Stan Morris - Surviving the Fog

“Jean, why do you think guys like caves better than girls?” Erin asked.

“It might have to do with safety,” answered Jean. “Thousands of years ago, when people lived in caves, the men had to leave and hunt animals for food. That was dangerous work. The men were much safer while they were in the caves. But women stayed in the caves much of the day doing traditional woman’s work. I suspect that they were much more likely to catch a disease from staying longer in cramped confined quarters. So for them, being out of the cave in fresh air was probably healthier.”

The hero of the hour was Eric.

“Good idea, Eric,” Mike said, as he praised Eric for the tenth time.

“Yeah, the Geek saved the day, all right,” John agreed.

“Thank you, Eric,” said Desi. “You are the brains in this tribe. The next time John gives you a hard time, tell me and you can take his place.”

“Hey!” John complained.

“Just kidding, Darling,” Desi responded.

The bitter cold and the dark skies continued that day and the next, but the tribe was warm in the cave. Then the skies cleared, and the sun came out. Hector reattached the barrels, and the crisis was over for the moment.

January turned into February. The kids settled into a routine. There were the usual squabbles, but nothing too bad. Mike finally lost his temper with Tyler and Gabby, so he took a ten foot length of cord and tied them together for twenty four hours. They were stunned.

“What about when we go to the bathroom?” Gabby wailed.

“I guess you can’t close the door,” Mike answered. “One of you will have to stand outside while the other uses the bathroom.”

“Even number two?” Tyler asked in disbelief.

“Even number two,” Mike answered mercilessly.

“Do we have to sleep in the same bag?” Gabby whined.

“Yes,” Mike replied. “Go zip your bags together, right now. Get some help and move your mattresses over by the fire. Don’t get too close though.”

Twenty four hours later the two seemed sufficiently subdued. They lasted ten days. Then, just before bedtime, a furious Yuie came storming into Mike’s room followed by Desi and a tearful Gabby.

“Tyler pulled Gabby’s pajama bottoms down because two guys dared him,” said Yuie angrily. “She wasn’t wearing panties, because she washed them today, and they were hanging up to dry.” Gabby stifled a sob.

“Find John,” Mike ordered grimly. “You stay here, Gabby.” A minute later, John arrived.

Mike gave his instructions. “Find Tyler. Get some Spears, find the two guys that dared Tyler to pants Gabby, and bring them here. Tell the other Spears to grab their spears and come here.”

A few more minutes followed, and then John and the Spears arrived with three boys in tow. Two were obviously scared, and one was scared but defiant.

“Did you guys dare Tyler to pants Gabby?” Mike asked them solemnly.

“Yeah, so what?” sneered the defiant boy. “He’s the one who did it. He didn’t have to. We didn’t do nothing.” The other instigator nodded.

Mike looked at Tyler. “Loyal friends you have here, Tyler,” he said sarcastically.

Tyler did not respond to Mike. Ashamed, he looked at Gabby and said, “I’m sorry, Gabby. I’m really sorry. I was stupid.” Gabby choked back a sob.

“You three strip,” Mike ordered. “We’ll give Gabby a chance to see you three naked.” Two of the boys hesitated, and then, red faced, they began to shed their clothes.

“Hell no, I’m not stripping,” said the defiant boy. “I didn’t do anything.” Mike motioned to the Spears, who grabbed the alarmed boy and began to remove his clothes.

“Hey! Stop! You can’t do this!”

He swung a fist, and then he yelped as John smacked him hard on the side of his head. He stopped fighting and held his aching head.

“Our food would last longer if we tossed this one out in the snow,” Desi suggested coldly.

The boy lost his defiant attitude. “Oh, shit, don’t do that. Please, Chief. I’m sorry.”

“We’ll let him stay. For now,” Mike answered. He addressed the other boy. “We’re trying to survive here, dickhead. Now get your clothes on and get out. You, too.” He motioned to the boy on the floor. Hastily, the two boys pulled their clothes on and fled.

Mike turned to the last naked boy. “Tyler,” was all he said.

Tyler turned white. “Are you kicking me out of the Lodge, Chief,” he whispered.

“Not yet,” Mike said He turned to the Spears. “Give him a beating,”

“No, Chief!” This outburst came from Gabby. “Please don’t beat Tyler, Chief. Don’t do it!”

Mike turned to stare at Gabby.

“Why not?” he asked.

Gabby started crying. “I don’t want you to hurt Tyler,” she cried. “It’s partly my fault. I pulled his pajamas down last week. I accidentally got his underwear, too. But he never told on me.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Desi muttered.

“Is that true?” Mike asked Tyler.

“Yes, Chief, but it’s not the same. She didn’t have any panties on, and beside I’m a guy. Go ahead and beat me,” Tyler said bravely, as his body shook with fright. “I deserve it for listening to those two assholes.”

“No, Chief. Don’t do it,” sobbed Gabby.

“All right,” Mike said. “You two have been causing me a lot of grief, so here’s what I’m going to do. I’m officially pronouncing you two, boyfriend and girlfriend.

“Huh?” chorused the startled twosome. Gabby stopped crying.

“You heard me,” said Mike firmly. “You two are going to be boyfriend and girlfriend until April. By the end of this week, Gabby, you are going to tell all of your friends that you like Tyler and that he’s your boyfriend. Tyler, you are going to tell your friends that you like Gabby, and that she is your girlfriend.” The baffled kids were thoroughly blushing by this time.

“I’m not sure that my friends will believe me,” Tyler said.

“Or mine,” added Gabby.

“To prove it you each have one week to make each other a present,” said Mike. “A very nice present. And if you don’t…,” his voice turned menacing. “And if you don’t, or if it’s not nice enough, then I’ll have the Spears give Tyler a beating and the girls give Gabby a beating.”

“Your present better be nice,” Desi warned Gabby. “Or I’ll kick your little ass.” Gabby nodded. Like most of the kids, she was very leery of Desi.

“What kind of present?” Tyler asked with a puzzled expression.

“Think of something,” Mike snapped. “Ask people. And I better see you guys holding hands and stuff. Now Tyler, put your clothes on and you and Gabby get out.” The two kids left.

“You handled that brilliantly, Chief,” Yuie said, filled with admiration.

“No, I didn’t,” grumbled Mike. “There’s too much of this boyfriend and girlfriend crap going around, and I just added to it.”

“Well, there are more couples since we were stuck in the boys’ cave,” Yuie admitted.

“And this is all your fault,” Mike said, glaring at John and Desi.

Desi smiled at him. “You are so sweet,” she murmured.

“I am not,” he denied hotly.

At the end of the week, Gabby presented Tyler with a pair of deerskin moccasins. “Jean helped me make them,” she said with an anxious look at Tyler, who was examining the footwear with obvious delight. “Are they okay?”

“Wow, these are too cool!” Tyler exclaimed. “Mine is not that good,” he said apologetically, as he presented Gabby with a pair of clip-on turquoise earrings and a turquoise pendant.

“Oh, Tyler, these are so pretty,” Gabby gushed. “How did you make them?” she asked, as she tried them on in front of her envious friends.