Josh and Jesse were both 18, and like so many high school seniors on this particularly hot day had decided to ditch school and head to the beach. They're walking along the boardwalk from the parking lots toward the sand when a big friendly 20-something guy walks up between them and drops his arms over both their bare-shoulders. He smelled of sweat, brut, cigar smoke and beer. He was all-buddy-buddy with the two young men.
"So guys, you're blowing off school? Cool. Instead of the beach, why don't I give you two a free trip over to the Island of Hedonia. It's the bitchinest cool resort in the world. And cause it's a Private Island, 18 is the drinking age. You're both 18, right?" he said with a wink.
"A free ride over, but how much to come back?" Jesse asked with a wink at Josh.
"Clever! Rest assured I won't ask you for any money to leave the island. In fact, I can guarantee when you leave the island, you won't have to pay for a ticket. I run the boat, see?" he smiled secretively, and winked. " I take boat-loads of people over every day to hear time-share presentations. Believe me, they won't notice two more head. In fact, they'll appreciate it. It's better for business if the boat is standing room only."
"Cool."
"Why not?"
They hadn't noticed until now that their big new friend had steered them off the boardwalk and on to a narrow jetty where a brightly painted ferry was docked. Music and the noise of people blared from the boat, and the parking lot was filled with every type of imaginable car from Benzes to Geos.
"All aboard for HEDONIA!" shouted the big man shoving them up the gang plank.
"Hedonia? What's that mean?"
"Huh? Oh, Pleasure."
"Pleasure Island--that sounds familiar?"
The whistle blows and the crowded boat lurches away from the dock.