and friends you know. But your welcome, and thanks for the mention."

"What time you got?"

"A tad after three I think."

"You think we could borrow your shuttle?"

"Can you handle three on the tree?"

"Oddly enough, yes,"

(I learned that the same time I learned the nuances of bike riding, from the same person)

"Been a while, but it should come back."

"Just don't grind her too much. I'll get you the keys, but you gotta have her back by eight."

"Thank you kindly, Sir. Suzie Sweet Britches, you're time keeper. Okay, kids, get your swim suits, or not, it's clothing optional, be back here in ten."

"Ummm. I really shouldn't leave," Suzie argued. But the look on Carol's face told me it was one debate she was gonna lose. Suzie knew it too. "If they find out I took off they'll can me for sure, after this fiasco. And… why am I time keeper?"

"Because you're the one who organized all this team building crap. This, is your penance. And we have a schedule to keep. So! Since you're in charge, You're in charge."

"Hey blondie," Gramps grunted, "If those guys put a bee in your bonnet, you call me. My daughter in law runs a party planning service in NYC. I've seen your organizational work around here, seen the way you treat my family and look out for these people, I got your six."

Carol leaned over and whispered something in the girl's ear that made her shiver.

"Lemme go wash up."

"You don't need to. That's what the pond's for."

Darren said he'd be right back and hobbled off towards the lodge.

A few minutes later Bill rode back with the shuttle. He gave me the keys and told me about Edith's quirks and her load out. Darren strolled up with Marisol in tow. William looked at them and just grinned.

"You done for the day Missy?"

"I have a little left, but Auntie said it'd be okay, Darren said he'd help me finish when we got back."

"Well go on then, and don't do nothing I wouldn't do."

"Well that leaves me open to a whole world of trouble don't it. Is that really the right way to say that?" she gibed back.

"You definitely got the good sister's genes. Thank God. Have fun, Spark Plug."

"Thanks, Gruncle Bill." She said with a quick peck.

Fifteen minutes later we pulled up to the pond. The seven of us, strangers until six days ago, stripped down to whatever we were comfortable with. Suzie left her panties on, something about something.

"Fish."

"Thanks Em."

"Mmmhmm."

Carol was going to just wear her bra, because she hated the way her boobs bounced in water. But then she left her panties on too, because of Suzie's, said, 'fish'. Darren left his shorts on. Marisol was right there with, me, Emily, and Pam, in all of our glory.

The water was warmer than it was the other day, but was still chilly enough to be exhilarating. When we got out of the crisp, fresh pool, that's when every one realized,

"We ee faforgot ttto babring tatowels," Carol shivered.

"We're good."

I walked back to the van, opened the door, and grabbed everyone a blanket and a towel. Marisol followed me up and helped me pull out the cooler.

"Gruncle stocked us up, before he brought it around."

Marisol looked up from beside me, "You better not."

"Oh I think I will."

"You've got balls."

"And you don't."

"Touche."

"Spark plug."

"Asshole."

"Well, it is Tuesday."

"Oh god. What are you like the other six day's?"

"A really mellow, slightly sarcastic, now you're stuck with me, motherfucker."

"Shit! You're from that branch of the family."

"Aren't we all."

"One can only hope."

Marisol opened the cooler and set out sandwiches, water, a handful of beers and a nice thermos of coffee. We tossed the blankets around and laid out in the late afternoon sun, scarfing down some, competitively seasoned, deliciousness, with all the fixins you ever really need. Friendship, a task completed and a good muscle burn.

The sun was well passed it's apex, but the day had warmed nicely and, without a breeze, the rays were hot and deep in your skin. Marisol was wearing Darren's shirt. It was muddy and sweaty but that girl just didn't mind. Her butt kept peaking out beneath it while they played Frisbee. Not my usual muse. But style wise, it had a natural, innocent athleticism and she had a Dark Elven beauty to her. One could see the charm.

And no I didn't have my camera. Like I said, some moments, are only meant to be kept on the edges of your mind. So when they spark a memory, you smile for no reason. Making people wonder what you're up to.

Darren, still had his shorts on. The two of them played their way to the water. Sat on a stump, dipping their toes into the pond. Talking. Sometimes serious, sometimes laughing.

They looked strong in a future together.

Carol had stripped off her bra and panties as soon as the blanket was unfurled. She laid on her stomach next to an equally nude Suzie. Whom she took great pleasure into helping undress and… unwind. The two of them chatted away, stealing a kiss every now and then. Coming back to earth only when they felt it's pull. Which to them was, when everyone stared. For five minutes or more. Which is what we were starting to do now.

Pamela sat on her blanket, looking at the scenery. She occasionally glanced at all the couples and smiled, a distant smile. I held out my hand and she came over and took it. She sat, propped up by my side on her elbows. My hand slid down Emily's back. She shivered and adjusted her pose. Pam took my arm and pulled it around her. Then she put her head on my chest and just watched Emily sleep.

She reached out and brushed the hair from Em's face, "She's so beautiful. You're very lucky."

"Pam. I'm the luckiest mother fucker alive. I've got a spunky, little sister on one arm and a beautiful, intelligent, sweetheart, of a lover on the other and I'm surrounded, by life and warmth…" Carol and Suzie giggled. "…and joy."

"It doesn't get better than this, does it?"

"Yeah it does, if you let it."

"You know you still haven't explained to me, why you seemed so shocked that Nim asked me to stay up here with him."

"Wow, you get a bone it doesn't make it to burying does it?"

"Nope. I grind it to pulp. And swallow."

"Funny, haven't pushed about Paul since the obstacle course."

"That ones already pulp, I watched were he went after you three talked. So."

"Alright, if it's like that. Honestly Pam, I'm not shocked. I had a feeling just around the time you guys left. Something about your banter. I've known Nim a very long time. Almost longer than you've been alive. He's a very cautious sole, when it comes to that level of trust. Things happened to him, when he was a kid, that made him extremely leery of people, especially women."

"Yes he told me about his older brother and, that person, who sold him out for money."

"He told you that huh?"

"Yeah."

"It was to secure her family's safety too, that was the main part. He holds no grudge against her for that. But it did give him pause. And that issue is really just a small part, of everything else. A very small part. I mean most of the things he saw affected people he barely knew. But he saw them. More importantly, he felt for them, because he was going through it too. He still feels for them."

"Yeah, I got that feeling."

"You know? You're the first woman, ever, to talk with me about that. I've never heard him tell that story, to anyone else, besides me… And the only reason he told me, was because, that night, we were drunk and stoned to bejesus, after skydiving. Our first try at not crashing ourselves home, and we lived… Ahh, The Cuervo Gold, The fine Columbian."

"Make, tonight, a wonderful thing."

"You can't know that song."

"Can. Do. And Love. He told me about his mother and father too."

"Hmm. You know, you're the first lighter skinned girl I've ever seen him take a liking to."

"He's the first black guy I've ever been attracted to. His skin is velvety and so dark and he tastes like…."

"Pam!"

"really deli…"

"Pam!"

"Yeah."

"I really don't wanna know what he tastes like."

"Oh! Sorry. Afraid you'll get a taste for it."

"Not at all."

"You don't know what your missing."

"I've eaten a Prairie Oyster, I'm good, no need to explore that any further."

She brushed her fingers down Emily's arm and back up, "I never had a sister, or a brother. I've kept people at a distance for a long time. But this one, she just…"

"Opens a good book?"

"And tucks you in with it."

"You know you can stay with us for as long as you want. If you'd like…" I looked towards Em, her eyes were closed, she was breathing softly, " …I think she'd enjoy that too."

"I don't know. I'd like to, but I'd be tempted too much to join. And I'm not… don't get me wrong here, if I didn't spend the kind of time I had with Nimmy, I'd have been all over the two of you last night. You're not a bad looking guy, a girl could do worse. Hmmph, I just realized, you three are the first people I ever woke up in bed with… after sex. But I'm, not like that."

Her fingers were tracing the curves of Emily's thigh. Goosebumps rippled down the napping girl's leg.

"If that night you had with Jag didn't happen, last night wouldn't have either. You wouldn't have been there. And I don't mean that offensively either."

"Thanks."

"It may have happened at a later time. If it was in the dice, or in a wave of possibility. I mean if it didn't happen with Nim, you might have hooked up with Suze or Carol. That's the way things play out sometimes. Now, If you're worrying about me, don't. I'm a one woman, or two women who are together with me, atta time, kinda guy. I like spiritually, and physically, committed intimacy. It gives it something more. That being said, if she wanted to experience that with you. I'd be thrilled that she had that chance. With you. Especially you. I like you. Even if I wasn't there for that first time. But especially if I got to watch her explore."

"But you wouldn't join in?"

"When, I joined in. It would be her, I'd be kissing, and touching, and feeling around me. Not you. This one here. She's, my world, completely. "

I felt a coolness drip down from my chest, over my ribs and settle to my back. Emily raised up and kissed me deeply. She tasted like sea water and life. She pulled Pam in close. Suzie piped up, rising to her official capacity.

"Listen up! It's almost seven thirty, let's wrap this."

The summer camp counselor, has returned. Welcome back Suze.

"Fuck. Just when it was getting to the good part." Pam sat up on her feet, "If you're so rigid like that, how come you wouldn't be jealous of me and her."

"How could I be? I can smell the two of you together, and it's a very nice mix. You guys are cute and comfortable with each other, caring, and I can't be jealous of parts I don't have."

"You're weird."

"Thank you. And what's that make you?"

"Good point."

We gathered the towels and blankets, picked up our trash, packed up the shuttle, got dressed and left. We pulled into the lodge with seven minutes to spare. I love good organization. The way it suaves it way through the pandemonium and arrives you at a destination, a little before you're fucking up somebody else's plans.

But even that, is a toss of the dice. Only in this case, that die has infinite sides. And your not rolling it, just making choices, reactions and experiencing where it lands you.

We made it back with plenty of time to clean Edith's interior of the mud and dirt.

Emily was helping me carry the cooler inside. She looked at me with a curious brow.

"Wasn't that trip longer the other day?"

"We took the long way the other day, more wind, more rumble, more miles."

"Oh. I thought it might have been a bike, car thing"

"It is. Car, boring, get there quicker, bike, fun, enjoy an elongated ride."

"Hmm. That's not the way I was thinking though."

"Were you thinking along the lines of, whether the wind and the openness around you caused a time slip, or at the very least a perceived one?"

"Mmhmm."

"You might be right there too. I haven't figured it out yet."

Pam and Suze were separating the trash. Future compost in one bin, garbage in another. Marisol showed me where to air out the cooler and helped Em put the blankets in the washer. Em asked Sparkie if she could do a load of clothes, later.

Darren was hanging the towels on a line.

"Hey Joe?"

"Yeah Dar."

"Thanks for showing us that place. Can we just go there anytime?"

"As far as I know. I think it's mostly empty during the week and maybe for a couple more week ends. Once the summer kicks in, the week ends get a few people. Mostly local kids but they keep to themselves. At least when we're there. Marisol, you must have been there a time or two."

"Nope. I was just telling Darren, I didn't even know it existed. I'm usually only up here for T-Day, the occassional Swap and Christmas break. That's the best. Gruncle Bill strings this place up in white lights, a tree takes up most of that window up front, and he always bags some fresh wild turkey. And Auntie Mabel, well you had a taste."

"Yeah we did. That woman has some love in her spice rack."

"Yeah she does. I just started working here a few months ago. I would have loved to have started right after high school but my parents insisted on, at least, 'two years of higher education'."

"She earned a four year degree in two and a half." Darren boasted for the girl.

"Well it's easier, when you got money behind you," the amber skinned girl continued, " And you don't fall into the secondary high school party brain. My parents were, what some of my friends called strict. We called it Pioneer Bumpkin Camp. They let us date, as long as it didn't interfere. We were allowed one date and three phone calls a week. Cost me two boyfriends, but fuck them if they couldn't see I was worth the wait. They gave me that too. They taught us to feel good in the accomplishment, without being an ass about it. To learn from our disappointments. To always have a back up plan. And basically to just do what you need to do. Even if you didn't know how it would fit in to your life's outcome. There's not much call for dressing down a deer in a corporate meeting, but it does give you the stomach to handle certain situations."

"Mine sheltered me to a point. I was skinny and sickly. But when I got a little better they pushed me outside my comfort zone. They let me get hurt just to show me that it healed. The one thing they gave me, through it all though, was the ability to learn that same lesson, yours taught you, from life itself. It took me a lot longer to learn, than you did. We don't have this level of nature, to absorb first-hand life-lessons from. I'm just happy it eventually broke through my thick skull. Hey! Don't you still have work to finish?"

"Oh crap. Yes. Thank you."

I looked at Em.

She lifted her head and smiled, "Mmmhmm."

"Lead on! We'll give you a hand."

"No, no, you don't have too."

"I do. Ever since I stopped going to this… thing, I've added more work for this place. And your family has been real good, to everyone. So it's only right, to me, for me to earn my keep."

"Well since you put it that way, how can I argue. I'd get a self inflicted butt kickin for not doing the same. Come on."

I was washing dishes. Yes, I was washing dishes. I did it for a living as a kid. And sometimes in my travels, along with other things. There's a surprising number of people out there that will let you learn a little of their world, or work, for nothing more than some companionship and interest. I paid for many a meal by washing dishes. Gotten a handful of gas fill-ups for helping out at garages. And I didn't even need to do that. I had the money. It was just, fun.

Emily was drying and stacking.

Darren was Marisol's extra two hands.

Pamela was filling salt and pepper shakers. Ironical, I know.

Carol and Suze, were over by the prep table, that they should have been cleaning, making sure all their body parts were still in the right places.

"You know OSHA hears about that, you're in a world of hurt."

That was Suze giving me the finger.

The other five decided to take a breather and just watch this, rather, tempestuous scene play out.

"Ahh, young, woman love," Marisol voice-overed, "the ultimate exploration of self. Figuratively and somewhat literally. A time, when innocent youths, find out how they want love to be, AND how they want to be loved. It sets a ground work for a search, and a target, for their hunt."

"I think this hunt is hanging on a wall over a fireplace already."

"Yeah. That looks a lot deeper than when my roommate and her friend dabbled. But they were just doing it between guys."

"If life gives you lemons, don't go making lemonade, just eat it, right out of the rind."

Pam looked over, "I like that. I'm stealing that."

"You would like it! It's the Nightmare's. Mine's a little more colorful. You'll have to steal that one from him."

"If that's the case, there's no theft necessary. What's mine is his, what's his is mine. I'm all in with this one. I'm tired of the playing pretend. Time to really enjoy something, that will require, no, fucking, effort."

"And there it is."

"What?"

"The thing."

"And that is?"

"A true self confidence, a real self trust, a grateful sense of self, and an honest pure sense of your own morality and mortality. That, and maybe a little belief that, 'When life shows you the ass, you can wait for it to sit. Or. You can grab it by the hips and scare the fuck out of it.'."

"I'm stealin that too."

"It's yours."

"Thanks. You know? You're my favoritest, scary lookin', old guy, ever."

"And you're my favoritest, skinny little, crazy slut, ever."

"Would it make you feel bad If I told you, you were my second favourite?"

"Skinny little crazy slut? Not in the least. Just don't tell him he's my second favorite, now."

"Ha Ha ha! Good, our secret." She put an arm around my back, reached across my torso and took Emily's hand.

Marisol leaned back into Darren, "I've seen octopus fights that weren't that entangled."

"School?"

"Yeah, Animal Husbandry. Well, Zoology major, Animal husbandry minor."

"In two and a half years?"

"Yes, sir."

"God and Goddess bless you, whatever you believe that to be."

"Oh! My guardian spirit held my hand through the whole thirty months."

It was about five minutes later when Carol and Suzie realized it was quiet. They stopped kissing and slowly turned to look around the kitchen. They saw the five of us just watching. Then Suzie started laughing and we all remembered earth, and went back to work.

Carol and Suzie started cleaning the table they had just desecrated. Marisol watched them work for a minute, then she stared at the table and sighed, "You know eating there in the morning, isn't going to be the same anymore. At least not until this imagery fades."

"A shame they can't clean it and leave that scent behind."

"Yeah… OH! NO. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'd never finish breakfast, my panties would be a wreck… Oomph… There's something about the scent of two women together, that just… lingers. I'd come back to my room to study after those two were going at it, I'd have to go hit the library to get anything done. No, no, no, can't have that. You know what? We're finished! And I'm going to do something I never got a chance to do in college. I'm going to go do something, about this. Soooooooo..." She walked up to Darren, spoke right up against his ear, and wrapped herself around him. He braced her up and started stepping to the door, "NIGHT all."

Everybody gave her their own personal adieu.

Darren's mouth was preoccupied. So he just waved, 'See ya'.

While we were tidying up the last bits, Carol asked Pam if she was going back to their room. It was Emily that answered.

"She's shiny."

Pam didn't dispute, "Just to get my cot." Then she just bit her own lip.

We walked back to our rooms getting a few looks, from a handful of participants in the lobby. We were, pretty fucking loud. Not quite Bob Seger after party loud. But louder than casual. It was the lack of inside attire that caused most of the looks. And two of us were a little more physically demonstrative with each other than the rest. Take a guess.

When we got to Carol's and Pam's room, scratch that, Carol's and Suzie's room, Pam gave us a, "Be right out," and followed the other two in.

I don't think the door had shut all the way, before Pam reopened it and ushered us in. "Do you know how long that took?" She said, pointing at the two bodies, completely nude, entangled in hair and legs and pre-orgasmic grunts. "I made it to the bathroom, grabbed my stuff, put it in my suitcase and zipped it up. And when I turned around… That! I think they're on orgasm two already."

"Well. They have been teasing the shit out of each other for the last six hours." I thought out loud.

"Not to mention, absolutely molesting each other for a good forty five minutes." Em added to the equation, looking on with an unabashed curiosity. "Can you???" she queried Pam.

"No. And I don't think I want to try, I'd throw my hip out."

"Me neither. But, it looks… erotic."

"Mmm, Yeah it does. Too bad cranky here doesn't have his camera."

The two, if you could still call them separate entities… I mean they were connected, in more places, and wrapped around each other so tight, you could probably classify them as one being…

Sorry! Got lost there a sec.

The two girls, were so embroiled in each other, that for the second time, since we got back, they had no sense at all, that they were both, the centers of a philosophical discussion, and an anatomical debate, between the two intrigued women flanking me.

"How?"

"I have no Idea."

"She's really flexible for a big girl."

"She's flexible for an Invertebrate."

The body, that they were, was slick and fevered. It got quiet. And then a ripple grew. It started on the blonde's half and flowed across the brunette's. Then back. It got loud. Then repeated. It got quiet. And repeated. There was a tension. A quake. A few quakes. Then with one last trembling shudder, they collapsed in a heap of spent flesh. Sweating, glowing, blushed, post-orgasmic, spent flesh. They were breathing heavy and deep. Coming back down from the apex they had ascended to.

The gasps subsided and a tenderness returned.

And so did the notion, that they weren't alone.

Suzie giggled and hid her head in Carol's breasts. Carol's face was radiating a peaceful bliss. "Take a picture, it'll last longer."

"I'll go get Nika and be right back," I half joked.

She looked at Suzie, got a smile, then back at me, "Hmm. Later. But only if we get copies."

"You can have the originals. But I may grab a copy of one or three of em."

She looked at Suze.

"Deal."

Pam and Emily were looking at each other, with an exceedingly, heightened interest. They both turned and looked right at me. Pam pulled me down and kissed my forehead. Em kissed me tenderly on the lips. Their heads brushed together and their mouths almost met.

"You wanna?"

"Mmhm."

"Me too."

They tested and tasted and tendered. When the quick pecks and busses finally broke, they both put their hands around my back and escorted me to the hall.

Pam had the cot in tow, for the second time today. I wondered, how many people thought of her as the crazy cot lady, besides myself. As we turned to head on we heard them, their affirmations softening, behind the closing door.

Other sounds quickly took their place. Continuing, down the hall as we walked. Nervous, anxious, titters, that promised something fun between the two chaperoning me to our room. It echoed from their hearts, joyously off the walls.

The door clicked closed behind us.

They hugged and kissed and undressed each other slowly. I watched from the bathroom as I adjusted the heat to the shower. They were easy, in revealing the things they had already seen, already bared to each other, more than once. Anticipation and wonder seemed to have blinded their memory of that fact. They were patient with each other, unhurried and accepting.

The shower was perfectly passed warm, almost too hot. I undressed and stepped into the stream. Closed my eyes, and let the water burn the years.

I was fingering the shampoo through my hair when I felt two hands slick up against my back, pressing a lather with a friendly touch. Two more found my chest, a little more sensually. I opened my eyes to see Emily. Burning. That look. That face. That force of life. We washed each other slowly and methodically.

When the last of the suds flowed off Emily's toes, we stepped out of the shower and wrapped ourselves up in one big, terrycloth bundle. Walking awkwardly back into the room, we bumped into the bed but managed to stay upright. Emily's hand gripped around my hardness, as she kissed Pam, slowly, down to the sheets. She nuzzled herself, into a neatly trimmed, almost rose colored bush, and breathed in deep. Then she turned her attention and took me knowingly, wantingly, with her mouth.

Pam watched, with a passionate, transcendental, diligence, adjusting her position to get a closer view. She reached out, with her right hand, and brushed Emily's hair from her face. Bunching it up behind her neck. She kissed her on the jawline and ear, and cupped a breast in her left. Watching and teasing.

Whispering.

Emily turned and kissed her and was gathered in anxious arms. I stepped back and watched them recline.

I slipped on my jeans, got my duffle and settled it on the passenger seat, up against the sissy bar. Retrieved my camera and a new card. Then I settled on the bike with my bare feet over the handle bars and my back pressed comfortably against the green canvas bag. I watched, and snapped the shutter on a chance. They didn't seem to mind. Or maybe, they were so wrapped up they didn't even notice.

They were attentive and tender. Gentle and inquisitive. They touched each other with words and tasted each other with an artisan's passion.

"I like to tease myself this way."

"Ooh that's nice too. I like this."

"Oh shit, oh, mmm. That is nice. Hmm. Have you ever touched yourself here?"

"HUH. Mmmm, no, but he did. Ooooohmmm."

"Yeah, I like it too. I love the way your eyes sparkle gold when I touch you."

"I love your breasts. They're just so full. How do you like these played with?"

"THAT's nice, Ooh that felt… hmm hm hmm You can definitely do that again."

They teased and tasted and nibbled and explored. Sometimes wrapped so tight you couldn't tell one from the other. Other times touching, only at the oddest spots. Knee to knee, toe to toe, hair to hair. They quietly took each other in, strategizing another onslaught.

"Whooo. Was that your tongue?"

"Mmhmm."

"Oh! You're a naughty girl."

"Uh hu."

Giggles mixed with moans and sighs, emerging into loving declarations. Sweat became scent and flooded the room, in Venus's aphrodisia.

The volume increased with every toss and every turn.

"Shit Em. You're gonna… oh God yes right…"

"Mmmmph mmmm mm mppph…"

"What?"

"I'm gonna… Oh! Mmmph.""

"Oh right, there, yes. Oh shit, shit, shit."

In a sensual struggle, of softness and fury, two feminine beings wrestled to find purchase on the edge. Clinging to it, as if not to let it end. Until the other relinquished her hold.

The Goddesses of Olympus, were having a competition.

Each contestant trying to work the other, passed that break first. Mouths opened in silence. And then, the grip was gone. They fell together and just kept pushing, until one last surge took their strength and gave them solace. And laughter. Quiet laughter. Soft declarations of, "Mmmhmm."

Fingers twirled in black and rusty strands and brushed knowingly across widely grinning, flush, faces. A kiss. And then another. And then a softer one. A whisper and another soft echo of bliss. Four eyes turned and looked at me, with a satiated light, just as the shutter clicked, one last time, for the night.

I put the camera down and crossed the wooden floor. Sat on the bed and leaned back to the headboard. Emily rose up, slowly, a glow on her face, and a smile in her eyes. She narrowed the distance and kissed me.

"She tastes good on your lips."

"She tastes good on hers too."

Pam sneaked a little closer, "You guys are making me feel like a fruit platter."

"You're more like Granny Hick's cheesecake, with apples, and a hint of clove." Emily teased, playing with the tab on my zipper, "Need input: Why do you have your pants on?"

"No reason in particular. Other than, bare ass and someone else's ride."

"Input received: No bare ass on friends seat, it's impolite. If it's not yours, no ass on seat. It's not nice."

"and could be hazardous to your health."

"Input Amended."

Pam fluffed her landing strip.

Emily looked down at her own bush and pulled the hairs up, "Do you think I should trim mine like that?"

"Not for me. I love that full bush of yours."

"Me too," the lighter haired girl pondered, "I might even grow mine back a little."

"I think I might trim it, a little. I think that looks fancier."

"I think mine looks childish. Yours just looks so, womanly and it's nice, warm and tidy. And I love the way it feels against my cheeks."

I pulled Emily up against me, put my chin on her shoulder and looked down passed her breast. I grabbed a handful of her curly hairs, and gave them tug, to the right and up, "I love it, just the way it is."

"Mmmm. That's surprisingly relaxing. Hmmm, that's nice."

Then I did circles.

"Hell. You could stop shaving under your arms and legs and I wouldn't care. It's kind of a turn on actually?"

"Really? You think so?"

"A little wild or nice and tidy, yeah."

"I don't shave my legs, the hair never grew there."

"Lucky you." Pam offered.

"Why's that?"

"It's a chore and a half."

"Well, I always felt like I was missing out on some weird rite of passage."

"If I never had to pick up a razor again. That would be a happy day."

"Happy day to you then." I smiled, " Nim's surprisingly of the same mind as me on that topic. So if you like your legs hairy go for it."

"Seriously?"

"As a blow out on I ninety five."

"This day just keeps getting better."

I pulled Emily tight and let my fingers dip between her legs. She was still wet with a mixture of her own sex and Pamela's tongue. I cupped a breast and bit her shoulder. She ground her ass to my crotch, stroking me between the top of her cheeks through my jeans. She hummed and gazed into space as I kissed her behind her jaw. I smoothed her forward, kissed my way down her spine and started kneading her shoulders.

"You know? I never did get to finish giving you that massage. Hell. I never even got to your other foot."

She rolled her head on her neck slowly as I pushed my thumbs into her skin. "I don't recall having minded. I did kind of molest you, after you did what you did down there." Emily turned her attention to the blonde, who was attentively taking everything in, with her chin in her hands and her feet pressed up against her butt. "Did you know you could come from someone rubbing your feet?"

"No."

"Neither did we."

She relaxed out her breath as I gently pressed into her ribs and spine, pushing her a little more forward. I pushed my self flush with her and put my face next to hers. She rubbed her cheek against my scruff.

"You two are really, peaceful, together." Pam sighed, positioning herself up against the wall, to get a more comfortable view.

"You look rather at home your self."

"Quite. Thank you."

"Mmmhmm."

"You know, it's funny, or sad, depending on your view, but I've had more and better conversation with you two, in bed, than all other times combined,"

I slid my hands up Em's sides, raising her hands above her head, guiding her forward. She turned her face toward the girl against the wall, and watched her touch her own sensitive places. Her hair flowed to the mattress like slinky black strands of lamé. I kissed my way down her back and let my tongue lead me, from her tailbone to her slit. She tensed, when the tip lightly grazed across her star. And again when it crossed that ridge of flesh below. And again when it slipped between her lips. She looked back at me and caught me, staring from behind. Then she curved and kissed up the blonde's thin, muscular legs. I rose up, lowered my jeans and slid myself inside her, just as she buried her face between the athletic girls thighs.

The quite around us was greeted by three harmonious grunts.

I slid into Emily with long, slow strokes, as she suckled on her friend's wanting clit. Pamela caught my eye and she gave me a smile. She was twirling her fingers through Emily's hair. I felt a warmth as she locked the others with mine, around Emily's breast. She leaned forward and our foreheads touched. The tempo increased. Em's hand reached up, grabbed Pam's breast and squeezed. A pinch of a nipple. Her eyes went wide and glazed, her chin hit my shoulder.

"Fuck," was the last intelligible word I heard.

Pam found herself back to the wall, and trembling. Holding tight to my hand and the full mound of flesh held in it. One last lick sent her up the wall and scrambling. She pulled Em up and kissed her.

Emily grunted and pushed back into me.

She raised up and back and twisted her torso, and kissed me, with her first shutter. Her breath filled my lungs. She grabbed at my hip, pulling me deeper, and came.

My orgasm, was pulled right into her.

She leaned back into me. Kissed my chin. Turned, pushing me down to the mattress, covering me completely with her form. She took Pam's hand and pulled her to us. Pam grabbed the blankets and cuddled us in.

A few minutes later Pam started humming.

It really was kind of soothing.