Read In Limbo for Free Online Page B

ahead, around the next bend,” Sam smiled. “ And I want you to know I have a little surprise for everybody.”  He chuckled, “I was down here a couple of weeks ago.  Thinking we would be back this way, I stashed a bunch of good firewood.  So, my friends, please don't be bashful.  Grab these here pieces of wood yours truly has left, so that we may have us a good fire tonight.”
     
                  We were only glad to oblige, dry wood already cut up and ready to go is a gift from heaven on one of these trips.  As I looked around though, I was baffled by the vegetation.  The  undergrowth was really dense, more so than it had been earlier.  Everything looked bigger, oversized, abnormal.  I tried to get Tom's attention to tell him about it, but he was so preoccupied he didn't listen and so I let it go.  Probably just my imagination anyway. 
     
                  Grass and weeds could not possibly be the size of bushes, and leaves on the trees could not yet begin to turn color.  Much too early for it.  No.  I wrote it all off to optical illusions after a long day on the river.
     
                  Well, we loaded up on firewood, all the while teasing Sam about having too much free time on his hands and we'd be happy to share with him a few suggestions on what to do with his free time!  He took it as it was intended.  Sam is good people.  I did ask Marty if she felt any better, just to get a conversation going with her.  She took off her Christian Dior sunglasses and looked at me strangely. 
     
                  “I'm just sooo tired.  I'm sure it’s just being out in the sun too much today.  Could be the medication, too.  My doctor has me on something new.”  She was slurring some words.
     
                  “Oh.”  I couldn't think of anything more intelligent to say.  “What are you taking?”  
     
                  “Well, I've been a bit depressed lately, you know how that is.  When you feel down, you tend to eat too much.  Well, I didn't want to put on any more weight than I already have with this pregnancy.  So, I talked to the doctor and he gave me some pills to take, and they have really helped.  He said it was okay; it wouldn't hurt the baby.”
     
                  “Marty, you're pregnant?”  I was stunned.  I couldn't believe my ears.  Marty pregnant ?  She had gained a ton of weight with her first pregnancy, had been really distraught about it, and then had worked hard to lose it.  Bless her vanity!  And then she got pregnant again and again she gained weight.  I don't know how much she gained.  I doubt it was a lot.  But to her it was a ton, and before the baby was born she had Sam go for a vasectomy threatening no sex unless he got fixed.  Never again did she want to get fat.  I had to repeat my question:
                  “Marty, are you pregnant?” 
     
                  She looked at me startled.  “Why yes, can't you tell?  This baby is due in 3 weeks and I am absolutely hideous.  I can't believe Jack is making me go on this trip.”
     
                  There was no way on this earth that Marty was nine months pregnant.  No way!  She was sitting in front of me in a skimpy hot pink bikini.  And who the hell is Jack?
     
                  “You're looking gorgeous!  But tell me about this new medication.  You know me, I'm always curious about things like that.”
     
                  I wanted to ask her who Jack is, but I didn't dare.
     
                  “Oh, it's nothing special, I can't remember the name.  It's a mood elevator and it also suppresses your appetite.  I like it and I think it's helping me.  Of course you can't talk to Sam about anything like that.  His cure for feeling down is going out and chopping wood.  And that's just not my way.  I've been working too much in the shop lately