Positions included the old standards, missionary and doggy-style, of which there were many variations. Also: the Butterfly, the Lotus, the Cowgirl, the Reverse Cowgirl, the Viennese Oyster, the Suspended Congress, the Leapfrog, the T-square, the Modified T-square, the 69 (also known as the Congress of the Crow), the Piledriver. I learned there were nine positions for fellatio, ten for cunnilingus. I learned that an Altoid had special powers beyond being a simple breath mint.

Later, online, I continued my studies, where I learned there were names for things I never dreamed could ever be done.

We could Snowball, she could Snowblow, and we could Toss Each Other’s Salad. We could Shrimp, Felch, Flog, Fist, have a Nooner, use a Ball Gag, a Bit Gag, or a Butt Plug. I could Teabag, leave a Cream Pie, or hang a Pearl Necklace. We could make Foamy Beer. I could ride Bareback or do a Shocker. She could do a Female Shocker. We could go ATM or do the Angry Dragon, the Dirty Sanchez, the Donkey Punch, or the Danza Slap. We might even invent our own signature moves.

We’ll do anything and everything. Whatever we feel like.

Her words, not mine.

It was time to put away my study materials. I gave one last flip through the notebook. I didn’t know what part of anything and everything was going to happen. All I knew was I felt ready for the test.

KATE

KATE

MICKEY AND MINNIE, CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE, BEAUTY, THE BEAST . . .

I couldn’t write them down fast enough. Our goal—while Jeff helped the boys into their swimsuits—was to remember every Disney character we had seen that day. Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Simba, Tarzan, Donald Duck . . .

Later, as the four of us walked in our flip-flops to the Wilderness Lodge’s pool, the list-making continued. Aladdin, Ariel, Buzz Lightyear, Cruella de Vil . . .

The list had been Teddy’s idea. “This way,” he said, “we can tell Dad.”

Tim had suggested it, but I’d been quick to agree. We were not to call each other that weekend unless there was an emergency. What happened with Teddy had me reaching for the phone. But then I hesitated. I’d like to think it was because I wanted to honor our pledge/pact. The truth was that if I did call him, the conversation might get around to the other Kate, and I’d have to explain her absence. But as soon as we’d pulled Teddy out of the water, I had reason enough. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed home, and when the machine answered, I said, “Don’t worry, I’m not calling.” Then I handed Teddy the phone.

TEDDY

TEDDY