We went on a holiday up into the mountains. When I say we I don't mean just my family, because we'd teamed up with some friends and there were the two families combined. I quite enjoy holidaying in the mountains. I like hiking and there are some good nature trails near the holiday home we were renting. The down side was that it was rather an isolated spot, miles from anywhere.
About halfway through our holiday the parents (both sets) decided to run down to the shops. Personally I wasn't interested in going and Maree and I prevailed on them to let us remain behind. We're both eighteen, I pointed out. Adults really. We'll be fine, especially if you're taking the younger kids with you.
The parent um'ed and ah'ed for a short while, but as both Maree and me indicated that there might be a sudden reversion to grumpy, hard-done-by, teenage angst if we were dragged along, they agreed we could remain behind. They were only going to be a few hours, anyway.
So they set off and Maree and I just bummed around the place, doing nothing in particular and liking it fine. Then the weather started to close in on us.
When I say started, one moment we were under a bright blue sky, the next there were fluffy white clouds piling up, followed by these big black things which I assumed were clouds. There was a flash, a bang of thunder, two screams and Maree and I were inside before the rain hit the ground.
Middle of the afternoon and so dark you'd think it was night-time, and the rain was pouring down. I quite enjoy watching the rain, but this was the first time I'd experienced a storm so personal, you might say. We were way up in the mountains and I'm quite sure half the clouds were actually below us.
Maree was as nervous as a cat, jumping with every clap of thunder, which meant that she was doing a lot of jumping. The thunder almost made me overlook the banging on the front door. When I realised what it was I rushed to open it, cursing my father for driving home in this.
It wasn't the family. It was a couple of drowned rats. Actually, that's a little unkind. It was a couple of men, who were probably nice looking when dry, aged, I'd say, in their mid-twenties. They were both wearing suits and were so wet that I could have left them outside without worrying that they'd get wetter. They were saturated - hence the drowned rats appellation.
Being a polite young lady I invited them in out of the rain. They came in quite gratefully, shivering slightly. Their car had skidded off the road. They'd have stayed in the car, but saw the lights of our house and figured that they'd be a lot safer inside. They'd appreciate a chance to dry off and wait out the storm.
For some reason Maree was carrying on like a two-bob watch, flapping her hands and shaking her head. I ignored her. I didn't know what her problem was but I couldn't really kick the guys back outside. I told them to just wait in the hallway for a moment and I'd be right back.
I went and raided my father's stuff, grabbing his dressing gown, then did the same with Maree's father. I brought them back and gave the gowns to the men.
"If you care to use the bathroom you can dry off and put these on. We still have power, so just dump your clothes outside the bathroom door and I'll toss them all in the drier."
The men thanked me and almost bolted into the bathroom. I imagine a hot shower was uppermost on their minds. As soon as the door closed behind them, Maree rounded on me.
"Are you out of your mind?" she nearly screamed. "We're alone here and you've invited two strangers in. They'll rape us. We'll be brutalised. And it will all be your fault."
And I think she genuinely believed it.
"Relax," I said, trying to calm her. "If they'd meant harm they could have jumped us as soon as they walked in the house. And if they really mean harm, what makes you think they wouldn't have broken in anyway? They're just a couple of travellers stuck in the storm. As soon as the weather eases off they'll be gone."
With that I went and grabbed the clothes outside the bathroom and tossed them in the washing machine spin cycle to get rid of the bulk of the water. In a few minutes I would toss them in the drier.
I put the kettle on to make some coffee and went back to Maree. She was almost having kittens. I've never seen her like this. I mean, really, what on earth did she think was going to happen? Both the men had seemed perfectly normal and respectable but she was acting as if I'd invited in Jack the Ripper and Mr Hyde.
The men came out in the dressing gowns and we all went into the kitchen to have coffee. Maree's eyes had almost popped when she realised that the men were only wearing the dressing gowns, and I'll swear she was sneaking peeks to see if she could see any skin.
The men introduced themselves as John and Andrew. We settled down to the coffee and Maree's behaviour was so servile it was embarrassing. And I'm quite sure that both men found it both amusing and embarrassing. I became even more certain of that when they started a mild argument and then appealed to Maree for her opinion. She almost tied her tongue in a knot trying to agree with both of them.
When Maree excused herself for a bathroom visit Andrew turned to me.
"Um, I'm sorry if this is out of line, but does your friend have some sort of problem with men?"
"None that I've ever noticed. I think it's just because of the storm and that we're alone here. She was a little nervous about having you come in."
"We couldn't really have stayed out in that, could we," said Andrew, jerking his head towards where the rain was lashing against the window. "What does she think we're going to do? Rape her or something."
They correctly interpreted my blush, and laughed.
