Geoff lay on the beach looking up at the clear blue sky. He though how in different circumstances this would be the perfect view on the perfect beach. But as he sat up and looked at the wreckage around him he remembered all too well the horror of the night before. He remembered being awakened by the claxon and herded into lifeboats. It all seemed like a dream as he recalled the fear and confusion surrounding the wreck.
He still did not know what had happened. He remembered watching the ship sink after the lifeboats had launched. He heard the officers counting passengers and the relief in their voices as all their charges had made it safely to boats. The sea had been rough as the lifeboats struggled to stay close to one another. So rough in fact that he remembered all too well most of the passengers heaving over the sides of the boat. He recalled with shame how he had wretched uncontrollably until there was nothing left in his stomach.
That's when it happened, he remembered. He was leaning over the side, recovering from the latest wave of sea-sickness when the boat had been hit by a wave. The stern had risen up rapidly and thrown him overboard like a rag doll. He had clung to his vest and must have fallen asleep because he woke here on the beach without another sole in sight. He had pulled himself up off the beach and sheltered under a tree before the warm morning sun woke him.
Now here he was. He felt unharmed and well. It was hard to believe that he had been through so much. He decided to take stock of where he was and what supplies could be found. He looked around the beach and found that he could easily survive for weeks if necessary. Rations and water purification kits had been tossed overboard along with him apparently. He even found a camping stove and tent in a chest marked "survival adventure".
He spent most of the day putting together a campsite and gathering all the supplies he needed. He was surprisingly well equipped. He had more than enough supplies to keep him alive for a long time. He hoped he would not need them for very long.
As Geoff surveyed his campsite and finished taking stock he realized he was in great shape for physical survival. He had even found some sunscreen. In the area of comfort he was a little less prepared. He had found a pair of water shoes that fit and kept him from cutting up his feet. He still had his robe that he had put on while rushing out of his cabin and he was wearing underwear but he could find nothing else in the way of clothing. Luckily this island was in the tropics and it was very warm even at night. He really had no reason to need clothes he just felt a little awkward wearing nothing but his underwear.
As one day turned into the next Geoff began to explore his island little by little. He found fruit trees and abundance of fish to eat. He even found a freshwater stream nearby. It was on one of these trips that he found himself climbing a tree to see what could be seen of the island from the top. He climbed quickly up and surveyed the island. It was relatively small and he could catch a glimpse of the other side so he knew he could walk there.
As he started back down it happened. One branch snapped beneath his foot as he fell off the supporting branch. He found himself suspended by his underwear as the fabric gave way. He quickly grabbed a branch as the last of the waistband broke; he clambered back down breathless and naked but unhurt.
He went back to his camp and donned his terry robe, thankful to have it to cover him. But as the day wore on he quickly realized that the terry robe was far too hot to wear all the time. Reluctantly he put it in his camp and ventured out naked. The first day he was shy and kept near to bushes and other places to hide. But the next he found himself becoming accustomed to the feeling and by the third day he was oblivious to his nudity. Once again he explored further and further away from his camp. As he explored he began to find more items from the ship: a deck chair, an umbrella, a bottle of wine and even a can of caviar.
One day when he had ventured the furthest yet, he found a footprint. It was smaller than his but very recent. He followed it. He began to hope that he was not alone after all. Then he saw someone in the distance and shouted "hello!"
He began to move rapidly hoping they would see him. His heart leaped with joy as he realized the person had seen him. As they hurried towards each other he could tell that it was a woman wearing a white bathing suit and suddenly he remembered, he was naked.
He quickly turned and hid behind a large bush as she ran towards him. "Oh my, I never thought I would see another person, are you from the ship? Do you have a boat? Why are you hiding?" She asked in a rush. "I don't have any clothes" he blurted out as she moved around behind the bush.
