Linnea watched everyone laughing as they pulled out art supplies from Miranda’s boxes and chests—paint, brushes, glitter stars, stencils, buttons and bows, and anything one could imagine. It felt to her like decorating a parade float. They each had ideas, shouting out “What if we try…” or “Hey, I’ve got an idea.”

Linnea took a moment to stand back and watch the magic unfolding. They’d gone from sitting around moping to this spontaneous combustion of creativity. Perhaps one of the most beautiful surprises coming out of the pandemic was how a lot of creative people were finding new and unique ways to use their energies and imagination.

They took a break for a feast of spaghetti, garlic bread, and lots of chianti, after which Emmi chased them from doing the dishes. “You’ve done enough for me today,” she declared. “Go off and play, children,” she called out playfully.

They ran off to grab their wet suits for the video, before congregating again a little later in the barn. The sun had set, and John had turned on the barn lights.

Linnea and Anna walked back from the beach house across the driveway. Anna almost skipped, she was so excited. “This is so fun,” she said. “John’s such a creative guy.”

Linnea felt duty-bound to defend Gordon. “Gordon worked on a lot of the design too.”

“Oh, sure, no contest here,” Anna said in her blithe fashion. “It’s just, well, it was John’s idea to begin with. If it wasn’t for him, we’d probably all still be lying around the living room. Oh, wow,” she exclaimed with awe as they approached the barn.

Linnea was caught up in the moment of wonder. The night was balmy and the barn looked surreal all lit up and with all the glorious murals turning the area into an underwater wonderland. John had found some stand-up photographer lights and set them up near the joggling board, along with table lamps connected to outlets with extension lines.

“The place looks amazing,” Linnea said to John.

“I couldn’t have done it without my sidekick,” John said, pointing to Cooper.

“Good job,” Gordon called out as he walked down the stairs from the loft. “It looks like a TV studio.”

“I’m ready for my close-up,” called out Pandora as she stepped into the barn and removed her robe.

All talking stopped. Everyone else, men and women alike, was clad in a black wet suit. Pandora was wearing a skimpy Balmain black elastic bikini that showed off her curves.

“Uh, we’re supposed to be wearing wet suits,” Anna deadpanned.

“My wet suit is in my storage at the house,” Pandora said, lifting her palms. “At least I found a black swim suit.”

“I was watching the videos,” Gordon said, “and I saw this one that created a set of waves using fabric.” He showed them the video. Two people shook them to make it look like waves. “I thought we might give it a try.”

“Great idea, Gordon,” said Pandora. She went to the pile of fabrics. “How about this?” she exclaimed, pulling out a bolt of brilliant-blue fabric. “And there’s white too. Lin, give me a hand.”