The Wet Clothes

She stopped him at the door of the tent, “The muddy wet shoes and rain soaked clothes need to stay outside…the tent.”

He stumbled over the entrance to escape the rain, “Yes, the warm dry space needs to stay warm and dry inside…the tent.”

She nodded, “So we agree.”

He took off his shoes and dropped them outside the door, “But what about me? And where should I put these to dry?”

She said nothing.

He took off his clothes and dropped them outside the door, “And where should I put these to dry?”

She said nothing, unimpressed.

He was still wearing his swim trunks from the afternoon at the lake, and stepped outside to gather his clothes.

She said nothing, amused at his struggle to decide on a place to store his clothes until the storm passed.

He placed the wet clothes into a large cloth bag and ran across the campsite to the car.

She listened for the car door to close, then held out a beach towel and waited, “The wet clothes were removed, but you returned.”

He sat down on the floor of the tent, dripping wet, “And what have we learned?”

She said nothing, unmoved by his pathetic appearance.

He pulled zipper of the door to seal the tent and keep out the cool damp air.

She said nothing, unmotivated and bored.

He smiled, “We agreed to do as we please on this vacation, so why all the rules?”

She reached out and pick-up his shoes, “What are these? The muddy wet shoes and rain soaked clothes need to stay outside…the tent!”

He paused, “Oh, I forgot to remove the wet socks,” then wrapped himself in a large beach towel to stay warm and approached her with caution, “And may I stay?”

She considered his question, “Of course, for now.”

He wrapped her in the same towel, and the conversation faded to nothing for awhile.

She smiled, “…And drink champagne.”

He nodded, “And stay close, until we see the sun.”

She looked up and listened, “I want to do something FUN!.”

He looked around, “I want to drink something HOT! The storm has soaked me to the bone.”

She laughed, “To drink something hot, one should first light a campfire, in the rain, alone.”

© J. Bateman

Concentrikey © 2022