“YOU’RE ALIVE!” CARO BLURTED.

Caro scrambled back, away from the body. She could feel wet muck sliding down her shorts and didn’t care. Wet snakes could be sliding down her shorts and she wouldn’t care. The body on the floor ... she cared about that.

“Oh, gross!” Jana cried.

“Another body,” Lynn gasped.

“Dana’s been a busy girl,” Todd said. “Where’s my lighter?”

“You dropped it on my back,” the body said, rolling over and sitting up. The four of them screamed in unison. “Ow! Not so loud ... my head ...”

“You’re alive!” Caro blurted. It was the first thing they taught in her nursing courses: determine if your patient is living or dead.

“Unfortunately, yes.” The body rubbed the back of his head and squinted up at all of them. “Hey, thanks for coming to get me, you guys. I thought I was a goner when she nailed me.”

He got to his feet with some care, then bent, winced, and helped Caro to her feet. She couldn’t help staring at him. He was mussed and muddy and a little pale from the blow to his head, but for all that, yummy besides.

He was dressed in dark blue boat shoes and black swimming trunks, and nothing else.

 

from “Ten Little Idiots”