The towels floating in the lake − 1 June, 1977

My brother is autistic and severely retarded. He's also got a thing for wetting towels. James doesn't pee on them or anything like that. He simply likes to throw them in the bathtub and turn on the water, all the better if the towels have been folded and have the scent of fabric softener.

Growing up, each summer he'd spend a week or two at the Double G Ranch, a special camp for handicapped kids. At the end of each session, the parents and siblings would come up to witness the kids participate in races and other games. The day would be split between morning and afternoon activities with a hearty hot dog lunch dividing the two.

Well, on this particular Saturday, the handicapped kids (about 75 of them) had competed in the relay races, horseshoe throwing, and other dry land activities before being told to change into their swimsuits for the afternoon. Lunch came (always an eager affair), and the entire community of campers, parents and siblings retired to the main bunkhouse on the top of a hill that overlooked a swimming pool and lake.

the day was stifling hot so we lingered at lunch. James wolfed down his hot dogs and beans and then said that he needed to go to the bathroom. My father said sure and went to the more important task of smoking a cigarette. The main camp director called for everyone's attention and gave out instructions on the sequence of events and where to find them. He invited everyone to finish their drinks and meet him down at the swimming pool in ten minutes.

Walking out the bunkhouse to the wooden porch that looked down the gentle hill to the playing fields, we saw James alone, pinkie fingers stuck in his ears and the biggest shit eating grin on his face. Floating on the lake like so many colored lillies were towels: beach towels, white towels, solid colors, towels with fish or horses, towels that advertised a cheap Florida resort, hand towels and so forth. James had practiced on towels we kept at home but being able to score the mother lode of over 75 really put him in a capital mood.