SANDY
When Rachel came by at 8, I'd already completed my chores and eaten breakfast, and Mom had just left for town to open the hardware store.
"Where's your cousin?"
"City Mouse is still asleep."
"We should wake him up. If he's going to be here for 2 weeks , he should adapt to our schedule."
"I don't know..." I said.
"Come on. Guest bedroom?"
"Yeah."
I followed her down the hall, and knocked softly on the door. "Danny?"
No response.
Rachel checked the doorknob. It was unlocked. "Come on."
"Rachel, no. Leave him be."
"Come on, worst-case scenario? You've already SEEN him in his underwear, right?"
"That's not the --" She opened the door and stepped inside. "--point," I said to nobody, then followed her inside.
Danny was out like a light, his blanket pulled halfway up his bare chest.
I hoped
he was wearing at least underwear below the waist.
Rachel grasped his shoulder. "Rise and shine, mister."
He shot up to a sitting position. "What! Who! Are you, Rachel?"
"Good memory," she said. "Though maybe your cousin mentioned my name to you yesterday." (I was going to have to kill her) "Pull yourself together, we're wasting daylight."
We left the room, and ten minutes later he appeared in the kitchen. "I figured we'd walk into town today. That okay with you?"
"Sure, why not?" he said, grabbing an apple from a fruit bowl on the table.
It was three miles into town -- and while this was a decent-sized town by mine and Rachel's standards (two movie theatres, twenty-odd stores -- Mom's being the largest, actually -- two filling stations, three bars, a police and fire station and a church and a school), Danny could barely pretend to be impressed. We said hi to Mom, ate at the luncheonette, bought Danny a tacky hat with the town name printed on it, then started back home. It was getting hot, and when I suggested we detour through Brenner's Woods and head for the lake, Danny and Rachel agreed.
I was better prepared today: That wet bra was NOT a pleasant experience yesterday, and bare-chested wasn't an option with Danny around, so I was wearing a bikini under my clothing. I began stripping down as soon as we got to the lake. It was funny: wearing a bikini was more "appropriate" than wearing my underwear, but it covered a lot less of me than the bra and panties had.
Danny took off his shoes, socks and shirt, but was a little hesitant about removing his shorts in front of Rachel. Rachel said "This is how it's done," and unzipped and pulled off her own shorts.
Danny, clearly self-conscious with two girls watching him, dropped his own shorts to reveal as yesterday a pair of tighty-whiteys.
Rachel began lifting her t-shirt, slowly, to just under her breasts, and then stopped. "Problem, guys. No bra."