Graduation! Finally free from university and, as of the moment, responsibility as well. It is early summer and work will not begin until the Fall so it was decided that a little vacation was in order.
"You mean that's it? Forty miles back this tiny dirt road?" Alyse said, a little shocked.
"Yup. That's it. That's the last you'll see of civilization, we don't even get basic cell service out here," I told her.
"This really is escaping," she said.
I laughed. "It's Okay. There's no phone, but there is water and electricity. And it's summer, so we won't get snowed in or anything. Besides, we can always walk," I said.
"Long walk." Alyse sighed. "So what's the cabin like? "
"One room. One bed. My grandparents bought it and several hundred acres around it years ago. They've tried to develop it but were only partially successful. Mom has been trying to sell it for years," I said.
"Any luck?" Alyse asked.
"Not yet. Not many people want to pay for land and a cabin in the woods."
"Are there any other cabins nearby?" Alyse wanted to know.
"Huh uh. Well, there are a few on the other side of the lake, that Grandad built and Mom rents one out occasionally, but they're pretty far away. You'd have to walk a couple miles to get to them or swim across the lake, and they don't have any phones either, I don't think," I replied.
"Sure hope we've got enough of everything for two weeks," Alyse said.
"I think so. We packed enough, plus Mom packed more junk that I wouldn't have even thought about," I said.
"Really. Your folks are really great to let us use the place, too."
"That's what it's there for," I said, echoing my Dad's sentiments.
The cabin sat on the edge of a beautiful lake and was not near as primitive as Anne and her parents had suggested. While it was a single bedroom it actually had several rooms including a kitchen and even a game room. The area around the cabin was mostly cleared and a small row boat was pulled up along side the wooden dock which stretched out on to the lake.
It only took a few minutes to unpack and get the grill going and before long a couple of hot dogs were roasting away. We pulled out some hard seltzers and sat on the back porch and talked. We talked about college and all the things we would do now that we were free. We were both moving to the same town for work and had already decided we would try to get an apartment together. But which one specifically we weren't sure.
Alyse and I had been friends forever. Or since 3rd, at least. We met in chess club and that became the basis of our friendship. Over the years we had done a lot of stuff together: Socials, classes, field trips, study abroad, and so on. This was the first time we had been away alone together.
We ate dinner and then went back inside and unpacked the rest of our stuff. Alyse took a shower while I sat and watched the lake. It was only seven when she came back out and not quite dark yet.
We talked more for a while, mostly about what we planned to do in the fall and all the cool opportunities that were opening for us. After a while we both then fell silent.
Alyse was looking at the shoreline on the other side of the lake with a pair of binoculars. Where I could just make out two figures. She explained that it was a young couple walking along the shore.
"Do a lot of people just walk up here?" Alyse asked.
"How should I know," I said.
"Maybe they rented the other cabin or something," she said.
I leaned back in my chair and was looking at the stars when Alyse interrupted again.
"Check this out. I don't believe it," she said quietly.
"What? What's going on?" I asked looking down.
"Here. Look for yourself," she told me handing me the binoculars.
I peeked in slowly I began to discern the figures moving, but I couldn't make out what was happening.
"What's going on?" I asked, not moving from the lens.
"They're in the water," Alyse said.
"So?" I replied.
"They're naked!" Alyse giggled helplessly.
"What?" I said, straining. As soon as Alyse supplied me with the overall picture I realized what I was looking at. I couldn't see it at first. There it was both of them were naked and splashing in the water under the bright moonlight. I couldn't believe it.
"Let me see," Alyse said.
"Let them alone, would you, you pervert," I laughed as I handed her the binoculars.
"No. This is kinda fun," she said, and went back to watching them.
"Alyse!?" I said, shocked.
"Oh come on. They don't even know it. It's not hurting anyone," she said.
"You're a sicko, you know that?" I told her, and went back to my own scope. I tried not to pay any attention to her as she kept watch on our neighbors. About five minutes went by. I was awakened by curiosity.
"So what's happening now?" I asked as innocuously as possible.
"Not much. They've gone inside." Alyse said.
"Are you done playing peeping tom now?" I asked.
"Oh come on. Where's your spirit of adventure?" she grinned.
"You mean you enjoyed that?" I asked.
