Chapter 05.9

We all got into the water, and the girls swam behind their boats.

“Aaron,” I asked quietly, ”how’s your girl at swimming?”

“She manages. Yours?”

“Pretty good.”

Paul counted down, and the girls started pushing. Jenny’s athleticism showed—she won the point for her team. Everyone climbed back into the boats.

“You did great,” I said, swimming up beside her.

“Thanks,” she smiled. I was about to say more, but she was already swimming away.

“Jay,” Brian called, poking me with an oar, grinning, ”you’re up.”

“Brian,” I laughed, ”looks like I need to keep an eye on you.”

“You’ll get there eventually,” he teased.

I climbed out of the water while Jenny’s team helped her back into their boat.

“Next challenge: underwater handstand,” Aaron announced.

“Dude, we should’ve coordinated,” Daryl muttered.

“Yeah,” Diane agreed. ”Mayoko used to do gymnastics.”

“Not a bad challenge,” I said. ”But we should’ve picked our own. Diane, how are you with this kind of thing?”

“Not great,” she admitted.

“Alright,” I said. ”Aaron, you go. You’re better underwater.”

“Aaron’s going,” I called out, ”and straight legs aren’t required.”

“Got it,” Mayoko laughed. “I’ll go.”

They swam to a safe depth. After the countdown, Mayoko flipped into a perfect underwater handstand. Aaron tried, head submerged, flailing a bit. Everyone burst out laughing.

“Point goes to us,” I said. ”Mayoko stood up first.”

“Debatable,” Brian said. ”Your guy didn’t even manage a handstand.”

“Fair enough,” I nodded. “We’ll forfeit the point.”

“So, what’s the score?” Diane asked.

“We’ve got two points, you’ve got one,” Paul said. ”I haven’t gone yet, and Diane’s still up for your team.”

“Jay,” Brian teased, ”starting to see why we picked Susy?”

“Yeah,” I grinned. ”Looks like we’ll be cooking tonight.”

“We’re not giving up,” Daryl called out. ”Name your challenge—we’ve still got someone who can go again.”

“You can,” Jenny replied calmly, ”but Diane still has to compete.”

“Smart one,” I muttered under my breath.

“Then rowing race,” Jenny said smoothly. ”We’re sending Paul.”

It was clear they had every move planned.

“Diane?” I asked with the calm of someone already resigned to losing.

“I’ll go,” Daryl said, determined.

“Then Daryl it is,” I shrugged and jumped into the water.

It was a close race, but Daryl reached the tree just a hair faster.

“All tied up,” Daryl said proudly.

“Yeah,” I nodded. ”But now we have to send Diane—against Brian or Paul.”

“Diane,” I asked, ”what are you good at?”

“She’s great at sewing and cooking,” Daryl laughed. ”Not super useful here.”

“Let’s just finish this,” Aaron said. ”I’m starving.”

“Can you dive?” I asked Diane.

“More or less,” she smiled.

“Alright, diving contest—distance,” I said. ”Diane’s up for us.”

“I’ll go,” Brian said, standing with a grin.

They dove in at the same time—Brian clearly landed farther.

We paddled back to shore.

“Jay,” Jenny said as she walked over, ”thanks for lunch.”

“You still have to eat it,” I laughed.

She walked off to join Susy, and I watched her for a moment.

“Dude,” Aaron called, ”come help cook.”

“You’re better off without me,” I said. Paul just nodded with a smile.

“Good luck,” Susy grinned, grabbing a ball. ”We’ll be in the water.”

The Japanese crew started tossing the ball around in the lake while we cooked. Mostly Aaron and Diane did the work—the rest of us were just in the way.

“Jay,” Daryl said, walking over, “we need to get them back.”

“Brian and I are waiting for nightfall,” I laughed, then leaned in and told him our plan.

“Jane’s going to kill you,” he grinned.

“I know,” I laughed. “But I’ll do whatever it takes to catch her attention.”

I stared at her. Daryl just patted my shoulder.

By the time the meat-and-potato dish was ready, the group who had been playing with the ball had already dried off or changed clothes. We all sat down to eat.

“What’s the plan?” Diane asked. ”The sun’s starting to set.”

“Yeah, the day flew by,” Jenny said cheerfully. “At least the bugs are tolerable now.”

“After dinner, we’ll take a little walk through the woods,” Brian said calmly.

Before we set off, Jenny and Diane dressed like they were preparing for a jungle expedition.

“You’re looking pretty relaxed, Jane,” Paul said with a smile.

“I sprayed myself with every kind of bug repellent I could find,” she laughed.

“We can tell,” Aaron said. “Good thing Susy’s sharing a tent with you.”

“I might sleep outside just to escape the fumes,” Susy joked.

We walked until dusk. The girls led the way in a group, as they usually did, occasionally glancing back at us.

“We should probably head back soon,” Mayoko said.

“Of course, Hani” Brian replied. “We’re already on our way.”