It was washing day and I had a large sack slung over my shoulder filled with clothes which needed to be cleaned. The forest was cool and dark, with the rays of the early morning sun casting glimpses of light between the trees. It was quiet, too, peaceful, with only the sound of my footsteps and the gurgling of the stream up ahead to break the silence. It wouldn’t take me long to get there, the path between the village and the stream was winding but well worn and easy to follow. It was a nice walk to take in the morning as it gets me away from the bustle of the village, my chores and my parent’s constant nagging. As I stepped into the clearing by the river bank I was surprised to see two men in the river. They were both naked, standing up to their thighs in the clear water. They were medium height, slim, with muscular bodies, glistening in the sun. The light shimmered over their bronzed skin, sparkling on the flecks of water covering them. They were lithe and athletic, unlike the few men of the village that I had known.
