Location: The balcony of Jake's condo.
Time: July 1, 2007 at 5:45 a.m. C.D.T.
Nate had managed to get up without waking Lazlo or the others. There was nothing wrong, he just wanted to wheel his way to the balcony and greet the coming day. He was wearing his favorite cocoa-colored silk PJs and they were perfect for the mild and muggy morning air. He had always been a decent morning person for awhile now. Most of his friends were quite the opposite. He figured that he just had a deeper appreciation for the days he was giving ever since the accident that could have killed him. Whatever the reason, he was glad he was able to come out here and greet the morning this way. The sound of the surf far below him was the perfect music to wake up to.
Nate was actually one of the last of the group to go to bed. The entire group of five had gone down to the pool yesterday evening after supper and even had a little tennis tournament that Clam actually ended up winning just barely beating Randy. Clam never ceased to amaze Nate. To hear him talk and to watch him one wouldn't think much of him, but Clam was a very talented little pygmy rhino. It was mostly the arts that his talents excelled in but he was also good at many sports including baseball and, as revealed recently, tennis. Anyway back to last night, Nate had been on the phone with Jake for a good part of the night. Jake and Crystal were currently visiting with Crystal's mother Jacky on the outskirts of Albuquerque. Jacky had managed to separate herself from Julius before his criminal enterprise really started to build. She had feared that her daughter was caught up in it. Crystal never told her about her undercover work with the FBI that ultimately led to Julius' downfall. How relieved she was to learn that this was the case and that Crystal had no intention of following in her father's criminal path.
Nate hadn't met Jacky yet but he had decided he would like to. So much strength she showed by staying near Albuquerque. Anyone else might have completed uprooted and gone off far away but not Jacky. She never had any fear of Julius. After their visit with Jacky, Jake and Crystal planned to go to visit with his folks in Mableton and then stay and do some things around Atlanta, including taking in the fireworks show at Centennial Olympic Park if the bad drought didn't put a halt to that. It seemed to Nate that Jake and Crystal would make a great couple and that Crystal would be one good sister-in-law. He just wandered when the big date would be. Nate was interrupted from his thoughts by the sound of the sliding glass door opening behind him. It was Randy in a pair of boxers and his favorite bathrobe.
Randy (yawning and stretching): Morning Nate…whatcha doing up so early in the morning?
Nate: Oh…good morning Randy. Just wanted to come out here and take in the beginning of the day is all. It's nice to come out here early with the sun just starting to rise and here the waves far below. It helps me think to.
Randy: Oh...what ya thinking bout?
Nate: Just reflecting on all that's happened with me lately and also about my brother's engagement to Crystal. I'm also thinking about all the fun to be had today. Just little things like that.
Randy: Well it's nice that you have such a good head on your shoulders for thinking and all. Just don't overdo it. After all, it's possible to over think things sometimes. Thinking things through is great and all but for some things it's better to just let them happen.
Nate: I know whatcha mean. It's just nice to reflect on things from time to time and this spot here is one of the best places in the world to do just that.
Randy: I think I'll have to agree with ya on that one little buddy. In fact I think I'll stay out here and enjoy the breaking of the day with you.
Nate: That's good to hear because this is much better when shared.
Randy: Indeed it is Nate, indeed it is.
The two of them remained out on the balcony for a good hour or so just watching the dawn break and talking as well as planning for the day. By the time they reentered the condo, the others were awake and it was time for some breakfast and some more chatting and planning.
Location: The beach just in front of the unit.
Time: July 1, 2007 at 10:40 a.m. C.D.T.
There couldn't have been a better time to get out in the water. There were no major rip currents and undertows to worry about. For Randy and the Jellies, that was of no concern to them anyway as they were in Randy's speedboat a good ways away from the shore. All were in the boat but Clam who was currently hot-dogging it behind the boat on a pair of water-skis. This was yet another sport that Clam had taking an instant shine to. It just couldn't get anymore carefree than this. All of them were had their swim trunks on and were enjoying the water.
Lazlo: Alright Clam! You've really got the hang of it.
Nate: I'll say. Just keep that nice form and balance around turns Clam, you were a little shaky on that last one. Hey Raj, you wanna go next?
Raj: (nervous giggle) I don't…think water-skiing is really my cup of tea Nate. It was enough for me to get comfortable with these high rates of speed with this boat so far from shore.
Lazlo: Are you sure Raj? You overcame your little fear of water when you faced it and found you could swim.
Raj: Yes…well that was swimming in the water. There's a big difference between swimming nice and gently through the water and skiing at high rate of speed above it.
Nate: Does make a good point there.
Raj: Besides…I'm just fine with being out here and enjoying the view as we speed along with the boat under me, not just a pair of oversized popsicle sticks between my feet and the water.
All had to laugh at Raj comparing the water-skis as a pair of oversized popsicle sticks.
Nate: Well it could be worse than that Raj. You could be skiing on the water without water-skis at all. Before my accident, I had gotten pretty good at barefoot water-skiing. I wouldn't recommend it though till one got real good at conventional water-skiing. Clam just may be up to that skill level before the day is done at this rate.
They continued water-skiing well past noon to about 1:00 in the afternoon. After a quick lunch back up at the condo they were back down in the water. This time Randy was giving each of them a ride on his jet ski one at a time. Raj was shaky at first but ended up doing just fine and having a great time. The only concern was how well Nate would be able to hold on. It turned out not to be a problem at all. As it got later in the day, the five stuck to snorkeling closer in to the shoreline. They came across a couple of flounders lounging on the bottom and caught site of an occasional crab. The waters of the Gulf were always so clear. With some light left they had a beach volleyball tournament with Randy and Clam against Lazlo and Raj while Nate was the referee. Randy had chosen Clam because he knew he might well get beat again if Clam was opposing him. The winning would be the team first to 21 and that ended up being Lazlo and Raj.
Randy: Dang…I guess I'm just snake-bit this week.
Lazlo: You sure you weren't letting us win Randy?
Randy: Positive...you know how competitive I can be. Give yourselves some credit, you guys were great.
Nate: I'll say. That was one close and exciting game.
Lazlo: Yea…now what else can we do with the day winding to a close.
Clam: Ooh…Ooh…(goes and whispers something in Lazlo's ear).
Lazlo: Hey…now there's a contest guaranteed to be a barrel of laughs. Just glad you volunteered yourself and not me. I'll be rooting for ya Clam.
Nate: What are ya'll planning Lazlo?
Randy: Yea…let us in on it.
Lazlo: Clam has decided he would like to challenge you to another contest Randy.
Randy: Oh? What kind of contest Clam?
Clam: (wiggled his fingers with a mischievous grin on his face) tickle…tickle.
Randy: (looking a little puzzled and nervous) You…wanna challenge me to a tickle contest?
Nate: Hey…yea that would be fun. I'm guessing you're wanting to see who can go the longest before crying uncle basically.
Clam: Yea…yea.
Randy: (stammering) Well I don't know…It'd be a little unfair as I have a…uhh…greater ability to…control my laughter…yea that's it.
Raj: You sure are very shaky right now Randy. You're not nervous are you?
Randy: Me…no way. (sighs) Ok Clam…I accept.
Lazlo: Alright then…now I think to fair you both should be tickled on your most ticklish spot which it turns out you both have the same most ticklish spot…the feet.
Randy: Whoa now…wait a minute. How'd you know I was most ticklish on my feet?
Lazlo: Patsy told me just before we left. She said it might come in handy and it looks like she was right.
Randy: Dang…I shouldn't have let that little factoid be known by the Squirrel Scouts. Should've known that would come back to bite me. Ah well what's done is done. So Clam…you wanna go first or should I?
Nate: I have a better idea. Since the target for both of ya'll is the feet, we could just bury you both in the sand and do the tickling simultaneously. First one to shout uncle looses. I'll be the referee for this. Lazlo you get to tickle Randy and Raj, you get to tickle Clam. So let's get em buried, find a couple of feathers and get it on.
In a matter of a few minutes, Randy and Clam were securely buried with just their head and feet exposed. Right at 5:54 p.m. the tickling began. The sound of the surf became mixed with the laughter of not just Randy and Clam but the ticklers Raj and Lazlo as well as Nate. There also came cheers of encouragement from the gathering crowd of onlookers. Nate had to keep close watch on both Randy and Clam to make sure they didn't start hyperventilating. Both were definitely, unbelievably, extremely ticklish. The contest went a good twenty minutes before Clam conceded.
Clam: (laughing his head off) uncle…UNKLE!!
Nate: And we finally have a winner. Congrats Randy. What a way to hang in there.
Randy: (laughing hard) yes….Oh yes….looks like I gotcha back for beating me at tennis last night.
There were dug out and Lazlo got each of them a nice bottle of water from the cooler they had brought down with them. After they had caught their breaths and got thoroughly rested, Clam and Randy decided to attack their ticklers and give them a taste of what they endured. Laughter once again filled the beach and when their little tickle fight settled; they realized that Nate was no longer in the area. Randy immediately got concerned and got to his feet and began to look around. They found him not too far off. He had started chatting with one of the onlookers, a young grey fox about his age it seemed.
Randy: There you are. Please don't wander off like that. Man you sure can go with just your arms.
Nate: Well I had had plenty of time to work on moving without the aid of my legs and my apologies Randy. I would like ya'll to meet Angela. While ya'll were busy tickling each other, we got to talking.
She introduced herself to all four of them and began to share with them what she shared with Nate. She was indeed Nate's age and she and her parents were renting unit 601 in the condo. They lived just outside of White Plains, NY and came down here often for the 4th of July week. This was their third year. Before their first trip down here, there were lots of problems with Angela's family. It turns out that her dad was employed as an accountant for a rather shady company. Turns out it was part of Julius' criminal enterprise. It was amazing to Nate how far reaching Julius' organization actually stretched. To think in a way he and his new friends helped to put a close to it all. They talked for awhile until it was time for all to part company and get some supper. They traded cell phone numbers and decided that they would love to keep in touch. Nate felt as if he knew Angela forever. He figured this was due to their connection with having to escape Julius' clutches. Fortunately for Angela and her entire family, her dad did not know enough of the inner workings of the organization to be a threat to Julius so they didn't have to relocate but there was always that element of fear. That fear was lifted when they learned of his incarceration and it was so nice to meet four of the Bean Scouts that helped to ensure Julius' capture. Nate found himself wandering if he and Angela might one day go steady. A very conflicting thought for Nate as he always saw himself eventually in a relationship with his childhood friend Sarah. Nate knew that it would most likely be Sarah for him. Angela was a wonderful girl and he respected greatly her strength of character. They would always be good friends as far as he was concerned but for him, Sarah would be the one.
Later that evening, Nate found himself once again out on the balcony. He was listening to the waves far below him and, as he liked to do, he was reflecting back on what the day brought. He couldn't decide what he enjoyed more, the boat ride or the ride on Randy's jet ski. The beach volleyball game was great and that tickle contest that took place between Randy and Clam was a rather amusing end to their fun day on the beach. He was also glad to make a new friend in Angela. All this that took place and it was just their first whole day their. He was looking forward to the rest of the week. Especially the 4th of July.