It was a hot night. It was after midnight and Rachel could not sleep. While the air conditioning ran almost constantly, it didn't seem to be helping. She looked over at her husband, Scott, who was apparently unaffected.
After tossing and turning a couple more times she got up and went downstairs. Maybe a glass of cold water would help. She decided to step out onto the back deck. Maybe there would be a breeze. Outside, the night was as dark as it was hot.
Even dressed in her usual nighttime attire, a tank top and bikini panties, she found no relief from the heat. She looked around as she took a drink from her water. She wondered if the neighbors were also suffering. Jack and Dana were about the same age as she and Scott, around 30, and had been neighbors for the last four years.
In the darkness, it appeared that someone was reclining in the neighbors' lounge chair next to their pool. She thought that maybe Dana also couldn't sleep. Rachel decided to walk over for a chat. She could feel the hot grass on her bare feet.
It was so dark that Rachel was 10 feet from the lounger before she realized it was Jack sitting there. "Jack," she said, "I thought you were Dana out here trying to catch a breeze."
"Hi Rachel," he replied. "No, she doesn't seem to have any problem sleeping in this weather. How about Scott?"
"No, he's sound asleep," she said. "You going to take a swim in the pool?"
"Well, I did have that in mind when I came out. I haven't decided. Feel free if you would like to."
As neighbors, they had been in the pool many times. Rachel thought a quick dip might just be the thing to break this heat. "You know, since you don't mind, I believe I would like to go in for a couple minutes," she said. She turned and walked toward the steps leading into the shallow end.
"There is one thing, though," Jack said.
Rachel stopped on the pool's edge. "What's that?"
"The midnight rule is in effect," Jack responded.
Rachel hesitated. She had been in the pool many times, although never after midnight and she had never heard of this rule. "And, just what is the midnight rule?"
In the dark, Jack was smiling even though Rachel could not see him with any detail. He replied, "Oh, after midnight, no clothing is allowed in the pool. It's a technical thing having to do with the pool filter and all."
Rachel smiled to herself. She knew Jack's sense of humor but she had one as well, along with her own stubbornness. "OK, if that's the rule," she replied. She knew Jack could not see her well but she turned her back to him anyway and pulled off her top and panties leaving them in a pile on the side of the pool.
Rachel walked down the steps into the pool. The water was warm but it provided the intended relief from the hot night air. She waded out to about the 3 feet level and then dipped down to let the water cover her shoulders.
Jack remained silent, still reclined on the lounge chair. After a couple minutes, Rachel said, "The water is great. Are you going to come in?"
Jack thought for only a second. He stood up and walked to the pool steps. As soon as he put one foot into the water he heard, "Midnight rule is in effect."