Naked Gymnast Weekend
- Part One
"It's sure getting colder," Chico said, looking out the sliding doors, "--but at least it's not supposed to rain."
"The sun's still hot, though," Tony said from the sofa. "It's going to be great. We can always use that wood stove, huh, Jordan?"
I brought out a round of beers. We clinked bottles and sat on my parents' beat-up cabin furniture. "As long as we cut more. My dad really gets pissed if I use his precious woodpile." I laughed then. "I swear he actually counts the logs!"
"The lake looks VERY cold," Chico's South American accent made me smile. "I just want to stay in this place."
"There's the hot tub, too," I swigged my beer. "All we have to do is switch it on."
"Really?" Chico's light-brown eyes lit up.
"See, Chico?" Tony grinned. "Now we can be Danish, like Jordie--hot tub until we're boiling to death--then jump in the lake!"
"I'll just stay inside of the tub," Chico said. "I can't stand it, being cold! It is so COLD, here!" He shivered theatrically. "--especially close to the water!"
"You say that every year, man. How long does it take to adjust? Jeez!" Tony swigged his beer. "I've lived here less time than you, and I'm fine with it."
Chico shrugged, then drank. "Italy isn't Argentina--okay?"
He looked even smaller in the old armchair. His perfectly proportioned body was curled-up into it, like a Puma--like some kind of exotic cat.
It was great having the cabin to ourselves. "Your routine was amazing yesterday," I said to Chico.
His white teeth flashed. "Thank you. Yours was, too! You have got your dismounts to be perfect!"
I looked at Tony. "Are you really going to switch to the rings?"
He shrugged his big shoulders. "Coach said I don't have to give up the bars--but no one wants to do rings. And someone has to." His eyes were almost black, I noticed--all pupil. "Why don't you volunteer?"
I laughed. "High bar and rings go together. Parallel bars and rings are totally different! Totally." I swigged my beer. "Besides, you're built for rings. I don't have the lats for it."
"Shit," Tony wiped his mouth. "You've got lats to die for, Jordie! Don't give me that crap!"
"I wish I could do those things," Chico said. "The coach always say 'no' to me because I am small."
I looked at him, envying Chico's compact physique. "Well, he's full of it, man. All the spotter has to do is lift you up--once you're there, you'd be awesome!"
Tony killed his beer, watching Chico and I finish ours. "--Coach has such a thing about size. It's really stupid." He got up from the sofa. "You mind if I get three more?"
I handed him my empty, looking up at his six-foot body. "Yeah, well, just because you want to try doing floor routines," I said.
"What's wrong with that?" Tony headed to the fridge.
"Not everyone can do it," Chico said. "Guys like you and Jordan would get a back injury. It's easier when you're a shrimp."
"There you go again--you may be short, but you're no shrimp," I said, admiring Chico's shoulders and arms.
Tony came around the countertop and handed out our beers. "How'd you get started in gymnastics, Jordie? They don't teach it in high school."
I took a swig, then looked at the ceiling and laughed. "If I told you the truth, I'd never hear the end of it!"
"Oh?" Chico's eyes were studying my face. "Is it a secret?"
"It's--I don't know--embarrassing, I guess." I shifted my 175 lbs. around in the chair. I smiled and shrugged.
"Wow!" Tony grinned. "What's the big deal, Jordie? I thought you'd just say the Olympics, or something."
I swallowed even more beer. "You'll just ending up mocking me."
"Of course! It's so easy!"
Even one beer has an effect on me, and we'd finished our first round way too fast. Alcohol always makes me get loose-lipped.
I stood up. "Shit. Who cares? I'm not proud. I was only twelve. We were all twelve once."
"No shit," Chico grinned. "Tony still is!"
I walked over the rug and onto the rough pine floor. I could feel their eyes on me as I knelt and rooted through the bottom shelf of a cobwebbed bookcase. It was full of magazines and yearbooks.
"This is getting interesting!" Tony called out.
"It's probably a trophy his dad won," Chico said.
"That wouldn't be embarrassing," Tony said.
I saw Chico's big brown eyes widen as I brought over the magazine I'd dug out.
"Hola!" he said up, staring at the photo on the back. "What the heck is THAT?"
I stood between the sofa and Chico's armchair, looking at the cover. "It's a 1972 copy of '
American Nudist
'," I smiled. "I was twelve--and my best friend found it hidden in his sister's bedroom."
"No shit!" Tony said, his curiosity rising. "And you kept it?"
I thumped the cover. "This guy's physique made me want one just like his," I felt stupid admitting it. "And the little write-up says he's a gymnast."
"Lemme see it," Chico said, just as Tony reached up and grabbed it.
"Holy crow! No friggin' wonder! Look at that body!"
Chico bounced out of his chair. "Wow! He sure has a hairy chest!"
"Shit," Tony laughed up at him. "So do you, man--and your pecs are even bigger."
Chico rubbed his t-shirt, still staring down. "I don't have
that
much hair. And I'll never have biceps that big."
"Yeah, well, that's not
all
that's big on this dude," Tony smirked.
I could feel my cheeks start to burn. If it's one thing I dislike, it's that I blush very easily--and being blond makes it worse.
"What are you talking about?" Chico laughed. "Yours is way bigger--so's Jordie's!"