Eli and Jasper sat across each other, cross-legged on a rock each, the campfire between them. Eli stared at Jasper crossly for a good long while until the latter started to get annoyed and snap back.
``Why are you staring at me so hard for? Can't wait for your eye to dry up, shrivel and fall off?''
``Shut up you,'' Eli replied, irritated by the mosquitoes that had decided to flit by the light in the dark. ``We shouldn't even be here in the first place---I have no bloody idea WHY I decided to take up your suggestion to go on that kayaking trip.''
``Oh, come on!'' Jasper replied, grinning sardonically. ``You had a part to play as well. Do you think that it is actually physically possible to convince you of a viewpoint that you hadn't already thought of before hand? Besides we were supposed to leave three hours earlier, but you took your own damn time and didn't move till it was already getting late, and you were the one who didn't want to wait for another day.''
Eli sat there and stared at Jasper sullenly. Jasper was right, of course, But Eli wasn't going to take it like that. They were supposed to leave the island earlier, but they had mis-timed the duration it takes to get from the shore to the interior and back again. By the time they reached the beach, day light was fast fading, and it was suicidal to attempt to navigate the open waters at night in a kayak, even though it was only a kilometre out from the mainland. So they were now at the beach, enjoying the impromptu camp fire.
A sudden sea breeze swept through and blew out the frail flames of the camp fire. Both boys panicked for a moment at the prospect of spending the night completely in the dark, but the fire proved resilient and did not die out on them. Or it could be the sudden abatement of the wind, but it wasn't important.
``You sleep first,'' Jasper said finally after what felt like a few hours of incessant staring. ``I'll take the first shift.''
(Based on an exercise generated by WriteThis - 14-Apr-2014 21:27:08)
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