Page 6 of Sass in the Grass

The gangway between the cabins was muddy in spots too, but he didn’t avoid these spots. Why bother? His shoes were ruined.

Like she was reading his mind, she told him, “Probably better to wear sneakers. Mosquitos and snakes, after all, like bare toes better than those covered.”

“S-snakes? There are snakes here?”

“This is the country. I get it, you’re not used to being off concrete, but country means animals. Around here you’ll find everything from field mice to big brown bears. That’s why we suggest no one wander off alone or take the hiking trails alone.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I wasn’t planning on it!”

Bears, snakes, bugs, and dirt. The misery he was already expecting doubled, quadrupled, in the space of five minutes.

But it only got worse when he saw the cabin interior. There were beds lined up in three rows. Three rows of four.

Twelve people in one cabin. That meant eleven other people in the cabin with him, sleeping, spreading their breath and germs…

“Not even…I don’t know, room separators?”

“Did you bring one?” She mocked.

“Funny. I would have, given any knowledge of the situation!”

“Boy, the warnings were not hard enough,” she mumbled as she set his bags in the middle of the room. “Three are taken, you’ll see the bags under or next to them. More people are arriving all the time, and a bus is coming in an hour, so I suggest you choose a bunk that will…not have you whining any louder and make yourself at home. Welcome to Pride Camp.”

Chapter Three

Afterchoosingtheendbunk on the row of the southern wall of the cabin, he stowed his bags under the bunk, though one wouldn’t fit. That one he set next to his bed, first placing it between his bunk and the next closest, then he decided against that. He did not know if that would signal someone that it was open for them to take from.

The bunk itself was hard as steel and squeaked when he sat on it. Jovian needed a mirror, a gin and tonic, and a day at the spa. All things he had to look forward to the second he was released from his prison.

Two people came into the cabin, loudly, laughing and chasing one another. One was taller than Jovian by a foot, which wasn’t hard. He’d only reached five feet, five inches in any of his latter growth spurts, if anyone could call them that.

The other was a beefy African American man, in his forties, at least, and whose laughter boomed throughout the space. “Beat you bad, admit it,” he accused the other, who looked to be a trans woman of maybe thirty.

“You cheated, you ass!”

“Did not! You with those long legs, I had to do what I had to do.”

“Mike, we have guests,” she said, nodding to Jovian, who’d tried and failed to sink into the bunk to be unseen.

“Oh, hell! Sorry, didn’t see you,” the man obviously named Mike said as he crossed the space with his hand outreached. “I’m Mike, he/him, and this is Kathy, she/her,” he said as Jovian stood and took the man’s hand.

“Hello. I’m Jovian. Oh, and he/him.”

“What a pretty name,” Kathy said as she stared down at him. “Is this your first time?”

“Yes, and my last, hopefully.”

They exchanged confused glances before Mike asked, “You…didn’t want to be here?”

“A crass bartender blackmailed me and two…two drag queens. At least I assume they’re in on it.”

“What queens?” Mike asked.

“I don’t know, two named after woman's parts.”

Kathy sniggered as Mike huffed in exasperation. “Well, welcome to camp. We were just heading to the Mess. You are welcome to join us. They’re serving snacks until more come, then they’ll serve dinner later.”

“I’m fine, thanks.”

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