We heard Peter arrive, before Clara had time to finish the preparations, so Mindy ran to him to tell him about the Wii. He feigned being surprised, but honestly, he probably bought the games and the remote, or if Clara did, he knew.
But Edith had not been close to a nude male yet and when she met Peter, her demeanor changed and she seemed incapable of avoiding staring at his penis. So much that Mindy asked to go back to her room for a minute, before presentations were even made.
"Edith, will you stop staring at my dad's private parts? It's impolite, inappropriate, and I will need to kick you out if you can't control yourself"
"Sorry, Mindy. Sorry. It's just. You can't understand. You just can't. I've never seen one so close", she says.
"Well, deal with it. Because I can't have you stare until supper. He will be cooking on the barbecue and if you can't control yourself, we'll need to keep you away from him"
"No, listen, sorry. That was completely immature on my part"
"If you'd like, we can look at my magazines to prepare your mind, you know?" says Mindy
"Wait, I would actually like that!", she says.
And so, we do. Edith and I each get one, and Mindy sits between us. As we flip, she tells us about the content. It's clear she read each of them, many times.
Most of the articles were boring, to be honest. Travel reports. Activity reports. Legal fights for naturism, or free the nipple.
But Edith loved them. To her, it was refreshing, and as she said: "I got to see enough nude bodies to be desensitized"
To confirm it, we joined her parents outside and helped Clara.
Edith was officially presented to Peter, but then, she did something I didn't expect. She lowered her eyes to her feet in shame, and began apologizing.
"Mr Peter", she began
"Just Peter"
"Sorry, Peter, I want to apologize for my starting earlier, when I first saw you. This is my first visit in a naturist place, and you are the first man I saw up close."
"Edith?", he says
"Yes, Peter?"
"Don't beat yourself up. It's not the end of the world. We are not monk, we are naturists. Now, there is a book, I heard, that came out. Growing up without shame",
This made Edith lift her head up. "Really?"
"Yeah, about naturist kids"
"I love that title"
"That it's about naturist kids?", Peter says, confused
"No, growing up without shame. I would have used that"
"I bet. Well, apparently they made a study that naturist kids have sex almost 2 years later than non-naturist kids"
"Textiles", says Edith
Peter laughed. "Yes, indeed. Textiles. I am uncertain if it's in that book, or if people just assign it to that book, but the theory is that for textiles, the only way to express curiosity about the opposite sex is to have, well, sex. So, don't feel ashamed so much about looking a little, but be discreet."
"Really?"
"Hey, I was your age too and would have killed to see nude girls"
"You didn't grow up a naturist?" asked Edith
"It's complicated. We were naturists at home, but only vacationed to see others. And we didn't vacation much when I was a teenager", he said, but Edith didn't press on. Instead, we helped Clara with the couscous salad.
As I write this, however, I realize something. I know how Peter and Clara became naturists, but not how they met, or what their naturist exploration was between the nude college parties and moving to a naturist resort.
I know they didn't just go to those parties and the next day, move to their house, but I don't know if they visited nude beaches, naturist resorts, or a non-landed club. I know nothing, and today, it feels weird to ask them. I know more about my parents. They visited a non-landed club, and a few naturist resorts. They took a naturist vacation for a full week, during which they tried, but failed, to conceive me.
Another thing I don't know is how Clara and Peter met my parents. I presume at a naturist event, but I don't know which one, and that too, would feel weird to ask them.
Wait, did I just spoil that not only did Peter and Clara survive until today, but my parents too? Well, I'll spoil more, Mindy survived too, and still lives with her parents. But I won't say anything more, and you can't make me. Fine, Lucy and Clark are still alive too. That's 8 people confirmed alive. What more do you want from me? Just keep on reading and figure out the rest.
All I can promise is that there won't be a happy ending. Why? Because it will just end when I reach today, and I am only 19 years old. It's not my end yet. Of course, it won't actually end today, today. Because it takes me time to write this. I've been writing this for over a week, and I was on vacation. It might take years and that means that eventually, you might get to see me write the start of my story.
For example, yesterday I went out, and met someone interesting. There. I said it. But I don't know where it will go, but by the time I make it to my current present in my story, I will get to decide if I mention it or if I pretend it didn't occur. Remember, I am not a fully reliable narrator.
Edith seemed to fit in. The four of us women set the table, prepare the sides, including a few veggies like carrot sticks cut at an insane speed by Clara, which impressed both Edith and me. We guess Mindy had seen it before because she kept carrying on as normal.
When the chicken was finally cooked, we all sat at their picnic table, but this time, it's Mindy who said grace, thanking God for the food, and two amazing friends to share her birthday with. She thanks God for putting her on Earth when he did, 13 years ago, so she would be right in the middle between our ages, in the perfect place to get to know us.
We all say "Amen" when she is done, and we eat, and my God, if I remembered that taste when I decided to become vegan, I wouldn't have become vegan.
That marinated chicken was the bomb!
It was cooked to perfection, juicy, tasty and just mouth watering.
What else can I want in a meal? The couscous salad was something I never ate before, and I bought and made enough couscous to go beg Clara for a recipe because she can make it taste like no one else can.
It's like, it's not couscous I like, it's hers, and specifically hers. I distinctly remember her blushing when I told her. I am getting closer to her recipe, in fact, I am close enough that with just a little more practice, I might get there soon.
Edith was on the verge of tears. I get the feeling that she doesn't eat great food, and seeing how sad her lunches are, I fear she isn't eating healthy.
For dessert, we, of course, had a very delicious home baked cake, but for some reason, we didn't get a slice each, we got a large slice, and a tiny slice at the back of the plate. Mindy whispered to me. "Don't eat that one", winking.
Clara offered us some whipped cream. We all took some, but she also put a lot of the piece aside, which began to make me wonder. No one was touching theirs.
"May I ask you a question, Edith?", says Peter.
"Sure"
"Is that pair of shorts from Mindy?"
"Well, yes, they are"
"But there are your sandals, right?"
She looks at her feet.
"They are"
"And under your shorts, you are wearing something?"
"My bikini bottom"
"Ah, and you have a change of underwear, right?", he says
"I do", she replies, worried
"Can I ask you to go put your sandals in the house when you are done with your piece of cake? Unless you want another one, you are free to get another one, of course"
"I don't think I could, even if it's so delicious"
"Good"
"Can I ask why?"
"You may not", says Peter, but Clara and Mindy laugh it off with him.
Edith looks worried, but I am curious. She eventually puts her sandals in the house, and comes back barefoot.
The three residents look at each other, and Mindy grabs with her hand a portion of the remaining cake, with some of the whipped cream on it, and flings it at her father's chest, yelling "Cake fight!"
Clara laughs, and throws a portion at her daughter.
I laugh, and grab a piece, which I throw at Mindy.
Peter, meanwhile, grabs pieces in both hands, and throws them to both his wife and his daughter.
Edith looks completely stunned.
Mindy grabs a piece, but she doesn't throw it at me, as much as smash it on my shoulder. It doesn't hurt, but it splashes.
Clara throws a piece at her husband, which lands in his hair, while Edith throws a small piece at Edith, landing just above her belly button.
"Edith, do something, throw it"
"But..."
"We'll shower outside, who cares. And we'll wash my shorts. Just enjoy", Mindy says, as I throw a piece at Clara, which fails and lands in front of her.
"More ammunition for me!", she yells, and throws the piece back at me, which lands in my hair.
I admit, I am having fun. Somewhat childish fun. Edith does throw a piece at Mindy, but that's it, so I end up grabbing one of her, and gently smashing it on her shoulder, laughing.
In fact, everyone but Edith is laughing.
When Clara is out of ammo, she grabs the whipped cream can, stands up, runs to her daughter, and sprays some on top of her head. Mindy laughs, grabs it, and drops it on top of mine.
Edith laughs a little, but when Clara comes next to her. She asks her.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, this is just a bit surreal"
"You know what could help cool your emotions down?"
"No?", says Edith, curious
But Clara just drops whipped cream on her head, which does make her laugh.
There is no more available throwing cake left, and it seems that only the set aside pieces were for throwing.
As Clara runs after Peter who stood up, with the last piece of cake in his hand, Mindy drags us to the outdoor shower by her house.
She and I just share the shower, rinsing our bodies of the cake and whipped cream, and helping each other with our hair. We invite Edith in, but she waits and does it alone after we are done.
"We do that at every anniversary. Sorry if it troubles you, Edith", says Mindy, when she is done.
"I wouldn't say troubles, but my family doesn't have fun like that"
I told her. "I am sorry to hear that"
"Does yours have fun like this?", she asked me.
"Well, not like this. But we play, have fun. Stick with us, Edith, and we'll show you how to have fun", I tell her, even if honestly, I didn't know how at that moment.
To shower, Edith simply removed the shorts, and showered in her bikini bottom.
Characters
Episodes
- #1: the photo album
- #2: The first visit
- #3: Confrontations
- #4: Nude with my parents
- #5: Finally Friday
- #6: A sleepover
- #7: Morning ritual
- #8: The ride
- #9: Teenagers
- #10: Ribs and Revelations
- #11: Volleyball with friends
- #12: Pinball exploits
- #13: Family discussion
- #14: Medical Talk
- #15: Breakfast with mom
- #16: Portal
- #17: Going back home
- #18: The warehouse and the trailer
- #19: Medical visit
- #20: Meeting Edith, and cleaning up
- #21: Getting to know Edith
- #22: Inventory
- #23: An evening with Mindy and Edith
- #24: A gift
- #25: Three girls having fun
- #26: In Mindy's house
- #27: Barbecue
- #28: Going back
- #29: Preparing for the the non-landed club
- #30: The club
- #31: Mindy and Billy’s backgrounds
- #32: Another sleepover
- #33: Billy
- #34: Pancakes
- #35: Hiking
- #36: Splitting off
- #37: Coming back
- #38: Girl talk
- #39: First time jump
- #40: Second weekend in the camper
- #41: An afternoon with Beth
- #42: A walk, and a feast, with Beth
- #43: Edith and the Lazy Sunday
- #44: First Life Time jump and visits
- #45: First week
- #46: Halloween
- #47: Pumpkin party
- #48: The Mummy
- #49: Writing in bed
- #50: Body Painting
- #51: Admissions
- #52: Marge Comes Over
- #53: Back to school
- #54: At Marge
- #55: Back home
- #56: Four Queens
- #57: Tutoring
- #58: Chaperonned
- #59: Results
- #60: At Olivia
- #61: Return to the Non-Landed club
- #1: Election of the board
- #0: Lucy's journal Introduction