Fiction

A memory that comes to mind vividly is one where I was at Diablo Lake with family friends. This was back in the summer of 2021, and I remember we drove far to get here so we could meet up with other family friends and camp. I should mention that they weren’t MY family friends—I was merely a guest. I was really grateful that they were kind enough to let me on the trip because I have never camped before; the idea never really struck me as attractive just because I am very much someone that is comfortable in comfort, but I thought this time would be a good time to take the opportunity to try something different.

One of the days, we went out with a small raft out to the lake. It was hot and sunny; I forgot to put on sunscreen and accidentally took a nap for a couple of hours in the sun and woke up with Neopolitan ice cream thighs that didn’t even out until about a year later. On the raft was me, Janus, and his little brother Jordan. I felt happy knowing that I grew close to Jordan because it takes a lot out of me to get comfortable with others, let alone family members of people that I was dating.

Janus and Jordan rowed the boat without me saying anything—it was almost instinctual for them and I appreciated the gesture greatly. At first, we weren’t really going anywhere because they were both getting a feel for syncing their rhythm and moving the boat together. Throughout this period, we were referencing this scene in the game called A Way Out where two prisoners escape and find themselves needing to row themselves out of this stream while running away from authorities. Much like the in-game scene itself, it took a lot of teamwork between Janus and Jordan to row efficiently so that we could actually start moving forward and not spinning. Eventually, they get a good pace for it and we stray far from the bank where our family friends were. Too far, actually, to the point that they were just little dots in our perspectives. We all kind of just collectively started to lightly freak out, and made the point to try and get back to the rest of the group. Of course however, this was not easy. I remember being stuck out there for at least an hour because we got caught up in some driftwood and Janus and Jordan lost the syncopation with each other to get back to shore. I know I was a guest and trusted them to figure it out, but I felt helpless not putting in any physical labor. I want to say that eventually one of them gave me the oar because they were getting so tired, but all I really remember for certain was feeling antsy and I knew they felt the same, too. But it wasn’t terrible—Janus and Jordan are natural comedians and always make something serious into something unserious quick. I’m certain that if the poutiest baby were to cry right in their face, they could make their face light up and get a giggle out of them within a minute or less. That was the type of people they were, and I remember just feeling a wave of happiness consume me because although we were stuck out in the lake for a while, I was in good, comfortable company.

After some nervous laughter, real good chuckles, and some elbow grease, we were slowly but surely making progress back to our encampment. Janus and Jordan’s mom scolded them out of care and worry, but that all went away quick because like I said, Janus and Jordan have a way with making people smile effortlessly.

—-

SWITCH GENDERS OF EVERYONE POSSIBLE

Janice begged her dad to take me along for their family and family friends’ roadtrip to Diablo Lake in the summer of 2021. She always does this thing where she will ask her dad if I can go with them to whatever outing the family is doing, like eating, or family parties. I think it’s really sweet and endearing that she wants to include me in their family, but at the same time I always feel so bad and worry that they think I am taking her away from their one-on-one family time. Despite this, I always go because I do like following where ever she goes, and I get along great with her younger sister, Jada, too.

While Jada was eager to help me set up the raft, Janice just stood there watching us while we were burning under the hot sun. I was stupid enough to fall asleep in it earlier without wearing any sunscreen (I now have learned my lesson since then—that tan did not go away until about a year later) so my legs looked two-toned.

“Janice, could you help us out here, please?” I asked.

“...You two got it.” She said playfully.

Sometimes, Janice’s ability to never take anything seriously really irks the shit out of me. But I guess that’s why our dynamic works so well?

After some time, we were able to set sail. I decided to row by myself while the two girls enjoyed the relaxing ride. When I got far enough near the driftwood, I realized that we were really a great distance away from our group on shore. I decided to row back because we have been out in the sun long enough and I really did not want to further irritate my cooked legs, but we kept rotating in a circle.

“Could any one of you two please help me?” I asked. “Janice?”

“Ugh, fine,” she sighed.

Us two gave it a go, Jada and I gave it a go, and once we exhausted all the possible combinations we started to panic a little, fearing we would be stuck out here for longer. Jada started laughing randomly, and Janice joined in, too. I thought the sudden nervous laughter was so absurd I started laughing, as well. 

“We are so fucking stupid,” Jada said through tears of laughter.

If I had to choose two people to be stuck on a raft with, it would be them. At least I know I could count on having a good time with Janice and Jada—two people I have really grown to care about like my own family.