Page 75 of Eco-Activist's Mountain Men
"Okay, no one has to drink. Eric," I said. "Your turn."
"My turn? Oh, right. Okay sure. Er… have you ever seen the Aurora Borealis?"
"The what now?" Toby blinked.
"The Northern Lights, you ignoramus."
"Oh, that. Yes. Just once," Toby admitted, "but it wasn’t like the photographs, just a kind of hint of shimmering green in the sky."
So Toby was clear. I’d seen it several times on skiing trips with Mom and Dad. Eric, of course, had seen it—that’s why he’d asked. That left Luke and Jack, who both had to down their tequilas and refill their glasses.
Next up was Jack. Predictably, he went military.
"Have you ever been to Afghanistan?"
"Oh, come on, Jack. That’s not fair, bro," Toby groaned. "You know none of the rest of us have been in the military." His outrage was theatrical, but Jack just grinned and shrugged, utterly unapologetic. Authority came naturally to him, even in games. The rest of us had to down our drinks and refill again.
Then Luke cleared his throat. His voice was steady as ever—measured, calm. He wasn’t a man who wasted words, but when he spoke, it landed.
"Have you ever benched three-fifteen?"
"What does that even mean, Luke?" Toby squawked.
He smiles smugly, but remains silent. It's Toby who answers. "He means, can you bench press three hundred and fifteen pounds—that's the bar with three of the really big plates oneither side. Only serious athletes and strongmen can manage that… as well he knows—the smug bastard."
I sigh. "So that's a 'no' for all of us except the sasquatch." But instead of taking offence at the name this time, Luke just laughs, whilst the rest of us down our tequilas and refill our glasses.
The game continues for two more rounds before we're out of tequila, the final refill being on Toby's round.
"Have you ever been skinny dipping in the plunge pool here at night?"
"The plunge pool… what plunge pool?" I ask, mystified.
"Oh, haven't you seen the plunge pool? It's in the forest. You just go a quarter of a mile up the track and turn first right into the trees, and you end up in a natural clearing where there's a fresh water spring, and we dug out a plunge pool there about what… four or five years ago. It's the most amazing way to relax and freshen up after a hard day's work. We often go there on really hot days in July and August. We never bother with clothes… I mean—who's going to be there, right?"
"Apart from maybe some of Luke's sasquatch relatives popping by, you mean?" But Luke merely grins. He's clearly learned not to take me seriously at last.
"Well, I for one," says Eric rather tipsily. "Suggest we all dwink our lasht tekilly—teekilly—sh- shots, and go up there now. Have a dip. Whassay?"
"Gets my vote." Toby's grinning broadly. Yeah… like he hadn't intended this to happen.
"I'm up for it," says Jack. Luke gives a nod. All eyes turn to me.
"Oh, come on, guys. I'm the only girl."
"That's okay," Toby's smiling. "We'll let you undress behind a tree if you're shy. Come on, guys… drink up. Last one in's a striped skunk!"
It’s late September, but despite the big storm, the summer heat has stayed. Even though it’s well past midnight, it’s still warm enough for T-shirts as we pick our way up the track. Within five minutes, we’ve reached the clearing, and I gasp.
The moon hangs bright overhead, and together with the stars, the little glade is bathed in silvery light. The water sparkles and dances like something out of a Disney fairytale.
At the edge of the plunge pool is a weathered wooden platform. Toby doesn’t hesitate—boots already kicked off, pants and boxers flying. With a roar, he launches himself into the pool, hitting with a splash that showers the bank.
He may be first, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to be last. No way am I going to creep behind a tree, stripping shyly while the men wait with grins and catcalls. Not tonight. I tug my clothes off quickly—my ankle hardly slowing me anymore—and squeal as I hurl myself into the pool, hitting the water just after Eric, who’d dived in a second before me.
Luke and Jack follow soon after, their heavier splashes echoing through the trees. The water is freezing, stealing our breath in gasps, but that only makes us laugh harder. Toby and Jack gang up on Luke, trying to wrestle him under. Even together, they can’t budge him, and Luke just stands there like a boulder in a flood, shaking them off with a rare grin tugging at his lips. Eric and I splash at each other until Toby dives under and bursts up in front of me, scooping me clear off my feet. He hurls me high into the air, and I hit the water with a shriek and a splash.
The others turn on Toby, chasing him in chaotic arcs around the pool. He’s quick, laughing as he dodges and weaves, until finally we corner him and dunk him under with a roar of victory.
