On The Road
This was the kind of day that has always reminded me of going back to school.
The morning air was crisp, scented by burning campfires. At some time in the
night he must have pulled a blanket over me as I lay atop him. My toes, poking
out from the edge of the blanket, were chilled and dew covered. I moved
carefully away, not waking him, and after making a small fire from the banked
embers, prepared a simple morning meal of warmed bread, dried fruit and
blackwine.
I woke him then, at the time ... and in the manner ... he instructed.
He said we are not too far from the Fair. I think about this a lot as we walk. I
imagine it might be like the county fairs I knew as a child, with entertainment
and competitions and such. I do not think about anything but the pleasurable
aspects of the fair. I do not think about who we might see there.
Today as we walked, he, as he usually does, had me walk in front of him. I have
found if I hold the pack just so, it will pull the silks higher. I think he
enjoys watching me walk half exposed that way. At about mid-afternoon, I thought
of a way to tease. I tugged the end of the disrobing knot with my teeth,
loosening it.
As we continued to walk, the knot unwound and the front of the silks slid to my
waist. Pretending not to notice this, I turned to face him and asked if he could
adjust the shoulder strap for me.
He did not comment, but I am certain I saw the beginnings of a smile.