Fireplace Challenge
"You're not funny." Sam grinned at her boyfriend Austin, trying in vain to stop giggling. She couldn't help it. He looked very comedic, kneeling in the rain while struggling with the tent poles. She could have sworn she'd seen this on an episode of 'The Brady Bunch' or another television show.
"This wasn't my idea, Austin. I would have been happy just staying at school. But no! 'It's our last three day weekend for months. It'll be fun, trust me. '". Sam did a fair imitation of Austin's enthusiasm about camping, something she wouldn't have expected at all. It had taken a lot of persuading, but she'd eventually agreed.
"Hey, when it's not pouring down rain, camping is fun." Austin kept working with the poles, not doing very well. The tarp was still a tangled mess. A wet tangled mess. And Austin himself was soaked to the skin. His blue jeans were stuck to him. He sighed,
"Sam, where are the directions for this thing?" Sam looked back at him, confused. She checked her pockets, just in case. No luck. All that turned up was her cell phone, which was beeping.
"I don't have the directions; you had them last, didn't you?" She glanced down at her phone. Damn. No service and the battery was just about dead. "And my phone's almost out of power." She huddled under the umbrella, she was staying dry. Austin rolled his eyes,
"Who would you call?" Her eyes had an impish look to them as she answered,
"I don't know, someone who knows how to set up a tent? Then she started laughing, the situation was funnier than she had thought it was. They were completely alone, no tourists or other campers to help them. Austin was drenched to the bone, and they didn't have the directions to set up the tent. Austin tried to glare at her, but realized how funny he must look. He set the mangled tarp down, and joined Sam under the umbrella. He smiled at her, and then surprised her with a hug, getting her good and wet.
"Austin!" Sam shrieked at him, half annoyed, half amused. His arms still around her, he leaned in for a quick tender kiss. She smiled at him, annoyance forgotten. He went back to working on the tent, hoping the rain would end soon.
After what seemed like hours, but was only about thirty minutes, Austin had something resembling a tent assembled. They wouldn't get rained on, at least. He held out his hands, tossing a few 'extra' poles aside. Sam walked over with their sleeping bags. They climbed in carefully, mindful of the odd positioning of the supports. Austin looked smug,
"I told you I could do it. And I think I like it better this way." She laughed softly,
"If it makes you feel better to believe that, go right ahead."