Family game

The next morning, the sun had just risen over the hills. Sam sat in his room, still groggy and tired from the night before. The photos, Laura’s laughter, his **** nudity in the moonlight; it was all like a strange dream. But it wasn’t a dream. Laura’s camera was full of evidence.

There was a knock on the door. It was Anna. “Sam, are you awake? Laura’s playing a family game. This time we’re two hunters, on the hunt!”

Sam’s heart sank. “I… hunt?”

Anna laughed. “Yeah, he says you run, we’ll come after you. If we don’t find you by noon, he’ll delete last night’s photos and buy you an expensive dinner. If we do find you…” Her smile turned mischievous, “You have to run a full lap of the garden naked. Just one lap. We promise not to take any pictures… unless it’s really funny.”

Sam snorted. “Anna, are you with Laura too?”

Anna shrugged. “Laura told me everything. Last night was so much fun! Now it’s our turn to have fun.” She winked.

Laura shouted from downstairs: “Sam, you have ten minutes to hide! We’re two hunters, get ready!”

Sam jumped out of the room in panic. Anna and Laura were standing in the kitchen, both dressed comfortably, Laura holding a camera. Anna took Laura’s hand and said, “Come on, let’s make a plan.” Sam heard them both laughing as he ran towards the garden.

The rules were simple:

• Sam had to hide until noon.

• Laura and Anna were hunters together.

• If they found him, he had to run naked.

• If they didn’t, the photos would be erased.

Sam ran towards the end of the garden, behind the big trees, inside the old barn, under the bushes. Wherever he thought was safe. His heart was pounding. The sounds of Laura and Anna laughing and talking came from the distance:

“Laura, I think it’s behind the barn.”

“No, it was there yesterday. Let’s check by the pool.”

“Anna, you on the left, I’ll go right. If we find it, we’ll grab its clothes!”

Sam held his breath. He ran from the barn toward the big tree, but suddenly he heard quick footsteps. It was Anna!

“Sam! I know you’re here!”

Sam ran to the left, but Laura came from the other side. “We got it!”

Sam was caught, caught between two hunters. Laura said with a laugh, “Anna, are you ready?”

Anna laughed and said, “Ready!”

In an instant, Laura pulled down Sam’s pants from the front, Anna took off her T-shirt from the back. Sam was completely naked again, in the middle of the garden, in front of his wife and sister-in-law.

“Laura! Anna!” Sam shouted, trying to cover herself, but they were both laughing.

“We promised not to take pictures... but Laura, a little picture?” said Anna.

Laura raised the camera. “Just one!” She flashed.

“What now?” said Sam shyly.

“Run! A full lap around the garden!” said Laura and Anna at the same time.

Sam took a deep breath, lowered his arms, and began to run. Naked, in the morning sun, around the garden. Laura and Anna ran behind him, cheering:

“Faster, Sam!”

“Great!”

“This one’s better than last night!”

When the lap was over, Sam fell to the grass, panting. Laura and Anna sat down next to him.

Anna looked at him and said, “You’re not running away from us anymore, are you?”

“I’ll keep the photos… for memories,” Laura added.

Sam laughed, tired and resigned. “I guess… I’m used to it.”

Laura raised the camera and took just one photo of all three of them smiling. “This one’s for good.”

The game was over, but Sam knew now: the hunters always won.