Another Wet Weekend

They checked out of the hotel later that morning, and Fiona was delighted to be presented with a voucher offering her thirty dollars off the cost of her next booking if made within a month!

Already the seeds of the idea of another weekend with Number Two were being sown. Fiona didn't see Tony at all that day. She texted him just to say that she had been away with friends. Fiona continued to exchange regular messages with Number Two, two or three times every day. By Tuesday they had both agreed that another weekend together at the same hotel would be an excellent idea, and Fiona made the reservation by phone. The room cost was sixty dollars this time, but with her voucher, she got as good a bargain as she had done the weekend before.


So Saturday lunchtime saw Fiona on the same train to the next town, this time for the fourth week running! She was getting to know the journey well; she sat by the window alone and looked out for all the landmarks which by now were becoming familiar. Number Two met her again, and this time they decided to take a walk around the city, before checking into their room again. Fiona had her weekend backpack and Number Two carried his bag.


The city's park was hosting the summer show and was full of marquees, lorries, exhibitions, and trade stands. A makeshift arena in the park was filled with cattle and sheep. It was a sunny day and there were thousands of people browsing. One exhibit caught both their eyes. This was an inflatable adventure course. It was hosted by a big national charity and invited members of the public to clamber over obstacles made of inflated plastic, like a bouncy castle. There were long strips of plastic sheeting on the ground between one part of it and the next.

A large crowd was gathered around, behind a rope that ran right around the site. There was a man with a microphone and loudspeaker, giving a humorous running commentary and speaking to each of the participants. There were attendants with hosepipes and buckets, squirting and throwing water, and parts of the course appeared to be caked in a slippery, slimy mess.


Fiona and Number Two watched as several people attempted to make their way around. The hardest bit seemed to be to climb up a steep six-foot inflatable slope, using a rope, and then slide down the other side! There were two of these climbs on the course, and the second one ended in a trough of water! There was a plastic tunnel, which seemed to be full of slime. The attendants squirted their hoses into the end, as the unfortunate persons inside tried to push themselves through. Everyone went around in pairs, and it seemed that the only way to succeed was for one person to push their partner up or along first and then for the first person along to pull the other up behind them.

Ropes were provided at each stage. It took about five minutes for most people to get around. There was a large sign saying that the fastest successful run of the day would win those entrants two hundred dollars! Pretty female collectors went around the crowd continuously and most people donated generously to the good cause. Otherwise, there was no charge for watching or for taking part.


Fiona noticed that there were separate portable changing areas, for men and women, which appeared to contain showers. They watched while several groups of young men and boys made their attempts. Everyone who did ended up completely soaked, and furthermore covered in a slimy white substance like lard! No one seemed to have brought any spare clothes, and Fiona liked to see everyone's shirts and trousers get so messy. It looked great fun.

The commentator was concerned that no young women were taking part!

"Come on, girls!" he chided. "We have only had two ladies on the course in the whole of today! Come and show the guys how it should be done!"

Fiona looked at Number Two. She didn't need to ask! They were going on! They watched several more lads trying first. It was obviously difficult for anyone who was a bit heavier or overweight. Some people just seemed to be clumsy and awkward. But everyone was having a great time, whether they were watching or taking part. Number Two watched everyone especially closely. He was working out the best ways of getting around.


After an hour or so Fiona and Number Two stepped forward to a gap in the rope, where one of the attendants greeted anyone who wanted to run the course. Fiona gave him their names.

"You will get very wet and messy!" he warned,"Are you OK with that?" Fiona agreed and said that they both had changes of kit.

"Great stuff!" he replied, and then they both had to sign a legal disclaimer. He directed them to the changing rooms.

"You will be going on in about twenty minutes or so!" he advised, "There are four groups of men still in front of you!"


Fiona went over to the changing cabin. There was no one else inside. There were two shower cubicles and benches.

Then she heard the excited voice of the commentator, "We have got one young lady getting ready to run!" he shouted. "Her name is Fiona! Don't go anywhere, ladies and gentlemen, please keep giving generously and in a few minutes I want a huge cheer please for Fiona!"


Inside the cabin, Fiona got changed. She had brought a black one-piece swimsuit, which had white edging all around the seams. She slipped on a white t-shirt (of course) over this and a brand new navy games skirt, which had neat pleats all around, and came to her knees. Then she put on her socks and trainers. Number Two was changing into his sheer skimpy black trunks and a white t-shirt too. They both climbed down the cabin steps and put their bags together under the cabin.

One of the attendants was there to keep an eye on people's things. They stood at the side and watched two groups of men slither and slide their way along. The man with the microphone shouted constantly, and reminding everyone of the fastest time so far of the day, three minutes fifty-nine! No one was getting anywhere near it! A father and son went on next, and then it was going to be their turn! The older man just couldn't get up the first slope, and after a couple of minutes, the attendants helped him. This pair was getting a great deal of sympathy from the crowd.


When they had finished, the compere turned to Fiona and Number Two. "Ladies and Gentlemen," he shouted, "Now at last please give a huge welcome to our first lady runner for a long time today, please welcome Fiona!" There was muted cheering and some clapping.

Fiona noticed that the attendants were emptying more of the white gungy substance over parts of the course, and smoothing it onto the plastic with brushes. They were also sweeping up some of the mess which had spilled out onto the grass, and collecting it in large plastic scoops.

He introduced Number Two while he put his arm around Fiona's waist and pulled her in close to the microphone. "What a lovely outfit, Fiona!" he said.

He turned towards Number Two and said, "What a lucky boyfriend! But you do see how messy this is going to be?"

"That's OK," replied Fiona, smiling, "I don't mind!"

"What a lovely brave girl!" he shouted. "Now then folks, who wants to see how messy this lovely brave girl is going to get?"

There was a louder cheer in response and whistles as Fiona playfully lifted up the hem of her skirt an inch or two.

"But one thing, I'm afraid," he continued, "You will have to take your shoes off! This is an adult bouncy castle, and you can't wear your shoes!" Fiona and Number Two both bent down to unfasten their trainers and they took them off, together with their socks.

"That's better!" the commentator continued, "We start off getting their bare feet messy and we work upwards!" There was more laughter.

"What is the white stuff?" Fiona asked him. The compere repeated her question loudly to the crowd.

"Fiona wants to know what we are going to cover her with! Bring some over, boys!"

One of the attendants walked up to them carrying a bucket full of white gunge. The commentator invited Fiona to put her hand in the bucket.

"It's completely harmless and it will rinse wash off you!" he explained. "It's basically soap! It's very slippery and we promise it will not stain your clothes!"

Fiona let some drip off her hand, it felt smooth and waxy and her skin felt dry when it had run off. Fiona gave a huge grimace and held her hand outstretched as if she had touched something awful. The crowd laughed loudly. She was really winning them over to her.

Another attendant brought over a bucket of water and invited her to rinse her hand, which Fiona did. Then, quick as a flash, she put both cupped hands into the bucket and scooped out some water, which she threw straight into the commentator's face! There was a huge laugh and a round of applause, which went on and on.

The man with the microphone sounded genuinely shocked.

"Fiona!" he reprimanded her loudly, "You are going to regret doing that! Boys!" he shouted to the attendants, "Make sure she gets it real bad today, boys!"


Then he walked with them to the start of the course. "You must stay behind this line until the hooter goes!" he instructed.

He led the crowd in a loud countdown from ten. The first section of the course was a twenty-foot strip of plastic, with a foam mat. The mat was attached to a rope, and both contestants had to get from one end to the other on the mat.

Number Two quickly told Fiona to jump onto the mat first, and he would pull her along. Three, Two, One, the hooter went and immediately Fiona jumped onto the mat, kneeling down at the front of it whilst at the same time throwing the end of the rope to Number Two.

He was on the plastic before he'd even caught it, and he slid across the whole length with just a couple of flicks of his legs, as if he was an ice skater. Nearly everyone else had fallen flat over! He jumped onto the grass at the far end and immediately started pulling on the rope.

The attendants were now squirting two hosepipes onto the plastic, and the mat started to slide across, picking up speed. A little bow wave of gunge and water built up in front of it, spilling over onto the mat and splashing Fiona's skirt. The attendants turned the hoses aside as Fiona passed, and she jumped off immediately after she reached the grass.

Number Two tossed her the end of the rope as he charged back down the grass, carrying the mat on his back. The commentator roared his encouragement, "This boy's really got the idea!"
he shouted and the crowd applauded.

Number Two threw the mat down onto the plastic again and jumped onto it before it had even landed, lying flat on his chest. Fiona pulled on the rope with all her strength, and Number Two used both his arms to push against the plastic sheet. He couldn't get any grip, but he was very light and Fiona managed to pull him along almost as quickly as he had pulled her. He leaped off the mat at the end and they held hands as they charged on to the next section.

"Fantastic!" shouted the commentator "Forty-five seconds!"

Number Two's t-shirt was spotted with gunge and splashes of water. Fiona was still clean and dry except for the front of her skirt, which was splashed and a bit wet around the hem.


Now was the first inflatable slope. " I'll go first and pull you up!" was all Number Two had time to say.

He jumped at the inflatable, having already noticed two indentations in the front, which could be used as footholds. His momentum carried him up. There was a solid narrow platform built across the top of the slope and Number Two grabbed onto it and pulled himself up. An attendant was standing on the top with a hose!

Number Two threw one end of a rope down to Fiona. She got a tight hold of the toggle on the rope and stepped onto the slope. It was incredibly slippery! Fiona lost her footing and dropped twice onto her knees. Then she managed to get one knee into the first foothold, as Number Two gave a huge pull.

She got her foot into the other and she reached up to the platform with her hands. Number Two bent down, dropping the rope, and pulled Fiona up from under her shoulders with both his hands. She was much heavier than he was! But she was safely on her knees beside him.

"You must go down one at a time!" the attendant instructed. "The second one must wait until the first one is on the grass before going down!"

He had turned on his hose and was spraying the water down the side of the inflatable.

Number Two dropped off the platform, bouncing twice on the way down. Three was a big cushion at the bottom, covered in water and gunge. Number Two landed on his bum, bouncing onto his feet immediately and onto the grass. Fiona was sitting on the edge at the top. The water from the hose splashed against her feet and ran down beneath her. She pushed herself off, and she shot downwards on her back with her legs in the air. She hit the cushion and bounced up, with water and gunge splashing around her. She landed again on her bum and steadied herself, getting to her feet. Water dripped off the back of her skirt and white gunge ran down the pleats. The back of her t-shirt felt damp.


There was no time to think. Fiona heard "Under two minutes!" as they ran. The next obstacle was the tunnel.

There was another long rope at the entrance. The plastic sheets were plastered in gunge.

Number Two picked up one end of the rope and slithered right into the mess, going head-first into the tunnel. The sides shook and swayed from side to side as he moved forward, pulling on the circular supports as he went. Both attendants directed their hoses to the ends of the tunnel.

A wave of water came back out, then Number Two's arms appeared, pushing a wall of gunge in front of him. He clambered to his feet, his t-shirt caked in white stickiness and hanging down to his knees. Fiona could just see bits of the black colour of his soaking wet trunks through it.

Now it was her turn! "Now boys," the commentator said, "Let's see Fiona in the gunge!"

Fiona dropped onto her knees and reached for the end of the rope. Her knees slid from side to side. There was about an inch of gunge lying on the plastic, with little pools of water all around her.

Cold water from the hose splashed onto her back. Fiona put her arms in front of her and dropped down onto her tummy, the plastic felt soft and squelched under her. She put her head and shoulders into the tunnel as Number Two pulled on the rope as hard as he could.

The freezing water from the hose ran up the back of her legs, pushing up her skirt and giving a glimpse of her thighs and black swimwear. The attendant thought that these were her knickers and he hosed her bum as Fiona struggled into the tunnel!

Fiona held the rope with one hand and tried to push herself along with the other. A stream of water ran towards her. She felt the front of her t-shirt and swimsuit getting soaked through. The sides of the tunnel pressed against her she wriggled along as best she could. It was hardest to move in the very middle of the tunnel because towards the end there was more gunge on the floor which seemed to help Fiona to slide along. Then her arms and head appeared. A jet of water from the hose splattered over her hair. She pulled herself to her feet, drenched and dripping with gunge.


"Come on, we've lost time!" urged Number Two. They were both tired now, and only the final slope was left. Number Two charged at it, he got up, but not with the smooth ease he had shown before.

He threw down one end of the rope. Fiona started to clamber up. One attendant was standing next to her and he hosed her continuously. Water and bits of gunge poured off her t-shirt and skirt.

His colleague was at the top, spraying down the slope. Fiona's clothes felt very heavy and clingy, because of all the gunge covering her. She fell against the side and more cold water soaked through her top. Number Two gave a huge tug and Fiona managed to get a grip with her foot.

Then once again Number Two pulled her up by the arms. Fiona was gasping and panting. Number Two slid down and splashed into the trough, before vaulting over the side and onto the grass. Fiona followed, entering the gunge-covered water sideways and going right under.

It was about two feet deep. She quickly sat up and then scrambled out.


"Four minutes thirteen!" the commentator announced."Well done both of you, a really good run!"

They both walked over to him. Fiona was still panting.

"Oh look at poor Fiona!" he said. "Fiona, you are totally covered!"

Fiona laughed, "That's really good fun!" she replied, catching her breath. "I really enjoyed it! Everyone should try that!"

"That's fantastic!" the commentator shouted. "You didn't mind the gunge?"

Fiona laughed, "No I didn't mind at all! You are so busy getting around that you don't notice it! I'd love to try again!"

The commentator explained that they only allowed each person one go at a time, but they could come back on Sunday!

Meanwhile, Number Two had pulled off his t-shirt and was standing in the spray while the attendant hosed him. His trunks seemed to have slipped down a fraction and they glistened as the water ran over his little bulge. Lots of ladies looked and smiled.

Fiona unfastened her skirt and slipped it off. "Watch out lads," the commentator shouted, "Fiona's stripping off!"

She gave him her sweetest smile, "I've got my swimsuit on, silly!" she said, and everyone laughed again.

"Fiona came well prepared!" he added. "What a lovely, brave girl, and she came well prepared!"

Fiona joined Number Two under the hose and kissed him gently on the cheek as the cold water ran down her swimsuit and washed all the gunge off her arms and her legs.