There were three of them. Best friends since their early school years and still friends despite the trials and tribulations of adolescence, boyfriends, breaking up, and making up. They were all nineteen, with their birthdays within days of each other, something that had initially brought them together for joint parties and something that they'd always share.
Suzy was a blonde, flamboyant and talkative, popular wherever she went, especially with men. Her sex appeal was of the more obvious type and men followed eagerly in her train.
Fiona, a brunette, also a bit of a chatterbox. Gregarious by nature she was a natural fit to Suzy.
Rene, another brunette, was the quiet one of the three. Suzy and Fiona had quickly come to understand and accept this, as well as to understand that when she did say something it paid to listen. She was the brightest of the three and it was only her natural reserve that tended to make people overlook her when Suzy and Fiona were around. This didn't worry her. She had her fair share of successes with members of the opposite sex, just not as noticeably as the other two.
They had decided to spend the weekend camping. No men, they said. We're rational adults and don't need men to look after us all the time.
"Um, they are very useful for some things," Suzy pointed out.
"True, but we can attend to those things when we're back and alone with them," said Fiona with a giggle.
"Instead of taking our small tents why don't we take my parents big one," suggested Rene. "We'll only need to set up the one and there's ample room in it."
Everything was agreed upon and they went camping. They managed to find a place that seemed reasonably secluded, giving them the privacy they needed to do as they wanted without disturbing other campers. Everything was fine for the first half a day. The weather was warm and they did some hiking, returning to their camp site for lunch. It was while they were eating that the first rain drops fell.
"It's just a sun-shower," said Suzy as they scrambled into the tent. "It'll be over shortly. The forecast was for a fine weekend."
Two hours later it was still raining, and rather heavily at that. It wasn't cold, the earlier heat still apparent in the air, but it was certainly wet. The girls were feeling rather frustrated.
A sudden slapping on the side of the tent startled the girls, and they were even more startled when the zipper on the front flaps came down and someone hopped into the tent, zipping up the flaps behind him.
"Good afternoon," said the stranger. "I was passing by and thought I'd take shelter for a little while. I'd say it was fine weather for ducks but I just saw a small flock of them hiding under the trees, waiting for the rain to stop. I'm Peter by the way. I was getting dreadfully bored sitting in my little tent counting raindrops so I thought I'd visit my neighbours, if I could find any. And here you are, just waiting to entertain me with your wit and perspicacity, undoubtedly willing to give me keen insights into the state of the nation and the impact of climate change on our way of life."
"For your information I'm apolitical and couldn't give a stuff about the state of the nation," Suzy said.
"Climate change is a hoax, designed to separate the dumb from their money," was Fiona's contribution.
"Ask us about weather forecasters," suggested Rene. "I think we'll be able to give you some strong opinions on that subject."
"I have my own strong opinions on that subject and I suspect that they would agree with yours," Peter said, laughing. "So, who are you and what are you doing here?"
Suzy gave out a quick introduction. "As to what we're doing here, we're staying dry, which some people don't seem smart enough to do."
Peter grinned. He seemed harmless to the girls so they didn't ask him to leave, enjoying a bit of company. The next half an hour was spent in harmless banter, a bit of meaningless flirtation taking place. Eventually the rain slowed considerably and Peter started making noises about moving on.
"Before I go, are any of you girls into exhibitionism?"
"What?" asked Fiona.
"Exhibitionism. You know, having sex in front of other people. Quite scandalous behaviour, but a real turn-on at times. The reason I ask is I want to have sex with one of you but I can't really ask the other two to wait outside in the rain. That wouldn't be fair. The same with taking one of you outside. The rain would put a real dampener on things."
"No, we're not, so stop looking at me," snapped Suzy. "Just because I'm blonde doesn't mean I go for anything outrageous."
"I'm only looking at you because you're the closest and it's polite to look at someone when you're talking. I wouldn't dream of casting any aspersions, especially about a blonde. My sister's blonde and she's got a mind like a steel trap. If I said anything rude about blondes she'd slice me and dice me and feed the remains to her cat.
Anyway, you don't have to participate. You can sit back and be modestly horrified at the debauchery taking place in front of you. That's always supposing that I can persuade one of you to be debauched."
"And what happens if we say no?" asked Fiona, feeling a trifle nervous. Now that she thought about it Peter was a very large man. His easy going attitude seemed to mitigate this when just talking. With this proposition he suddenly seemed to be looming very large.
"Um, in that case," said Peter, scratching his head thoughtfully, "I suppose I'll skulk off into the rain, wending my disconsolate way to the park entrance and the Diner that's there. If I'm unlucky I'll meet a bear and have to run for it. If I'm lucky it might be a female bear and then things could get interesting."
Fiona gaped at him, shocked at the insinuation.
"Oh, you're kidding," she grumbled. "For a moment there. . . Anyway, count me out."
Peter glanced at Rene, giving her a wink.
"Well, really," Rene grumbled. "I don't know how you can expect me to answer that suggestion. I mean, we don't even know what you'd be bringing to the table, so to speak."
