Peaches catches up with me and digs me on the arm. “Race ya!” he says. “Betcha a city licker like you can’t beat country-boy quick.”
“It’s city slicker, moron.” I tell him, as I lengthen my stride. “Let’s go!”
slickerI launch into a full-throttle sprint toward the river, barreling down the last stretch of the embankment. Peaches overtakes me a few yards from the water.
“Hey!” he cries out, as I grab his arm and haul him back. “Quit cheatin’!”
“That’s a city licker move right there, country boy!” I run past him in a fit of laughter and dive face first into the cool river. I almost choke on a mouthful of muddy water, but the look on Peaches’ face when I resurface is totally worth it.
After a short spell of splashing and horsing around, everyone’s attention drifts back to Brian.
“There’
