This must be the “head” of the dick, if you’re looking at the shape of the island. From here I can see where the land curves inward. If I kept walking along the beach it would eventually take me around and connect me to the other side.
I stick the sardine on the end and throw the line in the water. I don’t want to go in deeper than my ankles thanks to Fred’s warning about sharks, but I hope there’re enough fish in the sandy shallows.
I don’t have to wait long to find out.
There’s a flash of silver in the water and then a tug at my line.
The fish puts up a bit of a fight, but in record time I pull it up out of the water.
A bonefish, about ten pounds, and a beautiful silver olive color.
“Yesssss!” I yell. I close my eyes, giving thanks to the ocean for providing us with the food, a little karakia or prayer.
When I open my eyes, I notice a shark fin in the water.
That’s a sight that will never not chill you to the core.
But after getting over the initial shock, I realize it’s just a small nurse shark, coming to check on what the commotion in the water was all about.
“Better luck next time,” I tell the shark, then I head back down the sand toward barracks.
I feel like a soldier returning from war.
Everyone sees the fish and immediately swarms me, congratulating me like I’m a hero. I have to say, after feeling like I’ve majorly fucked up for most of this trip, it feels good to provide for them. Like I’m finally the captain again, after deeming myself unworthy.
I quickly kill the fish, then clean it on a large rock. On the camping stove, Fred heats up the diced tomatoes and olives. I grab the grill and put it over the fire Richard started, sprinkling the fish with liberal amounts of salt and pepper that Fred brought. While it grills, smelling absolutely incredible after a week of somewhat tasteless food, Daisy pours everyone pinot noir into tin mugs. Lacey sets out the plastic plates.
When it’s all ready, we sit down on the sand, fresh caught grilled fish covered in tomatoes and olives in one hand, mug of wine in the other.
We raise our drinks.
“To Tai,” Fred says.
“And to Fred,” says Lacey.
“Before we dig in,” I tell them, “I’d like to say a few words first. I…being here has made me realize I’ve lost touch with some things, a lot of the connection that my ancestors had to the land, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a moment and give a proper thanks. A karakia, in Maori.” I close my eyes. “Nau mai e nga hua, o Papatuanuku, o Ranginui kete kai. Whitiki kia ora! Haumi e. Hui e. Taiki e! That is, I welcome the gifts of food, provided by the earth mother and the sky father, bearer of food baskets. Gifts bound together to sustain all of us. United and connected as one.”
“Amen,” everyone says.
“Okay, let’s fucking eat,” I tell them, taking a hearty sip of the warm but wonderful wine, and digging in.
It’s the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. I know it’s the same for everyone else, enough that we sound like we’re all having an orgasm at once. Everyone looks so incredibly happy.
I catch Daisy’s eye and that happiness spreads inside me.
I’m incredibly happy.
Seventeen
Daisy
Sore.
I am so sore.
I didn’t think it had been that long since I last had sex, but having sex with Tai was obviously a first time thing. And my god, can that guy wear you out! I had no illusions of how skilled he would be with that cock of his, I could tell just by his hands that he’d know what he’s doing and he’d give it to me good.
But he gave it to me maybe a little too good, if that’s at all possible. Last night was crazy.
We got good and drunk on the rest of the vodka and wine, and we ate the most amazing meals in the history of cuisine (fish for lunch and dinner…don’t really know what kind of fish it was, but it was good).
Then, when everyone passed out on the beach, we snuck into the jungle and ripped the clothes off each other, stealing what moments could find.
Then, after it got dark and everyone went to bed, we took a sleeping bag and headed down the beach, out of sight. We went at it all night long, barely getting any shuteye.
“Good morning,” Tai says gently, his voice thick with sleep.
I roll my head to the side and see him staring at me, his eyes half-closed. How can a man be so hot and manly and pretty all at once?
“Hi,” I tell him. I’m smiling. Of course I’m smiling. I’m lying on a sleeping bag on our own private section of the beach, naked, Tai beside me.