by Marian Stack
“You have to change with the times my dear if you are going to remain in this business. Everyone can be a thrill seeker but not everyone is willing to expose danger to their health while being a thrill seeker. All rafting companies use these one piece wet suits and…”
“Ok this part I understand,” Turtle remembers interrupting Susan’s need for the all too familiar spending speech, “but why do we have to buy so many sizes and in all these outrageous colours.”
“Well, mainly because there are dozens of human sizes and we need to be able to accommodate all, not to mention how terrible it would be for a guest to arrive and we are unable to suit them up because of their body type. And yes… you also want to be able to find an overboard floating guest in any type of conditions, not to mention they will look great in the group photos that will be displayed in our newly printed brochures.” Susan slid that last part in just to see if Turtle was listening.
“You are so funny, however you have offered me, as always a sound argument.” Turtle spoke aloud answering from her own memories, “about the quick find for a possible floating rafter, and yes I am coming on board with the advertising part of the business.” Knowing that all of Susan’s hard work was to keep her dream alive which meant her father’s dream would never die.
Without thinking Turtle yelled out, “Susan…I love you! You know that right?!”
“WHAT?” Susan heard Turtle but wanted her to admit to her need, again and aloud, for all to hear.
“Don’t be such a smart ass. Yes I do. Enjoy the trip and we will meet at the first resting place.” Turtle booming voice pushed into the slight breeze that had begun to drive up the river.
Standing alone on the river bank, Turtle’s natural reactive movements went into equipment check mode. She began to survey the surrounding area looking for something to complete. She began to touch and move the equipment and gear to ensure that every item was properly fastened and sealed. With her final observations completed she stood upright and looked towards the entrance of her property. Disappointed, that a car had not miraculously appeared she looked down the river just to make sure that the other two rafts had safely advanced. With nothing left to complete and somewhat annoyed that she had to wait until the missing guest arrived she walked over to the large beached log and sat down to wait.
She began to ponder about the next couple days and nights with the group of ladies that had reserved this trip, and what interesting conversation she would be engaged in. There was little doubt that all but two of the ladies were same sex couples. She knew that the very inquisitive younger girl and the somewhat older woman were not a couple but were family. She had known through Susan’s many conversations regarding this first group that many changes were occurring during the initial first stages of the reservations. The odd couple out reservation was changed due to a work related injury, reasoning for the quick replacement of the woman’s niece.
In the beginning of Susan demographic research she had informed Turtle that she would be concentrating her advertisements and brochures more towards the LGBTQ community, not that the company would not accept all enthusiastic rafters. However Susan felt the LGBTQ was a smart area to explore and set her concentration on, which brought Turtles’ thought towards this lone rafter. Her memory was drawing a blank as to why she reserved a trip with the specific reservation information detailing of same-sex couples only.
And then as self-uncontrolled thinking often does, her thoughts became more personal. Her memories drifted towards the early morning activities, and how she observed all the ladies with their respective partners, and the gentle loving subtle touches or caressing of each other’s backs as they would reach over another, or the quick unnoticed squeeze of one another’s hand, or the gently kiss to the cheek. And the part that Turtle noticed the most, the loving conversational consideration that each couple expressed. There seem to be only respect for each other.
Natural respect and love floated between each couple and Turtle’s heart ached for all of it.
With Turtle now in her mid-thirties she understood that her chances of finding a soul mate and maintaining this life style were close to impossible. She had heard enough about Susan’s past romantic failures and her last disastrous divorce easily could have sent her off into the direction of becoming a hermit, forever. But deep down in her soul, she remained optimistic regarding her own romantic future possibilities.
Chapter Two - Blair Foster
Turtle’s entire body shook with delightful relief as she heard the hostile ear piercing sound of a nonstop blaring car horn. As she turned her body towards the unnecessary loud noise she witnessed a large black SUV speed through several of the remaining dirt road puddles, narrowly missing one of the many resting logs on the property, and then with the undercarriage spewing steam out from the collision of the hot car parts and the sudden introduction to the muddy water the SUV abruptly stopped.
Always amazed at the speed others travel through life and most certainly through her backyard, Turtle was never the less pleased at the assumed arrival of her tardy guest.
With fingers crossed that this was not some crazed lost tourist, she began to walk towards the now oddly still and vacant looking SUV. With the densely blackened back vehicle window shielding her sight into the vehicle and the lack of human movement she slowed her forward progress to an uneasy walk.
Startled but pleased by the sudden burst of activity from the driver’s side door, Turtle was surprised to observe the smooth exit of a rather larger than life male figure that gracefully exited the truck. She stopped all forward motion again and watched as the impeccably dressed man in a tailored black pinstriped suite walk around the back of the SUV and opens the back right side passenger door.
As she stood back and watched this unusual scene she thought to herself, “This is a first and most likely the last time I will ever see anything like this. I wish my dad was here to see this.”
Turtle had never witnessed anything like this before so her eyes were glued to the perfectly choreograph movements of this motion picture happening right in front of her. She watched as the chauffeur performed all of his over the top job obligations. She studied as he positioned himself as he placed both feet firmly on the uneven ground as he secured his right hand on the door handle. Then with gentle ease he opened the door to its fullest and with his left hand in the correct positioning to assist with the exit of the passenger, waited for the advancement of his occupant. During this over the top gallantry, she was both surprised by the size of the driver, and how his size reminded her of her father’s build and how he did not seem to waste any energy with every single body movement.
Suddenly remembering the purpose for the curious scene, she switched her gaze back to the open passenger door. Then as if in slow motion, the passenger began to elegantly make her exit from the luxurious SUV.
“Who in the name of God is this?” Turtle’s thoughts raced through her mind. “Are you kidding me? Where the hell is Susan when I need her? This can’t possibly be the person that is about to get wet on a three day rafting/camping excursion. And look at how she is dressed, right out of one of those city magazine.”
As quiet anxiety raced through her mind she was again startled as she observed the amount of luggage the driver had begun to remove from the trunk. Not to mention watching the no longer missing guest spin around in a not so graceful circle with her arm extending into the heavens franticly attempting to capture cell phone service.
“What the fuck. Are you serious? I can’t get a single bar on my phone. I really am in a dead zone in more ways than one. Driver… What’s your name again? Fred… Frank… Tom?
As the driver placed the last remaining piece on luggage onto the ground, and most unexpectedly positioning it into the water of a shallow mud puddle he stated with conviction, “As previously stated, my first name is Francis.”
“Yay…Yay… whatever. What can you do about this? I need cell reception.” She flung the cell phone towards him.
“Sadly there is no cell phone reception here most of the time. But we do have a land line that works most of the time and if not…” Turtle was so stunned by the childish outburst of the primordial scream that exited the mouth of the elegant lady, which made the birds in the immediate area take flight, that she stopped all movement, again.
Continuing Turtle expressed, “We do have a two way radio that is also useable and very reliable. I can…”she stopped talking as she noticed the woman grab her cell phone from the drivers hand and re-enter the car in complete silence and then aggressively yet surprisingly softy closed the door, leaving only the click of the locking sound to be heard.
After a few tense moments Turtle reluctantly walked over to the car window and gently knuckle knock two times on the window. “Hello in there. My name is Turtle Dove and if you are still going on this rafting trip…well we need to get going. I also need you to sign a waiver and I need you to change into one of our one piece rafting wet suit. Excuse me… can you hear me?” Turtle knocked on the window again then cupped her hands around her eyes in an attempt to look into the passenger’s blackened window.
Suddenly the car door opened with such force that Turtle had to lunge backwards to prevent from getting hit in the face or knocked to the ground.
Now standing just outside the car, these words were heard by all living creatures. “I need a phone… I need to call my brother… I need to get the hell out of this nightmare… I need a coffee… And I need my fucking phone to work.” And then with equal rage the enraged guest screamed out, “And who the hell names their child Turtle? What kind of backwater bullshit outfit have I gotten myself chained to? What the fuck. Frank, get me out of here.” After all her words were screamed into the air, Miss Foster entered back into the vehicle for the second and presumably the last time.
Equally as reactive and with his hand firmly on the door to prevent it from closing to the locking position, the driver began his response, “Miss Foster as you are very well aware of, your brother insists that you remain here and complete the promise that you both agreed upon. Now your entire set of luggage is out of the trunk and your water excursion gear is located on the porch. If I may extend the invitation to place your luggage back into the trunk as it appears that you will not be in need all this.” He waved his long arm out over the ridiculous amount of luggage resting on the ground. “And for the last time, my name is Francis. Please learn to respect that.”
“Yes, you can put the (she exaggerated the word) ‘entire’ amount of luggage back into the trunk and leave the other shit where it is. My crazy brother bought that stuff from some outfitter place and now he expects me to use it. I do not want it, and I do not care what you do with it, a…”
“Okay that is quite enough.” The soft booming voice stopped the rant. “Your brother hired me to deliver you to this spot, and I have done that. He gave me precise instructions not to listen to your goings on and to leave you here regardless of conditions or location. Now you will exit this vehicle and get into your required official outfit that will undoubtedly keep you safe. And I’m very sure that this poor woman has been graciously waiting for you to arrive so that she can begin your adventure.” Francis extended his hand knowing it would be the last time and spoke again, “As you may very well know, your brother also sent instructions to physically remove you from this vehicle if need be.”
“Fine... if my brother wants me to do this just to prove a point than fine… I’ll go on this ridiculous trip. He is just doing this to shove his bullshit intelligence down my throat. Well I’ll show him who the better person is.” Blair screamed out as her entire body exploded from the open door without assistance from the driver.
“Well let’s get on with this. Remember we’re running late and others are waiting for us. Is this not right?” She arrogantly stated. “So let’s hustle…now you can go and fetch my prison uniform and the waiver to sign my life away.” Blair clapped her hands together as she continued to show her least favourable side. “Chop… Chop. Let’s get a move on. Are you not at my beck-and call? Let’s move it.”
Turtle was about to confront her very rude guest but was stopped by the sound of Susan’s voice coming from the speakers of the two-way radio. “Susan to Turtle…Come in Turtle. Are you still at home base? Susan to Turtle...”
Turtle ran to catch and respond to the call. Not to mention how relieved she was to have the interruption by a friendly voice. “Yes, hello Susan I’m… I mean we are still here at home base. Miss Foster arrived, a short time ago… and well we seem to be having some difficulties convincing her… oh never mind about the details I will explain when we join up with the rest of the group… Over”
“I read you loud and clear. Turtle, the group is not pleased that they are waiting so long for you to arrive. Do you want us to continue to wait or carry on...? Over”
“Susan, you carry on and we will catch up with you at the camping spot. We are not ready to raft yet. We will be setting off within the next thirty minutes or so, too long for you and the others to wait… We will be fine… How’s the water running? Over”
“The water is running fast and there is a lot of debris in the river. Are you sure you don’t want us to wait? Over”
“No, we will be fine… Over”
“Roger that. Be safe and run smooth my friend, over and out.”
“Copy that, over and out.”
Turtle placed the hand held receiver back onto it receiving hook then turned around and braced herself to begin her speech about getting into the wet suit but to her absolute surprise she was stunned to be staring at the full length reflective mirror image of Miss Blair Foster with her wet suit fully unzipped and wide opened from her neck to her bikini line exposing a very desirable well-toned full figure.
As the half-cocked smile spread across her face, and attempting to remain professional and cordial she cleared her throat to begin the conversation regarding the proper fitting of the wet suit and to empty her mind of the vision that entered, she began, “Is the suit too small or too large? It looks like a perfect fit to me, I mean the suit needs to be a snug fit but not too tight, you look…”
“I don’t know what you are looking at? This disgusting wet suit, regardless of size is never going to fit me properly. Don’t you have any female sizes or do you just have the one-size fits all collection? And what the fuck are you staring at? I guess a girl like you has never seen a proper lady.” Blair’s eyes shot blazing hot daggers towards Turtles’ stunned face.
“Forgive me. This is not the area I normally deal with. My business partner usually ensures that everyone has the proper fitting wet suit. I’m afraid you will have to just deal with me until we catch up with the group.” Turtle turned away completely devastated that she was completely out of her comfort zone dealing with this special guest and a little ashamed that she very much enjoyed looking at the woman’s beautiful body.
As Blair stepped over the remaining wet suits on the floor she no longer required, she rudely stated, “It’s very clear that this horrible wet suit will have to do. Don’t we have to get going? I need a coffee… do you have any that will not taste like mud?”
Turning around to observe her guest step on and over her inventory Turtle graciously replied, “Sorry… no… we do not have any ready coffee, but there might be some instant in the back kitchen. I was not expecting to be serving beverages because we were to be long gone by now.”
“Well now the true adventure begins. A business owner who thinks she can speak to her guests anyway she chooses because of location.” Blair Foster turned and walked out the door.
“No, sorry that’s not what I meant.” Turtle stopped talking and pressed her lips together, rolled her shoulders up and down and inhaled a full deep breath of uncertainly.
After double checking the rafts equipment and ensuring that all movable parts were secure, she looked up to the sky. While setting the raft for departure she had noticed a few changes to both the speed and direction
of the air. She had also noticed subtle difference to the air temperature from when the first group set out. Her years of experience had taught her to always take note of the slightest changes within her world.
Thankfully she was not worried about their late departure as this day was June 21st, Summer Solstice, a century old recorded farmer’s almanac date that is known to all as the longest day of the year. A day that offered to all living creatures more day light than any other day of the year. This was indeed her favourite day of the year. Not her birthday or any other special day, but this day. She and her father would celebrate this day with a long hike into the deep forest to find the hidden cave that contained what the ancient indigenous people of the area claimed to be healthy sulphur healing waters. They would spend a couple of days hiking to the cave making sure that the third day was an early morning hike to the cave, rest in its healing waters then they would spend the remainder of the day in a happy competitive fishing ritual of casting with hand crafted fly rods for the largest stream trout and then end there perfect day staying up all night watching for falling stars and observing the formation of the areas constellations.
Her memory of her past with her father thankfully dissolved the tension the last few hours of her turbulent start of the early afternoon and the meeting of this woman.
Standing on the river bank and looking down the river Turtles’ thoughts rapidly shifted to her easy life, “Thank-you daddy for sharing your dream with me and leaving me in Mother Nature’s hands. I love you.”
Startled by the sudden movement of the raft and the explosion of the aggressive statement, “Well let’s get the hell out of here. Down river has to be better than hanging around this drab place.”