Water
Splish, splash.
Gordon glanced across at John and smiled. The two of them were on surf boards off the coast of Hawaii, paddling their way towards the waves.
"This is the life, eh?" enquired Gordon, rhetorically. The water-baby was literally in his element and was very happy.
John was also happy. To be with a cheerful Gordon was always a good thing. It was also great to be in the ocean after having viewed it for the last month from space. It was cool and salty and its sharpness made him feel alive. He was even tolerant as Gordon gave him some last minute advice.
"If you get a wipe-out steer clear of the coral, okay?"
"Okay. I guess that stuff's pretty sharp. I wouldn't want to cut myself."
Gordon looked at John askance. "Never mind you, just don't damage the coral, okay?"
John made the mistake of laughing and then had to spit seawater out of his mouth.
It wasn't long before the two of them caught a wave and were heading towards the shore. Gordon was filled with the ecstasy of being at one with the ocean. He travelled along the wave with a surety of much practice. He forgot everything but his love of water and the brief moments he felt in control of it, or at least, not fighting against it.
All too soon the ride was over. Aware of the watching sun-bathers Gordon made it his business to make a dignified arrival on the beach. He waded onto the sand, pulling his board with him, looking back to see where John was.
John was also mindful of those on the beach and Gordon was surprised to see him start to wobble and lose control as he finished with the wave. Instead of arriving on the beach near Gordon he ended up in an untidy heap slightly further along the shore. Gordon was about to remark on his brother's incompetence when he realised the full story.
John had made a mistake, but it was an intentional one. He had arrived on the sand at the feet of a huddle of bikini-clad beach babes. He got to his feet in front of them. He gave the girls just enough time to take in his striking height, good looks and blond hair before he gave a wince of supposed pain and sank back down onto the shore.
Gordon watched as John told the ladies a tale of suffering about his right ankle and then looked up to enjoy the sight of the four women bending over him muttering words of comfort.
Gordon smiled at his brother's cunning. Gordon appreciated a skimpily clad bosom as much as John but today his mistress was his board and the waves. Gordon threw his board into the water, leapt on top of it and started paddling again.