“Yes, I swim well.Although it’s been a while.”
When we got to the rocks, Domingo and I stripped immediately.I didn’t care about either Domingo or Squid seeing me in a state of nature, and my clothes were only making me uncomfortable in the humid heat.
“Winner gets the prize!”I yelled, racing to the surf as Domingo followed at my heels.
“What’s the bloody prize?”Squid yelled, his hands on the hem of his tunic as we left him.
“Respect!”I yelled back as Domingo shrieked with laughter.
Domingo and I were so focused on each other and enjoying the refreshing water, that we didn’t notice Squid sitting on the rocks, still dressed, with his knees pulled up to his chin and a vexed look on his face.
“Oye, what are you waitin’ for?”I yelled.“Come on!The water’s lovely!”
“Changed my mind,” he said.
Domingo and I looked at each other, confused.
“I’ll go see what the issue is,” Domingo said, heading back out.
“All right.”
I ducked under the waves to wet my hair, which felt amazing.Then I swam around, staying within sight of the shore and careful to look out for riptides.I glanced at the rocks and saw Domingo and Squid in close discussion about something.
Squid’s reluctance was strange, but he was an unusual fellow.Perhaps his religion forbade such a thing.Who was I to judge?
By the time I looked again, the two of them were on their way to me, and I waved and shouted.“Oye!Come on!”
At that moment I noticed that Squid had a body shape and a private area that didn’t particularly look like mine.
“Holy hell,” I whispered, almost losing my buoyancy as my arms stopped moving.
Squid didn’t come as close to me as Domingo and wouldn’t meet my gaze.
“What’s going on?”I asked, my eyes flashing between Squid and Domingo.
“You might as well tell him; he’s bound to notice,” Domingo said to Squid.
“I don’t want to make a thing of my difference.My sex doesn’t matter.”
“I know that,” Domingo said.“And Simon knows it too.”
“Oh, bloody hell.I don’t have a cock,” Squid blurted.“That don’t mean I’m not a fellow.”
I thought about it for a moment.“’Course it doesn’t.”
Squid gazed at me, chewing on his bottom lip, his forehead furrowed.
“I’m as much a man as you,” he said, nodding at Domingo.“And you,” he nodded at me.
“Clearly,” I said.
“Perhaps more of one than Simon,” Domingo said, to be amusing, but I had to agree.
I rolled my eyes and gave him the finger.
Squid laughed, however, and I was glad of it.
“And don’t tell my secret, will you?”
