The outcrop of rock was hot with the midday sun, and its heat penetrated the skin of the little girl’s back and rear end.  She stretched and yawned and took in a deep breath.  Even the air smelled hot, but it was a pleasant smell, a natural smell, not the smell of car oil and axel grease, or cigarette smoke and cheap perfume.  She opened her eyes when she felt the cold sting of water droplets on her stomach and she squinted up at the older girl, silhouetted by the blazing sun, looking down on her.

“Wake up sleepy,” Bette whispered.  She had splashed the water from her loose hair down on the sleeping girl who was stretched out naked sleeping in the sun.

“Hey now, that’s cold!” Tina frowned, but then she couldn’t help but smile at the site in front of her.  She was certain that Bette got prettier and prettier each day.

“Aunt Miriam told us to be home by 4pm, you know.  Don’t you think we should pack up and head back?” Bette asked sitting down next to the girl.  Bette was still unable to go fully skinny dipping, so she wore her training bra and underwear.

Tina chuckled and shook her head.  “You really ain’t got a clue about time, do ya?”  She sat up and pointed to the trees along the muddy bank.  “See them trees there?  When the tops of their shadows reach midway to the reservoir it will be about two-o’clock.  When the shadows reach all the way to where we’re sittin’, it will be about four-o’clock.  We’ve got a whole half day in front of us, Bette.”

Bette had followed the little hand as it had pointed to the trees.  She wasn’t sure how precise this natural method of telling time was, but she accepted that Tina probably knew what she was talking about.  “You’re so smart about stuff like that.  Maybe you should be like a forest ranger or something.”

Tina shrugged.  “Maybe, I sure do like being out in the woods that’s for sure, but I like the challenge of fixin’ a car engine or coming up with a new recipe too.  Plus I’m not too partial to them silly Smokey the Bear hats and those green and brown uniforms they wear.”