I don’t know how to feel. I don’t want Gia to think I’ve abandoned her, but at the same time, it might be fun to spend another day here. And of course that means I’ll get to see Matt again. But do I want to? He obviously doesn’t seem to care enough about me to have waited around this morning.
“Hey!” Oli says. “I’m going to go wash up at the bath house. You want to come with?”
“Sure. Matt mentioned it last night. But hang on? Wasn’t there something weird about it? I can’t remember exactly what he said, but it made me wonder.”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
I trawl through my brain but come up empty. “All right, let’s go.”
We line up in a long queue. A woman dressed in a sort of kimono hands us a large parasol for shade while we wait.
“So what do you think of my brother?” Oli asks, getting straight to the point.
“I don’t think much at all. We hung out last night, but that’s it.”
“So you weren’t taking your time getting ready this morning because you were hoping he’d show?”
I blush. “No.”
“Oh, come on. You can’t fool me.”
“I just thought I should say goodbye properly and thank him for his hospitality.”
“You liiike him,” he sing-songs.
“Stop it. I’ve only known him for a day.”
“Earth & Fire magnifies everything. A week-long relationship here is like a year-long one back in the real world.”
“How many times have you attended this festival?” I ask.
“This is my first time,” he says, not seeming to care I’ve called him out. “But I’ve heard stories.”
“You do seem quite comfortable here,” I concede.
“Well, I’ve got four brothers, and they’ve all been here at least twice, so I do kind of feel like I know the place.”
The line moves quickly, and soon we’re only a couple of people away from the front. The same woman who gave us the parasol greets us again.
“Hey guys. I’ll take that parasol back, and whenever you’re ready, you can leave your clothes over there.” She points to a nearby shelf.
I watch in shock as the people in front of us strip down naked and throw their clothes into one of the shelf compartments.
Oli smirks. I fix him with a stare.
“Did you know about this?” I ask accusingly.
He cackles. “I might have.”
Matt’s exact phrasing finally comes back to me. You can’t have any modesty out here.
I hesitate for a moment. This is waaay out of my comfort zone.
“What are you waiting for?” Oli asks, taking off his shirt and then pulling down both his shorts and boxers in one movement.
I avert my eyes. This feels wrong on so many levels.
Oli seems to be enjoying himself immensely. “Come on, princess. Don’t be shy.”
I contemplate making a run for it, but then rationalize I’m probably never going to see any of these people again after today. I shut off my brain and lift my t-shirt over my head. I try to act cool as I peel off my bra, panties and shorts and put them with my shirt in a compartment next to Oli’s.
Oli is surprisingly mature about it all. Well, mostly.
“See? The world didn’t end,” he says. “And now I get to see you topless too.”
I ignore him.
“In you go,” the parasol woman calls out.
We have to stoop down to climb through the small opening in the dome. Inside, everyone is sitting around in a circle. A woman is lying on her stomach on a mat in the middle, and the other people are taking turns to gently wash her down with cloths dipped in a small urn of water.
I look at Oli again. “You knew about this too, didn’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m going to get you for this.”
He grins. “I look forward to it.”
The woman languidly rolls over onto her back. Another woman soaps her breasts. I find myself experiencing a strange mix of emotions: part turn-on, part horror, part wanting to giggle like a teenage boy.
Oli is taking it all in his stride as usual. He picks up a sponge and leans over to dip it in the urn before rubbing it along the length of the woman’s arms.
He turns to me. “This is not a spectator event, Chrissie. You have to join in or forfeit your bath.”
I don’t know. I’m not sure I want a bath this way. But when I think about how nice it would be to get the dust off my face and body, I decide I might as well. When in Rome…
I pick up a nearby sponge and dip it in the cool urn water. I then focus on the woman’s left leg, making sure I don’t venture too high and invade her personal space. With that said, I feel like we’re well beyond worrying about that kind of thing at this point.
Believe it or not, I soon forget that I’m naked and bathing a woman I don’t know. There is a light-hearted camaraderie amongst the people present and I’m surprised to find I actually enjoy myself.
Eventually, it’s Oli’s turn. He raises an eyebrow at me before lying face down in the middle of the circle. By this time, I’ve already washed eight other people, so bathing him doesn’t seem odd at all.
After a few minutes, he rolls over to have his front washed. I deliberately avoid his crotch area. There are a few women who enthusiastically take up the challenge, but I refuse to go there. I’m actually quite impressed that he doesn’t become aroused. A couple of the other guys did and I didn’t know where to look. Not that anyone else seemed to mind. I’ve come to the conclusion I must be a prude after all. It’s a bit disappointing to discover this about myself, but it’s not like I ever deal with anything even remotely like this back home. I vow to try and be a bit more liberal in future. Maybe walk around my living room naked once in a while. Although, obviously not if I’m living with my sister. She might find that a bit awkward. I’ll have to wait and see if I end up in a place of my own.
Okay. I need to stop thinking now, because it’s my turn.
I nervously lie down on the mat, experiencing a flashback of the scene in Labyrinth where Sarah falls down a hole and finds herself being groped by hundreds of pairs of “helping” hands. But surprisingly, it’s not like that at all. A single sponge drips soapy water onto my back, followed by several other respectful hands that make me feel at ease. It’s like going to a day spa, except I don’t have to pay an exorbitant fee for the privilege. Plus, I have nine people focused just on me! It’s actually quite delightful and I don’t even flinch when it’s time for me to turn over onto my back. I keep my eyes closed and enjoy being pampered.
When a sponge starts venturing a little close to my groin, I gently brush it away. I’m not feeling quite that liberated yet, and no one seems to mind.
Finally, the last sponge finishes its job and I sit up. I follow Oli out into a small fenced off area behind the dome where the previous bathers are lying on benches, air-drying.
“Come and hang out for a bit,” Oli says.
I must be in a desert-induced stupor because I do what he says. We lie side by side, letting the remaining water evaporate from our bodies in the sun. It is absolutely heavenly.
“How old are you?” Oli asks.
“Thirty-five. Why?”
“You’re pretty hot for thirty-five.”
“Gee, thanks.” I’m simultaneously flattered and offended. Like thirty-five is ancient. Although, I guess to a twenty-year old boy, it probably is.
“My brother could use someone like you,” he muses.
“In what way?”
“I don’t know. You just seem really cool. He needs someone to help him move on. His ex was a bit of a psycho.”
“Oh. That’s a shame.”
So! Matt has an ex. Could that be why he’s been so miserable?
“If you like him, you should do something about it.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
My skin is now dry, and I’m wary of delicate areas getting sunburnt, so I stan
d up and retrieve my clothes. “I might head back for some breakfast. You coming?”
“Maybe soon. I’m going to check out the tantric workshop next door first.”
“Er, okay. Well, thanks for being my bath house buddy.”
“No problem. Anytime.” He gives me a cheeky look. “And I do mean anytime.”
I roll my eyes at his suggestive tone and wander back to the camper. I feel so fresh and relaxed. I’m thinking if I can somehow get a lift to the towing company tomorrow morning, I’ll be able to drive all the way through without a stopover and still get Paulie’s van back when I said. The only difference is that Gia will have to wait a tiny bit longer for me to call, and I think she’d be okay with that.
Let the festivities officially begin!
THIRTY
Back at the camper, I notice that Matt hasn’t yet returned. I pour myself a bowl of cereal, grab a spoon and sit out under the awning to watch the people go by.
Today I’ll need to prepare better for the weather. I have a scarf in my bag that I can use for a dust mask. I have sunglasses too, but I’m not sure how effective they’ll be compared to goggles. And I didn’t bring any lip gloss, although I do have some lipstick in my purse, so that should kind of do the job.
Actually! Why shouldn’t I embrace the spirit of the festival and dress up? I quickly finish eating and go through my suitcase, looking for something fun to wear. I pull out a neon pink bra top and some low-waisted yoga pants – two items I normally wouldn’t wear on their own because they expose too much skin – and contemplate whether the outfit really fits my mood. I then catch a flash of bright color at the bottom of my suitcase. It’s the rainbow dolphin shorts – the ones I made at the shelter. The same ones I’d been determined to forget about after returning to Nikki’s. Funnily enough, they would be perfect for here. I tentatively try them out and find they actually fit. They’re small, but not too tight. I pick out a simple white t-shirt to go with them and look at what accessories I can add to my ensemble.
After a bit more brainstorming, I get out two pairs of socks and cut holes in the toes of one pair, sliding them onto my arms as makeshift gloves. I put the other pair on my feet and pull them all the way up past my knees.
I lace up my boots and tie my scarf around my neck. I then spend a few moments painting my lips blood red and tying my hair up in a high ponytail. I only have a small hand held mirror so I can’t judge the overall effect, but I think I look okay.
I’m just stepping out of the camper when Matt finally appears. I’m not really sure how to react, and it appears he doesn’t either. He stands there for a moment, mouth agape. “Chrissie?”
“Yes?”
He seems dazed. “You look…”
“Silly?”
He shakes his head emphatically.
“Definitely not silly.” He keeps staring.
“Are you all right?” I ask.
“Yes, of course. Uh, so what time are you leaving?”
I look at him, confused. “I already left. Didn’t you see that my stuff was gone?”
Now he looks confused too. “What?”
“Oli already drove me back to my van, but it turns out it’s been towed. Lucky for you.” I say the last bit lightly, but I want him to know I noticed his absence.
“Oh, God. I didn’t realize you were planning on leaving so early. Obviously I got it wrong.”
He looks so genuinely apologetic that I can’t help but feel bad.
“Forget about it. It’s no big deal.”
“So your van was towed, huh? Bummer. You want me to drive you to the towing company?”
“Oh. You don’t have to do that. Besides, I don’t know where it is yet. I have to leave a note for them and then they’ll contact me tomorrow.”
His face brightens. “So you get to stay another day?”
“It appears so.”
“Great!” He catches himself. “I mean, good. Are you okay with that?”
“I think so. I’ve decided I can still make it back on time as long as I drive straight through tomorrow.”
“All right. Have you got any plans for the day?”
“Not really. Do you have any ideas?”
“Nope. But that shouldn’t be a problem. You want to go check out a few things with me?”
“Okay. As long as we can stop by the towing company’s mailbox first.”
“Done.”
He places his hand in the small of my back and gently pushes me back out into the chaos.
This should be interesting.
***
“Do you mind if I give your campsite details to the towing company?” I ask.
“Sure.”
I finish scribbling my info on a piece of paper and push it through the mailbox slot. There. I’ve done everything I can for now.
Matt produces a coin from his pocket. “I say we run our whole morning by playing heads or tails.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. First one is heads, we go left, tails we go right.”
“All right. Do it.”
He flips the coin. It lands on heads.
We turn to the left, where I see a stall a few feet away offering free hugs. I laugh and sweep my hand towards the tent. “After you.”
He wrinkles his nose in distaste. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.”
“Don’t be a spoilsport. Here, I’ll go first.”
I approach the first hugger, an elderly lady who has her hair tied back in a long white braid and smells like patchouli. She hugs me firmly and for a really long time. At first it’s quite nice, but then it becomes a bit awkward. For me, anyway. My hugger doesn’t seem to notice.
Eventually she pulls away, but keeps a hold of my hands and stares at me, unblinking.
“Uh, thank you,” I say.
“You’re welcome, sweet child.”
I delicately extricate myself and turn to Matt.
“Your turn,” I whisper.
He fixes me with a thanks-a-lot expression and forces a smile at the woman. She envelopes him in a hug, her tiny frame wrapping around his torso. Her head only reaches up to the top of his stomach. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to hug him myself.
Stop it, Chrissie. Don’t torment yourself.
The woman reaches up and strokes Matt’s face. “Be open to love,” she says softly.
He pulls away a lot more roughly than I did. “Thanks,” he says curtly and walks off.
I hurry after him, shooting an apologetic glance in the woman’s direction as I grab his arm.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sorry, I’m just not into that hippie-dippy crap.”
“You think hugs are hippie-dippy?”
“Well, obviously not with friends and family. I’m just not good at opening up to strangers.”
“You were pretty good with me,” I point out.
“You’re different,” he says. “You’re…”
We’re interrupted by a loud crash, followed by cursing. To our right is a stage and what looks to be the top half of a small woman sticking out of the floor.
Matt and I race over.
“Hey! Are you all right there? Can we help?” I ask.
She looks at me in disbelief. “What the fuck do you think? Yes! Get me the hell out of here!”
Matt and I each grab one of her arms and yank her out of the floor. She lies on her side, breathing heavily.
“We’re fucked,” she moans.
“What happened?”
“The Revelations are due to play on this stage in exactly two hours, but it appears some asshole set a fire last night and burned a hole in the damn thing.”
I inspect the hole. It does look that way.
“Okay. So I take it you’re one of the festival organizers? What’s your back-up plan?”
She narrows her eyes. “I’m not one of the organizers, I’m the band’s manager. And I don’t have a fucking back-up plan.”
“Shouldn’t you
have a crew or something?”
“Don’t talk to me about the goddamn crew. I just fired the lot of them. All fucking high on God knows what. I don’t trust any of them to do their job without injuring themselves or the equipment.”
I jump into action. I faced challenges like this at Perry Tyler and I always managed to save the day.
“All right, let’s think this through logically. Can we move to another stage?”
“And how the fuck are we supposed to carry all this stuff over in time and let everyone know where we are?” She points to a large pile of band equipment sitting on the ground beside the stage. “We’re meant to be shooting some footage for a music video out here! We can’t do that without a crowd.”
“Can you postpone the show?”
“Oh, of course, why didn’t I think of that?” she says sarcastically. “Maybe because they’re accepting a Hall of Fame award tonight in LA and need to get out of this hellhole by 3p.m.”
“Let me help. I used to manage situations like this all the time. Sorry, what was your name?”
She looks at me dubiously. “Veronica.”
“Okay Veronica, I take it you’re not capable of any heavy lifting right now?”
She tries to stand up, but her ankle buckles underneath her. “Apparently not.”
“When is the band due to arrive?”
“They’ll be flying in by helicopter in half an hour.”
“Leave it to me. The stage near the pyramids is a similar size to this one and I’m pretty sure it only has shows scheduled at night, so we can move the band over there. I’ll sort out a crew to get your equipment set up, and I’ll also make sure your crowd is ready.”
She laughs. “If you can pull that off, sweetheart, I will kiss your goddamn feet.”
“That won’t be necessary. But I do want one thing in return.”
“Anything you like, darlin’.”
“I want a meet-and-greet with the band after the show.”
She smiles slyly. “Oh, a fan, huh? Sure. If you do what you say you can do, I’ll give you your meet-and-greet. Wait! Don’t tell me, it’s Davey you want, right? He’s the one all the girls love.”
“Uh, yeah.” I turn to Matt. “Can you help Veronica over to the other stage?”
He nods. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
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