We undressed in my room, and I discovered that Mindy had packed her elephant.

We grabbed another sheet from the linen closet, and redid my bed as my parents were already undressed and getting ready for sleep.

"Wait, I need to warn my mother!", says Mindy

She jumped at the phone and excitedly explained the pancake situation to Clara.

I could hear Mindy apologize. "Yes, mom. I know, I shouldn't have, but...", and she is cut off

"But mom, it's not like I abuse of your hospitality", she says, with a pause

"I know, but it's Julie. What was I supposed to do?", and again a pause, but my mother takes me aside.

"While she talks to Clara, perhaps you should take your pill?", she says

I agree, and go to the bathroom to grab it, but I forgot a glass of water, so I return to the kitchen, where Mindy says.

"No, you are right. It's not fair to you", she says, all sad

I serve my glass of water and take my pill, but as I take it, Mindy looks at me, all sad.

"Wait, so you will do it anyway?", says Mindy, suddenly lifting up.

A pause, followed by : "You are the absolute best. There are no better mothers on the whole planet. I love you"

And soon enough. "Thank you, sleep well too"

But then, Mindy asks my mother to come to the phone, while we go back to my room.

"Wow, I was so scared", says Mindy

"I was too. I want those promised pancakes"

"Oh, you aren't a problem, it's Billy and his father. She says that inviting strangers to her home without warning her is a lack of respect"

"She is not wrong", I tell her

"I know, I know, I think I am taking her too much for granted, and she made a fuss to make it known, but I think she is happy to flex her pancakes, you know?"

"I know I can't wait to try them", I say

"Can I ask you a personal question?", Mindy says, a little ashamed

"Sure"

"What was that pill?", she says

"Oh.", I said

"Listen, I don't want to pry, but I mean, are you sick or something? Because it's in a blister pack like when I had to take antibiotics, but there were like a ton of them, and I only had 6"

I laugh. "Oh, no, not sick"

"Oh, thank God. You didn't look sick, but I couldn't imagine an ordinary infection needing something like 40 pills"

"24"

"Huh?"

"The pack has 24 pills"

"What? Why specifically 24? That's an odd number. It's not a multiple of weeks, it's not the length of a month"

This was explained to me.

"It's because most women's menstrual cycle are 28 days long"

"Huh? But that 4 pill short"

"I know, but you need to stop taking the pill while you have your period, at least not at the start. So when your periods start, you skip four days. There are apparently blisters with sugar pills of a different color, but mine doesn't have them"

She laughs. "But you don't have periods yet. Edith and I don't either"

"I know", I said, sad.

But something connected in her mind.

"Is that why, I mean, shit. Sorry, I shouldn't have asked", she says, all shy

"Are we best friends?", I ask her

"Absolutely"

"Not Edith, not Billy, not Lucy, not anyone else. To you, I am your best friend, right?"

"I am all in. I don't have non-naturist friends. They don't tend to stick around, you know? Edith is the exception", she says

"You are my best friend too", I say, which made her smile.

"Aww", she says

"So, Clark's father is a doctor, and he found that I have delayed puberty. Not by a lot, but I take estrogen pills to help me get started"

"Woah, that is deep. So that's why you don't have breasts yet?"

"Indeed. But I am lucky. Most pediatricians wait until the girl is like 15 or 16 to start"

"Wait, you are telling me that there are girls out there who are 16, and are barely developed?"

"I guess. He suggested it", I said

"Well, I am happy that you are getting help. Wait, so how fast will it work?"

"I think It's still about 2 years until my periods. I'll be a little faster at the start, but slower later"

"Weird. I was in a hurry to get my breasts, even though I know they are still growing, but I am in no rush to get my periods. I mean, I am a naturist after all"

"Yeah, so you have to put on shorts or tampons?"

"Pretty much. My mother wears shorts the first day or so with pads, but after that, she wears tampons and trims the string. I guess I will do the same"

"Trim the string?", I ask

"It's usually so long that it dangles out. For textiles, it's fine, it's in their panties"

"Right. And do you hope for bigger breasts?", I ask. If we are to talk about my issues, I am not going to let it slide that she said they would grow bigger.

"I hope not by much, I don't want to have to wear a bra for sports, you know?"

"Oh, I didn't think of that", I said.

"Girls, we wake up early to get to Mindy's", says my mom, at the door

"Oh right, let's go brush our teeths", I said.

It didn't take long for us to fall asleep. It had been a long day.

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