by Neil Crenner
smile.
"Hey Reason let me help you with that," he said in a louder than normal voice.
Reason looked up from the messy blanket and sighed, shifting his weight to one side in a show of relief that his struggle would soon be over with the blanket.
"Mother must have brought this with her, as I have never seen it before," Didier said as he was grabbing the two corners to help stretch it out.
"It's a lovely blanket, very soft and thick. Must be made of wool, but it doesn't seem itchy."
"New wool is very different than old wool I believe. I have a pair of wool slacks and they are so soft, I really enjoy wearing them in the winter," Didier said.
"When I was young, I remember having a wool blanket and it made me itch. I am really surprised that this is wool."
"How are you boy's doing laying out that blanket?" Catherine asked. "I brought it from home. It's one of my favorites and has been in my family for many years."
Both Reason and Didier looked at each other. "So much for new wool," Didier said. They laid down on it and stretched out on their backs. "Maybe we can take our shirts off and get a tan?" Reason asked.
"I like that idea, but let's put them back on when we go eat," Didier interjected, "Just to be well-mannered."
Reason smiled and agreed, "Sure, no problem."
"Hey mom, we're going to get some sun, when's lunch?" Didier said in a louder voice than normal.
"Lunch is in about 20 minutes, so relax until then. I am going to go fetch Colbert, I see her way over there in the bushes." Colbert had run off to her favorite place in the bushes where she would chase the lizards in the brush. She would never run off and there were no poisonous snakes in this area. Catherine headed towards Colbert, a sun hat keeping her face shaded. "I'll be right back," as she passed by the boys.
"Do you think Catherine is relaxing?"
"Oh sure, she likes being outdoors and she said this place reminded her of when she was young back home. I think the fresh air does her good too."
20 minutes later.
"Lunch is served." Catherine exclaimed.
"Reason wake up, lunch is served," Didier said quietly, "Let's go."
"I was having the best nap, but boy am I warm. Did I burn?"
"It's only been twenty minutes, I should say not," Didier exclaimed. "Put your shirt on and let's eat."
"Okay, give me a minute. I am groggy from falling asleep. I never take a nap during the day."
"Yes, I know. It's good for the mind and the body."
"Go eat."
"Hurry." Didier got up and went over to the table. "Mother, you've outdone yourself. It looks fantastic," Didier exclaimed as he sat down.
"Is Reason okay? He looks a bit groggy."
"Yes, he's fine, he's just not used to taking a nap during the day."
"Well I want him to enjoy his lunch," Catherine added.
"I am sure he will love it, mother. How could he not?"
"I'll pour the sun tea I made yesterday."
"Oh I love your sun tea mother. Here he comes."
"I just fell asleep and had a hard time waking up."
"Oh dear, don't worry, have some of my sun tea," Catherine handed a glass to Reason.
"Thank you," Reason said and took a big gulp of it. "Wow, that is delicious. It hits the spot and has a bit of a lift to it."
"We have roast beef sandwiches on rye with mustard and pickles. I made pasta salad with olives and capers and onions. We have some sour cream dip and chips. I made carrot and raison salad as well. Here is some hot relish as well. I have dessert too." Catherine said without stopping.
"This is a feast. Oh I brought Colbert some food, it's in the trunk."
"I already gave it to her, see she's laying on the blanket all pooped out. I put some water over there in the shade," Catherine explained.
"Thank you Catherine, you are so thoughtful."
"I love being a mother," Catherine said demurely. They ate their lunch and sat and had more sun tea. "Now you boys go take Colbert for a hike up there to the waterfalls and I will lay down and take a nap. I will just cover up all this food and you can nibble on it."
"Are you sure, mother?"
"You don't want to go with us?" Reason asked.
"I am ready for an afternoon nap and I brought a pillow, you guys go and enough yourself." Catherine waved her hand towards the hill.
"Okay, well enjoy your nap and we'll be gone about an hour," Reason said.
"That's no problem. You have fun and watch out for snakes."
"We will and don't worry, there are not any poisonous snakes around," Reason assured her.
"Let's go Didier. Colbert!" Reason hailed her and she was up in a minute. Colbert loved to go up the hiking trail, but always stayed close enough to see them behind her. She would turn her head and check to see that they were still there. The hike was not steep and had a clear path to walk on. It wound along the hill back and forth until it reached a summit, but not the top of the hill. This took them about 30 minutes to walk up.
"The waterfall is a bit further if you want to go?"
"Sure, I am sweating."
"When they got to the waterfall, there was no one around. Reason and Didier striped to their skivvies and walked under the waterfall. They made out for awhile and then took a dive into the pool that the water cascaded into. Colbert stayed at the edge of the pool and would not get into the water.
"Maybe you should throw her into the water Reason?" Didier exclaimed.
"I could never catch her, because she would know that I was going to do something and run from me. It would shock her too much. It would be cruel," Reason explained.
"Yes, I am sure it might be, I didn't think of it like that." Didier said apologetically.
"Are you ready? I think we should start heading back, we've been here a while, mother might start to worry."
"Yeah, I am ready, nice and cool and shriveled up." They got out and sat on the rocks which were warm from the sun. "Let's dry off here for a few minutes," Reason said. "Come sit next to me." Didier climbed out of the water and sat next to Reason on a large flat rock. He put his arm around his shoulder and leaned into him.
"I love you," he whispered in Reason's ear. Reason shivered with goose bumps all over his body.
"I love you too, Didier." They sat there for awhile saying nothing.
21 minutes later.
"It's faster going down the hill than going up, so we took a bit longer than we said," Didier explained to Catherine.
"I was just cleaning up. I had a nice nap and it was so warm on the blanket. Did you have fun at the waterfall? You both look refreshed."
"Yes the water was very relaxing, we went swimming," Reason offered.
"Then we laid out on some hot rocks and dried out," Didier continued.
"You both look very healthy now," Catherine finished.
"Are we ready to head back?" Reason asked.
"I think it was a fun filled day. Let's do it again soon." Didier remarked.
"I would like that," said Catherine.
"Moi aussi," said Reason. They were heading home. Reason wanted the day not to end.
"Shall we go to the movies?"
"I would like that, we have not yet been. What shall we see?"
"Well there's the artsy theater downtown. It might be playing something good."
"I have the newspaper from today, we can look and see."
"I do hope something is good playing."
"I am a bit tired, maybe I'll stay home and relax with Colbert," Catherine interjected from the back seat.
"You are welcome to join, but if you are not up to it then that's perfectly fine, "Didier said.
Reason believed that Catherine wanted to stay home and let them have some time together. He thought that was very considerate. He smiled at Didier and then continued to drive in silence, the radio low enough to be heard but not loud enough to disturb the silence. He felt great.
Chapitre 34
15 minutes lat
er.
They pulled up to the house and got out. Catherine took Colbert into the house while Reason and Didier collected the picnic stuff from the trunk.
"I think your mom wants us to have some time alone tonight?"
"Well let's go back to your house after the movies. I am sure she won't mind taking care of Colbert," Didier replied.
"I hope not." Reason answered. When they got inside, Catherine said she was going to go lay down and relax. Didier mentioned that we might be out late and she said it was no problem and that she would watch Colbert. Reason found the movie ads and quickly surmised what movie they should see. "How about a drama?"
"I am more in the mood for a comedy or a science fiction epic."
"Let me see. Here's one. It's about an accident on the sky lab that catapults itself out into open space. How does that sound?"
"Sounds fun. What time is it playing?"
"Do we have time for dinner before the movie?"
"Well it's playing at 8 p.m. It's now 5:30 p.m. I think we have time to shower and go eat dinner," Reason said smiling.
"Okay then, I will tell mom. I am sure she can fend for herself." Didier went to the bedroom to tell Catherine. Reason got up and went to shower. He was just rinsing off when Didier popped into the bathroom. "Can I get in there with you? I want my back scrubbed."
"I just finished, come in." The shower was an oversized one that could easily hold two people. Didier walked in and Reason stepped back so he could rinse himself off. Reason took the loofa sponge and poured the shampoo onto it.
He started scrubbing Didier's back gently while he stood in front of the nozzle. Didier moaned some as Reason scrubbed harder. He let his body relax as the water poured down he head and shoulders and back. Didier then turned around and wanted to be washed all over. Soon Reason was aware that Didier wanted