C4 antho - Chamber Four

The Naturalists ~131~
As dusk approached, the three of us took a walk around
the lake while Mayor White tossed an arm around Damien,
insisting on giving him “the grand tour.”
“It’ll be fun,” he chuckled, adjusting his cowboy hat.
“We’ll show you every last nook and cranny.”
The colony swarmed just a few feet behind them, making
escape virtually impossible, even for a professional
athlete.
“Frankie,” Mom began, staring off into the water, “you’re
certain you want to stay here?”
It’s hard to say what won me over; the courtside seats
just no longer seemed all that important.
“I mean, just for the summer,” I explained.
I’d slipped on a pair of boxer briefs, which slightly lessened
the awkwardness.
“I’m in that beach volleyball tournament and all. Vicki
and Aimee are counting on me...”
“Who are Vicki and Aimee?” she asked.
“His girlfrieeeends...” Dad sang.
I shook my head no, which seemed to calm her.
“You know, we’d love to have you around, too,” Dad
hinted. “I could use a girlfriend myself. Just take off your
clothes, stay awhile, all the shuffleboard you can shake a
stick at.”
“No. Thanks,” Mom rolled her eyes. “I’ll leave you to
your nudists.”
“Naturalists,” he corrected, draping an arm around her.
“We’re naturalists, hon. But close.”
“You call this natural?” she asked, freeing herself from
him, pointing to the naked crowd hovering around her superstar
fiancé in the distance.