Denise was exhausted and happy. Happy, though not content. Camping and playing all day with her three young ones would tire anyone out. Camping with children is not relaxing. But, she was happy because the kids had such a great time. Hiking the trails, playing at the beach, cooking dinner over the fire. Each was a thrill for them. Finally, after multiple rounds of smores, they were in bed in the camper.
So was her husband Jack. Denise wished she and Jack would be able to play when they camped too. But with the entire family in the pop-up camper, adult playtime was not to be. That's why she was happy, but not content. Denise had given herself an itch when she took the kids to the beach. She wasn't seeing the opportunity to scratch that itch. She loved wearing her yellow bikini. It made her feel very un-mom-like. Even after three births, she filled it out with proportions that attracted subtle and not so subtle attention. Denise was sure some of the dads on the beach weren't gazing at the playful children around her, but rather longingly at her body which was generously revealed by her swim suit. Even the college-aged guys seemed to keep track of her movements.
So now she wandered the roads of the campground. It was after quiet hours and everyone seemed to be following the rules. She heard the occasional TV playing from inside a large motor home. What was the point of camping if you drove an entire house with you. Denise noticed a pop-up similar to their own...jiggling. She paused, listening carefully to discern what the occupants might be up to. Alas, no sounds of adult fun reached the road. Still the longing she felt grew.
Denise wandered into the now empty beach area. The lone light was an overhead streetlamp at the far end of the parking lot. She crossed to the large, heavy beamed picnic shelter, a public works project from the Depression era. She and the kids had explored the massive stone fireplace which all but filled one end of the structure.
She caught the scent of smoke in the air. Not the campfire smoke which permeated their clothes and camper. It was a scent of smoke she remembered from her college days, before she was a mom. Before the kids came first. Back when she could choose to get buzzed and fucked. Denise remembered the freedom of doing what felt good to her, not making the best use of her tuition. But salting away memories that she called upon when mom-hood and Jack didn't fill the bill. The ache from the beach grew more pointed.
The scratch and glow of a match at the far end of the shelter echoed and blazed in contrast to the quiet and dark. A low voice murmured, "I didn't want to startle you." Denise peered into the gloom and saw the figure of a man outlined by the slightly less dark night outside the shelter. An ember flared and the voice said, "If you don't turn me in, I'm happy to share." A whiff of the Mary Jane grew stronger, just like college.
Denise moved down the length of the shelter toward the man. He as a little taller and a litter older than she. He was trim and wearing sandals, shorts and a Henley collar shirt that could be almost any color in the dim light. The clean outline of his head against the gray beyond confirmed he was bald. Just the way she liked.
She hadn't taken a hit since the first kid came along. The smell stirred her longing even more. She remembered the fucking while being fucked up being so intense. "I shouldn't" she finally said, "mom's don't do weed."
"Some mom's do" he replied with a chuckle.
"Well, my husband doesn't and he'll smell it on me when I go into bed."
"Don't we all already smell like wood smoke?"
Denise grinned. Yes, that is what camping smelled like, wood smoke in every fiber of canvas, clothing and hair. "Okay, thanks. Just like college," as she took the smoke from him. Only she wasn't going to fuck him like she did so many guys who passed her a joint years ago. Denise savored the flavor, waiting for the result she enjoyed so much in years past.
"Nice you get to have your fun time too. It looked like your kids had most of it today."
"You saw me at the beach?" she asked taking another hit.
