Knight of Swords

By The Shore—AFTERNOON

I wake up in the sleeping bag By the Shore. Again. It’s well into the day this time though. Some young Boy Scouts are running amok on the beach. As a former scout myself, I feel guilty watching on while they unproductively terrorize the beach goers with their random running and yelling. So I get up, now trudging in the sand after them.

I think to myself “I know if the scoutmaster were here, he’d want them busy, keeping the site neat and clean. Maybe I should call them in?”

When I catch up, I try to wrangle them in, yelling and then trying to take their volleyball when a stray bump takes it toward me. But the old Sailor passes, intercepts the ball and returns it to the kids. He is of no help.

“Sailor Lou, know if there are there any specific plans for the scouts today? And, if so, how long should I make the kids work before playing?”

He shrugs, “Use them to clean up the trash on the beach until sundown. That sounds fair. That’s what I’d do.”

The Sailor walks back off, but in the meantime, the scouts are playing with the ball again.

“Scouts! Fall in! We have work to do!”

They begin to gather slowly, a dune buggy runs up unto the beach before them and tips over. We all gasp.

“Scouts, the driver may be hurt, do you remember the first aid for this situation?”

However, the driver pops right out of the cab. It is a redheaded girl in racing leathers. I awe I am able to mumble “Hi!”

“Hi, Frank.”

“You know her?” whispers a scout in my ear in disbelief that a dork like me might know such a sexy woman.

“Sure, of course I know her.” I say, but am not sure myself, “She and I go way back, don’t we?”

“Iris,” she offers.

“Iris. Of course. Iris.” As a test case I open my arms to embrace her, she smiles and somehow I take this as an invitation to kiss her as well.

This Woman is a Temptress.

Eyes closed, my searching mouth finds the heavy red lipstick and lip ring. I’m exhilarated by the moment. She grudgingly allows it and smiles back with a sexy sneer when I pull back. I beam at the Scouts.

“See? I told you I knew her.”