Chapter 8-Moochers

Marigot Bay was beautiful. Even at night it was stunning. The smooth waters were protected by the steep cliff sides that rose around them. The only disturbance upon the liquid peace was a few ripples that the wind dared send shimmying across the surface. On shore, blazing torches lit a path that led through well-kept huts. Near the main building, lights beneath the surface of a clear blue swimming people danced in rhythm. We stared in awe and followed our six benefactors. They seemed to be as amazed as we were while they led us to the check-in building.

The man, John, and one of the middle-aged women, with dark auburn hair whose name was Trisha, approached the counter. "I believe we have reservations," said John to the older man behind the counter. They each gave them their names and he checked through a large book.

"Ah yes, so nice to have to join us Mr. Heinman and Ms. Lockhart," the clerk said with a smile. "You will be staying in Cottage Fauna and Cottage Primrose. Your boat, Roam, waits for you. Tomorrow there will be an orientation at 10 in the morning and then you will meet your skipper, Joseph Charles." After we had told her what we were doing, to which she stared wide eyed and breathlessly told us how cool it sounded, she explained their plans. They had rented a large sailboat together, her family and the Heinmans, and were sailing to Grenada, stopping along the way to visit the islands. That must have been the boat they had rented. The clerk looked back curiously at all of us. "I understood there were six of you, why the large group?"

"These other five have traveled with us and are interested in renting a room for the night," explained Trisha, gesturing to where we had grouped together.

Kyle took charge and nodded, stepping forward. After the clerk had given the keys to their respective cottages to Trisha and John, he turned his attention to Kyle. "Well, the rate is 100 American dollars per night, per cottage," he said. That was more than we had vowed to spend but I think that none of us were going to say that. If we shared one, it would be okay.

Kyle turned back to us. "So," he said. "Want to stay here?" We all nodded in tired consent. He turned back to the clerk. "Alright," he said. "We'd like to rent one room."

"One?" he asked curiously, looking at the group of mottled guys and girls. "I don't know that one is designed for all of you."

"Its okay," Kyle assured him.

Lindsay had been whispering with her mother. "If one of you would like to stay with us," she said. "It would even out the numbers a bit."

Mitch stepped forward a bit but I quickly volunteered. "I guess I'll stay with you," I said. "Though I don't want to inconvenience you people anymore and I'll take the couch." The other four each handed Kyle some of their money. We had kept quite a bit of American cash but also gotten VC's at the airport. They were staying in Cottage Fuscia, which was very close to the one I would be in. I followed the Lockharts to their hut. Inside it looked like the inside of a nice hotel room but it was accentuated by the fact that the walls were made of bamboo and the ceiling was thatched. Most of the furniture was bamboo or wicker as well. The cushions atop the bamboo of the couch were deep and comfortable. I found my weary eyes wanted to close and drift away right there but I figured I should go visit my friends before I went to sleep.

Lindsay and her brother Brad were sleeping in the bed that was out in the main room with my couch, while Trisha's bed was inside a small bedroom off to one side. A patio that looked out onto the rest of the compound encircled the whole, little building. Their hut's position on top of a small hill provided a large vantage of the compound. I said goodnight to the three. They were going to the dining area to meet their friends but I figured they'd probably be asleep long before I was.

"Have a good time," said Lindsay with a smile.

It occurred to me that maybe I should invite her to spend the rest of the evening with us. "Hey," I said. "Want to come hang out with us? We'd love to have you."

She blushed a little but shook her head. "No, that's okay. I should stick with my group," she said. "We have a lot to talk about."

I nodded. "Mitch'll be disappointed," I said. "But have fun." We waved and I headed outside down the path to my friends' cottage. Though we had been in the tropic night for awhile now, I still couldn't control my surprise when I stepped from the room and it was still warm outside. I was so used to stepping from warm houses into cold nights that it was completely beyond my comprehension to step into night air that was even warmer than the inside.

When I reached the house, I stepped inside and ducked out of the way of a flying pillow. All three guys were smacking each other heavily with them and even Kat had gotten in on the action.

"Isn't this place great?" asked Kat. I nodded and quickly jumped back as Mitch slammed her with his pillow. She shrieked and turned to him, sending a hail of whacks at him with her double pillows. After I had been hit by all of them at least twice I finally participated by stealing one of Kat's pillows and compensated them for all their enjoyment at my expense. After awhile we all collapsed on the wooden floor and stared up at the ceiling, panting heavily. Joseph and I were next to each other and we both gradually scooted toward each other until finally we were sort of leaning against each other. Neither of us were very vocal in our feelings but we seemed to be gently accepting each other.

"So," said Mitch after a few moments. "Remind me again why we are going off to who knows where instead of staying in a place like this for awhile?" I chuckled and Mitch looked over at me. A grin spread on his face and he made a bit of an Oo-la-la sound.

I tossed my pillow over at him. "Because we couldn't afford to stay in a place like this for very long," I said. "Besides, it wouldn't be much of an adventure."

"Perhaps not," said Kat. "But it would certainly be fun."

Kyle rose to his feet. "You guys want to give up already?" he said in his best commanding voice. "Well too bad! We're going out there and we're going to get lost and be robbed and wear a smile the whole time!"

"Yes Drill Sargent!" shouted Mitch and he hopped up, saluting him. They both looked so silly that the three of us on the ground burst into laughter. The Mitch marched outside.

"Where are you going?" I asked through my laughs.

"I'm going to get something to drink and perhaps go for a swim," said Mitch's voice outside.

"With that girl?" asked Kyle, now laughing as well.

"Shut up!" said Mitch's voice, coming again.

"That probably really is his intention," said Joseph beside me.

"Well," said Kat. "Whatever his intention we should go with him. It sounds fun." We all got up and grabbed whatever we wanted to bring with us, heading for the dining area.

Not many people were there. It was probably later than most people wanted to stay out though it was only 10 o'clock. We spotted the three adult members of our new acquaintances at a large table. They waved to us. "Come on over and join us," said one of the women, Terry. We sat down at the table and John ordered us each an elaborate fruit smoothie.

"Thank you for everything," I said.

"Oh its no problem," he said. "Its great meeting other Americans who aren't stuck-up tourists."

"Have you seen our friend Mitch?" asked Kyle. A grin spread on Trisha's face and she gestured at the dance floor. I looked over and the two teenage boys (Brad and Morgan were their names), Lindsay, and Mitch were all dancing to steel drum music. They seemed to be having a great time. They were laughing and doing crazy moves. Occasionally Mitch would spin Lindsay around. She didn't seem as nervous as before, probably because she seemed to be very into the music.

I felt Joseph's hand slip into mine. "Would you like to dance?" he asked me and I smiled with surprise but nodded. We wandered over to where the four were. The music was rather slow for the way the others were dancing but they didn't seem to mind and we took the opposite approach. Joseph and I put our arms around each other's waists and danced slowly to the fast music. Everything else seemed to melt away as I stared into his eyes. There was only us on that dance floor, in this beautiful night. There was only us in eternity. Suddenly a large clap of thunder interrupted our reverie.

It startled everyone but then we laughed at our own confusion. Hard rain had begun pounding onto the ground outside. Morgan and Brad, followed closely by Lindsay, ran out into the rain and took up their dances out there. The rain seemed to soak them in only a few moments but they didn't notice, they just danced. We, being older and so very much more mature, paused before going out, even Mitch. Then he ran out to join them and Joseph and I followed. Moments after we were out in the storm with the rain streaming down our faces, Kat and Kyle even joined us from the adults' table. We all joined in a circle and began running around in a circle in the rain, laughing like little kids. Our display seemed to amuse a group of German men at the bar. They wore stony expressions but couldn't stop from staring at all we foolish Americans.

Finally, we decided we were wet enough and ran back through the open walls of the dining area to the safety of our table. We were greeting by applause from the three adults and we all took dripping bows, sending little droplets of water onto the table.

"We couldn't help hearing the interesting approach you're taking to your journey," said John after a few minutes of silent drinking. "And we wondered if we you would like to kick off the first leg of your journey by traveling to us with the next island, St. Vincent."

We looked at each other and nodded quickly. A free way to the next island-How could we pass it up? Though by this point I'm sure we all felt like moochers, I replied, "Sure, why not?"