We all did. 'Dignity,' he said. 'Okay, let 'er rip. Let's have
'For this we'll need a light.'
She flicked hers on. She drew four rope ends out of the green book
bag. Nylon climbers' rope. Thin, pliant and very sturdy. I asked
her, 'How short's the short one?' She grinned. 'You'll know it when
you see it. Patience.'
Kim was looking at her. 'You think you've been pretty cute a bout all
this, doncha.'
'I dated an egomaniac once. We'd go to bed together. I knew he was an
egomaniac, see, because when he was coming, he'd scream his own
name.'
'Very funny.'
'I think I need a beer,' said Steven.
'Later.'
'How much later?'
'After you draw.'
'In that case I'll go first.'
He tugged one up out of the bag. It was four feet long. Hesmiled.
'Can I have that beer now?'
I Co*
She was very intent, playing it to the hilt and enjoying every
moment.
Four-foot lengths? I asked her. _. She nodded.
'Two for each person. Four of them total, since only two of us will
need to get tied. The other ones' in the bottom of the bag here.'
'That should do it.'
'I'd hoped so. You ready, Kim?'
Kim had her right hand over her left breast, cupping it in pure
unconscious anxiety. She realized what she was doing and the hand
fluttered away. I caught her glance. It was shy and full of pleasure,
like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar. I nodded toward the
bag.
'You first.'
She closed her eyes and reached for it. The line came up long. That
left Casey and me.
Steve came back into the room with beers for all of us. Kim chugged
hers greedily.
> *
'I'm going to need another of these before we get started.' Steven
belched. 'Just remember there's no indoor plumbing. You'll have to
use the outhouse.' 'Thanks, I'll use the lawn.'
Once we start, the woods and the lawn will be out of bounds,
She refused the beer Steve offered her. I took mine and popped the
tab. She was staring at me. I knew what she wanted. 'Okay, okay,' I
told her.
I reached into the bag.
The first tug told me it was too light. I pulled it out all the way.
About one foot long. I let it dangle. Casey reached for the last one.
Four feet, like the others.
'Dan's it.'
I made myself look glum. 'Sure. Screw the local kid.'
'I'll take that beer now,' said Casey.
Steve handed it to her and she shook it and then popped the tab. Suds
went flying all across the hall. Plenty of it landed on Kim's yellow
blouse just above the line of overalls.
'Shit! What do you want him to do, smell me out?'
'Sorry'
'Jeez Case!'
'You get good ideas, and you get bad ones. Sorry.'
She wasn't really angry, though. We sat quietly sipping our drinks.
Kim finished hers quickly and went to the kitchen for another. She
returned and said, 'Hey, lights out. Remember the rules, huh?'
Steven didn't like it. 'We can't even finish our beers?'
'A little.'
'One problem,' I said. 'You haven't given me the ropes yet.'
'And I haven't finished my damn beer.'
'Okay,' said Casey. 'Lights on again.'
She set her flashlight down on the floor with the beam running across
it into the kitchen and dug into the book bag. She pulled out another
four-foot length of rope. Steve handed me his and Kim gave me hers. I
looped them all together and loosened my belt a couple of notches and
pushed them through the belt in front so they wouldn't get snagged in
the dark.
ACKKETCHUM
'Who gets the flashlights?'
Casey thought about it. 'I guess we can leave them here on the table
with the beer and stuff. That's the best way to make sure nobody
cheats and uses one.'
'You take 'em,' said Kim. 'Put them in the book bag. We trust you. I
might be tempted to steal one.'
'I'm not sure / trust me.'
Steven shrugged. 'It's your game, Case. You willing to cheat
yourself?'
'I guess not.'
'Then take them. I finished my beer, by the way.'
'Lights out, then.' They were all ready to go. I could have used
another drink.
Casey turned the world dark again.
I felt her hand thrust its fingers between mine, twining them, exerting
a gentle pressure. Her body shifted next to me, and I put my arm
around her waist. She turned and there we were for a moment, necking
in the dark.
The first kiss was warm and sweet, the second more playful. She nipped
